baD kARmA INk

Yesterday, during lunch at work, I mentioned that I was going to go write an article when I get home.   The two co-workers sitting with me seemed intrigued and asked what medium I was writing for.  I gave a quick description of the bkI website and told them I was a regular contributer.

Then, I was asked what I was going to write about this week.  I mentioned that I was going to do a tribute piece on Ronnie James Dio.  The following reaction I got from that remark caused me some shock and even more desire to write.

Both people looked up, turned to me, and said the exact same thing.

“Ronnie who??”

Now, I realize that not everyone is into hard rock music.   However, I cannot, in good conscience, let this week go by without paying respect to one of the most powerful and distinctive singers in heavy metal.  An artist that was the voice of some of the most influential bands in rock history.  A fighter who unfortunately lost his battle against stomach cancer on May 16th, 2010, after nearly 6 months.

So, without further ado, let us celebrate the musical genius that is Ronnie James Dio.

First, let’s start with a little history.

Ronald James Padavona was born July 10, 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  The only child in an Italian family, Ronnie’s family soon moved to Cortland, New York, where Ronnie went to school and graduated from the Cortland City School in 1960.  During that time, Ronnie played trumpet and french horn, recorded singles with several rockabilly bands and joined a band while in high school in which he played bass guitar and  became the lead singer.  That band started as The Vegas Kings in 1957, which had three name changes, eventually becoming Ronnie Dio and the Prophets in 1961.

It was during the Prophets stage that Ronnie took the name Dio, after mafia member Johnny Dio, professionally.  It was a name that he would keep for the rest of his musical career.  The Prophets disbanded in 1967, but Dio and guitarist Nick Pantas started the band that will become Elf.   And, from there, Dio ascends to the pantheon of rock godhood.  However, rather than just talk about it, allow me to show you.  Via the power of YouTube.

First up, Elf.  Formed in 1967 and lasting until 1975, it was this band that opened for Deep Purple, attracting the attention of legendary rock guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.  It was Dio’s vocals that caught Blackmore’s ear….the strength of the voice attributed to proper breathing techniques Dio learned while playing french horn. Check out what Ritchie was hearing with the following song from 1973….Never More.

When Ritchie left Deep Purple for the first time, he took members of Elf, including Dio, and formed the band Rainbow. During Dio’s tenure as lead singer from 1975 to 1979, the band dealt with medieval themes, mostly sword-and-sorcery fantasy. This is evident in the classic song The Man on the Silver Mountain.

From 1979 to 1982, Ronnie became the frontman for one of the best heavy metal bands ever to grace the stage. I, of course, am talking about Black Sabbath. With Dio out front with his powerful lyrics, Black Sabbath was reborn. The album released during this time, Heaven and Hell, became one of the best selling albums for the group and helped the band to move on after Ozzy Osbourne was fired from the band. The Dio-fronted lineup was so popular that, in later years, the band toured as Heaven and Hell, to keep the two versions of the band separate. This relationship would continue, with Ronnie splitting the time between Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell and his own group, Dio. Check out the following from Rockpalast, 2009. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you The Mob Rules.

Ronnie and fellow Black Sabbath bandmate Vinny Appice left the group Black Sabbath to form their own band, Dio. It was this band that gave us such songs as Holy Diver and Last in Line. Ronnie has stated that he never intended for a solo carrier. He only intended on starting a new band and the name Dio seemed to make sense as a commercial standpoint, since it was already well-known. Perhaps it was the name, but most likely it was Dio’s charisma that helped the band to become successful. Check out the video for one of the most popular Dio tracks, one that appeared in the Guitar Hero games as well as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Here is Holy Diver.

The satirical rock band Tenacious D, consisting of Jack Black and Kyle Gass, released a tribute song to Ronnie, aptly named “Dio”. In it, the band jokingly calls for Ronnie to “pass the torch” to Tenacious D. Ronnie approved of it and, in return, had Tenacious D appear in his video “Push”.

In 2006, The D and Ronnie James Dio renewed their friendship when Dio appeared in a cameo in the film Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny. Dio plays himself in the beginning of the movie, giving rock advice to a young JB when the boy prays to a poster of Dio to help him out. You can check this out with the following video Kickapoo. Besides, with Meatloaf and Dio in the same song, you just can’t go wrong.

If, after all that, there was any doubt of the greatest of Dio, let me share with you a few facts.

Dio was inducted into the Cortland City Hall of Fame in 2004 and has a street named after him in Cortland, NY. Classic Rock Magazine gave him the “Metal Guru Award” at their yearly Roll of Honour awards ceremony in 2006. He was inducted into Guitar Center’s Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood, CA. And…Dio was named the best metal singer at the Revolver Golden Gods awards in April 2010 for his work on the Heaven & Hell album The Devil You Know, making him the oldest recipient of the award at age 67.

Yeah, that’s right. 67. I can only hope I rock half as hard as Dio when I hit that age.

So, take some time out this week to enjoy the rock majesty that is Ronnie James Dio. The man may be gone, but his music will live on forever.

Now go, my sons and daughters, and rock.