The first song I heard Ronnie James Dio sing was the track, Gates of Babylon, off of the album Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll by Rainbow. I was probably about fifteen at the time and had no idea who Rainbow or the guy singing was. My uncle had made a mixed tape for me of all these 1970s bands and of all the songs on that mix, Dio’s voice was unquestionably the one that stood out from the crowd. Even at the young age of fifteen, I knew this guy was legend.
Ronnie James Dio, real name Ronnie James Padavona, was born on July 10, 1942 and was raised in the small town of Courtland, New York, about thirty-three miles south of Syracuse. Taking up the trumpet at age five, he played the instrument in his high school band and was a member of the concert band at Buffalo State University. He went on to become lead vocalist in one of his first rock ‘n’ roll groups in 1958 named Ronnie and the Red Caps and eventually took on the role of lead vocalist and bassist in the bands that followed up to and including Elf.
Elf
A tragic car accident in February 1968, resulted in long time guitarist Nick Pantas death and leaving three other band members hospitalized, including Ronnie who received 150 stitches to his head after his face went through the windshield. The two other injured members were keyboardist Doug Thaler (co-manager Motley Crue / Bon Jovi) and second guitarist Dave Feinstein.
The band got back together in May 1968 and released their self-titled debut album Elf in 1972, after being discovered by Ian Paice and Roger Glover of Deep Purple. Paice and Glover produced the album, which was released on Purple Records. Artwork for the album pictures Ronnie dressed up as an evil-looking elf. The band went on to tour with Deep Purple on both their US and UK tours.
Elf released two more albums before disbanding in 1975 and forming Rainbow along with Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore. They released Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow in 1975, featuring Elf members Gary Driscoll on drums, Craig Gruber on bass, Micky Lee Soule on keyboards and, of course, Ronnie James Dio on vocals.
Rainbow / Black Sabbath
After Blackmore let go the original Rainbow lineup following their first release, Ronnie’s tenure in Rainbow lasted two more albums, including 1976s Rainbow Rising and 1978s Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll, before leaving the band to join Black Sabbath after the departure of Ozzy Osbourne in 1979.
As irony would have it, Ronnie met Tony Iommi at the popular Rainbow club on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood in 1979. They would go on to release two albums, including Heaven and Hell in 1980 and Mob Rules in 1981. But things soon went south for the new Sabbath lineup, which included drummer Vinny Appice, younger brother of Carman Appice of Vanilla Fudge. Rather than pack it in, Dio and Appice formed the band Dio in 1982.
Dio
Dio as a band released ten albums over their career, which lasted from 1982 until Ronnie’s passing in May 2010. The most successful of these were their first three releases, going platinum and gold, including 1983s Holy Diver, 1984s The Last in Line and 1985s Sacred Heart. These three albums spawned the singles, Holy Diver, Rainbow in the Dark, The Last in Line and Rock ‘N’ Roll Children.
There were two more reunions of the Black Sabbath lineup. These included 1992s Dehumanizer album release, and the newly formed band Heaven & Hell, in 2006. As Heaven & Hell, they released the compilation album, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years in 2007 (featuring three new originals), Live from Radio City Music of the same year and a full-length album in 2009 titled The Devil You Know.
One question that often comes up with RDJ fans is what was with all the rainbow references in his lyrics? There was never a straightforward answer given by Ronnie. The most fans can gather is that it was from his passion for reading fantasy books. Growing up as an only child, he was apparently an avid fantasy and science fiction reader. It may have been too much for Black Sabbath, however, when guitarist Tony Iommi asked Dio to hold off on rainbows in the lyrics on 1992s Dehumanizer.
Ronnie also liked the concept of rolling wheels, which make their way into a few of his song lyrics. But none of this is a slant against him or his music. In a way, it was his personal signature on his lyrics.
Break the circle and stop the movement
The wheel is thrown to the ground
Just remember it might start rolling
And take you right back aroundMob Rules, Black Sabbath, 1981
Who could argue that Ronnie James Dio wasn’t one of the greatest Heavy Metal vocalists of all time? And not because he was a Metal icon but because he had such command over his voice. He could sing the softest, sweetest melodies like Rainbow Eyes off of Rainbow’s Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll to the more powerful anthems like Rainbow in the Dark, off of debut album, Holy Diver with band Dio.
Find me a singer who, after fifty years in the business, and at 65 years of age, could still pull off this live version of Mob Rules at Radio City Music Hall in 2007 with band Heaven & Hell.
Ronnie James Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November 2009 and died on May 16, 2010. He played his last show in August 2009 with Heaven & Hell in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
If anything can be said about Ronnie James Dio and his legacy it would be this: he persisted in the face of adversity right until the end.