RIP Ronnie James Dio. (Now Confirmed)
 

Despite recent hoax reports about his death from stomach cancer being denied, Ronnie James Dio's wife today confirmed that he passed away this morning.

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Wendy Dio, wife/manager of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW), has released the following statement:

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. [on Sunday] 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes 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.

It was only a month ago that Dio, 67, spoke about his battle with cancer with the Artisan News Service on the "black carpet" of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which took place on April 8 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. When asked about how he had been feeling since he was diagnosed with the disease late last year, Dio said, "Well, I feel good and bad at times. It's a long process. Chemotherapy is a... I never realized what a difficult thing it was to go through. It's a real cumulative effect — the more you have, the more it piles up on top and it takes longer and longer to get over it. I find it very difficult to eat. I don't like to eat anyway, so I guess that's OK. But I know I have to. But this makes it very, very hard. But if you're determined to beat it, then you have to go with what you believe is going to beat it for you, and in this case it's that. I go to a great hospital in Houston called M.D. Anderson, which I think is the best hospital in the world, I have the best doctor in the world, Dr. Ajani, who I really trust and I really believe in, so I think I've done all the right things. It makes me feel positive about my life and positive that there is a lot more of it to live."

Earlier this month, HEAVEN & HELL canceled its summer tour plans in Europe due to Dio's treatment for stomach cancer. The band said in a statement that Dio wasn't "well enough to tour this summer. We hope that everyone understands and want to thank fans and industry colleagues for their continuing support at this time.

Ronnie James Dio had performed with ELF, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, and his own band DIO. Other musical projects included the collective fundraiser "Hear 'n Aid". He is widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice and for popularizing the "devil's horns" hand gesture in metal culture. He was most recently involved with HEAVEN & HELL, a project which also included former BLACK SABBATH bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice. Their first and only studio album, "The Devil You Know", was released on April 28, 2009.
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I'm off to get very stoned indeed and have a bit of a cry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmSt1oEIshE

http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=39830

you were a minute after my thread!

sucks though, Dio rocked!

He's probably riding tigers up in heaven. R.I.P. Ronnie

RIP

lol, yeah. sorry about that.

A real gentleman. Rock's Jimmy Stewart.

It's on his official website now.

http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

I know he was a decent human being and all, but I can't get over thinking "what a hack" when I recall any of his music where somebody better wasn't carrying him. But oddly a lot of people I respect were warmed by his generametal posturing, and I feel bad for them and anybody else he touched.

I took a shot for the dude.

This just comes across as highly disrespectful... it hasn't even been 24 hours, and its not like the guy hurt anyone.. I mean I'm by no means a huge fan but come on.

when I was 12, he tried to get me to coerce my dad into giving him free beer.

my dad, being a prick, didn't.

fuck you, dad.

Dio!....is.....dead!?!?!?

It was time to pass the torch. No more rocking for you....Dio.

Dio has rocked....for a long long time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eTAzYjbKm4

well, he wasn't as bad as Tony Martin

supernaut was an amazing song, rip.

goodbye, Ronnie

R.I.P. Dio, your songs were always fun to sing on long car rides.

But let's be honest here - at least it wasn't Ozzy...

have you heard the new song with gus g?


ozzy should die too

No more rockin for Dio.

The 6 inch lifts are retired.

He did indeed rock for a long long time.

I never dug his music but I respected a man who helped start what metal was and is. much as I dislike singing about angels and wildebeasts, dio really amped up the Middle-Earth in metal.

whatever. respecting the living is so much more important that respecting the dead, but that doesn't seem to make it as big of a priority, eh?

I gave Ronnie full credit for being a decent bloke by all reports. can't pretend to think "Hear 'N Aid" is something to be proud of though.