new thread
In case you guys haven't heard about it yet - metal legend Ronnie James Dio has died of stomach cancer in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 16th. He was 67 years old.
The official website, all in black, says:
"Message from Wendy Dio
Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.
- Wendy Dio"
This is really shocking. I believed he'd defeat that f'in cancer. He was so optimistic about it, the chemo therapy seemed to work well too, and now we get these horrible news. That is really sad. Not only an outstanding musician, but also one of the nicest people is lost. I have never met him personally, but what I can tell from interviews, he was a very nice and honest person. I had the honour to see him live with Heaven & Hell in 2009, I will never forget this truly magical concert.
May you rest in peace, little man with the big voice.
Yes indeed it is very sad news to hear. Facebook is awash with it!
JUST A RAINBOW IN THE DARK.
I was very sad when i heard the news... he is one of my favorites singer.
May he rest in peace.
I was very sad to learn of this. The heavy metal world has been hit hard today.
I never listened much to Dio, I knew him best as the second lead singer of Black Sabbath, and also inventing the devil horns, but he had an amazing and powerful voice. This is indeed a tragic loss, but his music lives on forever.
RIP Dio. I raise the devil horns to you.
I agree, it's a total tragedy. He seemed like one of the nicest guys around too. Great voice and a great guy, we will be missed for sure.
It's a damn shame, I wanted to see him live one day :(
He will be missed but his soul lives on in his music and our hearts, RIP DIO :(
Man I read this earlier today, don't know why it didn't even cross my mind to make a post on here about it.
Rest in peace Dio, you will always be remembered for how you gave metal its horns.
Very sad indeed. Rest In Peace.
Damn. He was a great singer. Big loss for metal and for his family. But atleast we will still always have the recordings to remember him by.
Jarvis
It's unfortunate as he was so young. He will be missed.
Kevin
He was 67, I don't know the statistics but that strikes me as pretty old for a rockstar.
True Ryan, as Elvis Presley "The King Of Rock 'N Roll" died at the age of 42.It's unfortunate that the rockstar lifestyle can shorten ones life but it doesn't have to be that way.
I remember seeing Dio in the 80s doing his solo gig which was awesome.At least he lived a reasonably long life but it is a shame just the same.
Mark
I agree. So many great rock stars have died young. John Lennon died at 40. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain were all 27. Layne Staley was only 34, and Dimebag Darrell was only 38. They could have given so much more.
Damn shame.
Don't forget Cliff Burton he was 24 when he died, or Randy Rhoads 25.
A lot of awesome musicians die young...
And, the Godfather of Death Metal, Chuck Schuldiner, at 34...
Janis Joplin was also in the 27 club, don't forget. As well as Robert Johnson, Pigpen (grateful dead), and a ton more.
Paul Kossoff (guitar for Free), my favorite guitarist, was 25... theres too many that die too young to count.
Jarvis
Well it depends on your perspective.
The Stones are still going, Paul McCartney probably will live to be 100 if he isn't already. Ozzy still going in spite of all the drugs, Thanks Sharon. Bruce Dickinson I believe is 60 or soon will be. Then one of my favorites Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) can still dominate a stage.
Many of you were not yet a twinkle in your fathers eye when I was in the record store buying their LP's, back when we had LP's.
I hate to sound like an old duff but it all depends on your perspective. On another note I never cared much for Sabbath in the Dio days, I was more an Ozzy person. Still it's unfortunate.
Kevin
Bruce Dickinson is not that old, he's just 51.
Who bothers me is Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead. He's everything but living healthy - lots of alcohol and cigarettes. He's 65 already, I really hope he'll stay in good health for some more years.
Dio was 67, and as of my knowledge not smoking and not drinking too much... well, getting stomach cancer depends a lot on what you eat.
Thought I read somewhere he was 59. oh well cross him off the list and thank you for correcting us.
About Lemmy, with this life he should be already dead for 10 years =) So, I guess he will live with it for a long time again. Hopefully!
Don't forget Cliff Richard he don't look a day over 167!
A couple of years ago, I met Goldy McJohn in person. He's the keyboardist and founding member of Steppenwolf, who made the Hammond organ a staple in heavy metal. He's 65, still long haired and performing regularly in the Seattle, WA area where he lives.
- Oren
It's a sad day for metalheads everywhere. R.I.P Dio. You will be missed.
I've felt awful all day because of this. It feels so weird to know that one of the gods of metal has fallen. He seemed so healthy at the Revolver Awards, I thought he was going to make it. When Heaven and Hell canceled their tours for the summer...I had a slight concern but I was still optimistic. Even worse is that he didn't deserve any of this dreck.
I was very saddned by this news, but hey at least he had a wonderful career and life.
His music will live on, and besides, ronnie was METAL to the core and that spirit lives on in every metalhead.
RIP sir.