Biography of Ronnie James Dio

Sharp metal melodies

July 10, 1942
May 16, 2010
Ronnie James Dio was born in Portsmouth (USA) on July 10, 1942. Of Italian descent, his real name is Ronald James Padavona. Raised in Cortland in upstate New York, is a teenager when he began playing the trumpet in rockabilly group: in this period takes the stage name "Ronnie Dio". The term God has no religious references but is inspired by American gangster Johnny Dio, of Italian descent. In 1957 he founded a rock 'n' roll group called "The Vegas Kings, known over the years as" Ronnie Dio and the Prophets ". With the band Ronnie, lead singer, affects some single piece and a single album in 1963, "God at Domino's." At the beginning of the years ' 70 creates a new group and switch to sound decidedly hard rock. The band was initially known as "Electric Elves", then changed its name to "Elves" and finally "Elf". The "Elf" affect a debut album in the USA in 1972.
Moving then in United Kingdom in 1973, after signing to the label Purple. England God comes into contact with the hard rock and heavy metal scene at the time. The "Elf" arrive to open the concerts of "Deep Purple" band plays the guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. The latter impressed by the vocal talents of Ronnie James Dio, and decided for other issues to abandon "Deep Purple", in 1975 enters into the formation of the "Elf", but calling it the "Rainbow". After several albums with the "Rainbow", God comes into disagreement with Ritchie Blackmore and abandons. Is immediately recruited by "Black Sabbath" who, in 1978, they had just dismissed the singer Ozzy Osbourne.
The arrival of God is a powerful injection of new energy to Black Sabbath (at that time in trouble): affect with their two highly successful album, "Heaven and Hell" and "Mob Rules", plus a live album entitled Palindrome "Live Evil". New frictions led him to abandon the formation of Black Sabbath again and form, along with Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath released with him), his own band named "God". The onset of "God" is from 1983 with the album "Holy Diver": the success is huge and the public is enthusiastic about the proposed genre, heavy metal fantasy and mythological content. In God's fiery show the latest technologies (such as lasers) are used to create a great ambiance, populated by dragons, monsters, demons and ghosts.
In 1984 God renews his success with "The Last in Line". Follow "Sacred Heart" of 1985, "Dream Evil" of 1987, "Lock Up the Wolves" of 1990. Then comes a reunion with Black Sabbath: the collection record fine "Dehumanizer". "Strange Highways" is the next album which registers as "God", but is welcomed rather badly by the fans, as well as the next "Angry Machines" of 1996. Back in the studio in 2000 to record "magic", a true concept album, inspired by a book of spells. Then it was the turn of "Killing The Dragon" album lighter, which extends even into rock 'n' roll. The last work of "God" is "Master of the Moon" of 2004. Then with the other over-60s Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice, gathers to give life to "Heaven and Hell": the lineup is the formation of Black Sabbath who recorded the album "Mob Rules".
After a tour that saw them touch even the Italy (Gods Of Metal 2007), in 2009 the long-awaited studio album "Heaven and Hell", entitled "The Devil You Know". At the end of November 2009 the wife, Wendy announces that her husband was diagnosed with stomach cancer. The disease consumes him in short order: Ronnie James Dio dies in Houston the day May 16, 2010. After his death, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich wrote a poignant public letter for farewell to Ronnie James Dio provided was huge fan. His wife, along with the adopted son Dan and two grandchildren, in a statement said: "Please know he loved you all and his music will live forever".
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.