RIP - Ronnie James Dio...

[jb666]

Sad so sad... DIO was and will always be one of the best metal singers ever. RIP...Ronnie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOyFE-1LAI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy6URlmeUpk

I was at the NY show (And about 30 others from the late 80's through 2002). DIO got me through some pretty dark teenage years.. The man will be missed.

This is a freakin AMAZING performance. The guy rocked the house down live and the band is TIGHT!!!!

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

I regret not going to more shows. I never left one of his shows disappointed...

[THE STIG]

Yea this totally sucks, first Pete Steele now Dio. And I've never seen Dio or the Dio lineup Black Sabbath. Three years ago H&H were in Cincinatti but I had just started a new job the day before so I skipped, then in the summer of 08 they were in Chicago but I skipped that one too for some reason, now I only wish I done both. "Holy Diver" is my eight year old son's favorite song and "Heaven and Hell" and "Dehumanizer" were my absolute favorite Black Sabbath albums ever, yea that's right screw Ozzy!!!

[Ponch ®]

  "Heaven and Hell" and "Dehumanizer" were my absolute favorite Black Sabbath albums ever, yea that's right screw Ozzy!!!

We may be in the minority here, but I also think that a) Sabbath was better w/ Dio and b) Ozzy was better after Sabbath.

[Manfred318]

  "Heaven and Hell" and "Dehumanizer" were my absolute favorite Black Sabbath albums ever, yea that's right screw Ozzy!!!

We may be in the minority here, but I also think that a) Sabbath was better w/ Dio and b) Ozzy was better after Sabbath.

Ive always thought that. Most will scream blaspheme if you say it tho.

[69bronzeT5]

  "Heaven and Hell" and "Dehumanizer" were my absolute favorite Black Sabbath albums ever, yea that's right screw Ozzy!!!

We may be in the minority here, but I also think that a) Sabbath was better w/ Dio and b) Ozzy was better after Sabbath.

[moparstuart]

  "Heaven and Hell" and "Dehumanizer" were my absolute favorite Black Sabbath albums ever, yea that's right screw Ozzy!!!

We may be in the minority here, but I also think that a) Sabbath was better w/ Dio and b) Ozzy was better after Sabbath.

   And fairy wear boots   

[moparmoynihan]

I agree hole heatedly, however I consider Sabbath with Ozzy a completely different band than with Dio. I feel the same way about Iron Maiden with Bruce Dickinson and Paul DiAnno, two different bands.  Johnny 

[mikepmcs]

I'm having a tough time agreeing with the last few posts. I mean Ozzy was Black Sabbath from the inception.
From 68 to at least 76, they were doing it up. He left for literally a minute or two and came back til 78ish but they blew IMO.  
RJD was with the band from 79-82?? He is responsible for bringing Sabbath back from obscurity, I 'll give it that but to say he was better than Ozzy/Black Sabbath, I don't think I can agree with that altogether.
It's easy to say that Ozzy was better after he left Black Sabbath because he did get his stuff together and totally kicked ass and has ever since.

Hey, you guys seeing these other posts that says he's still alive. WTF is that all about.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/ronnie-james-dios-death-is-a-hoax_100364664.html
http://blog.taragana.com/e/2010/05/16/ronnie-james-dio-dies-false-death-124130/
http://www.examiner.com/x-47246-Tabloid-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m5d16-Ronnie-James-Dio-lives-to-rock-another-day-cancels-tour-due-to-stomach-cancer

[Ponch ®]

I'm having a tough time agreeing with the last few posts. I mean Ozzy was Black Sabbath from the inception.
From 68 to at least 76, they were doing it up. He left for literally a minute or two and came back til 78ish but they blew IMO.  
RJD was with the band from 79-82?? He is responsible for bringing Sabbath back from obscurity, I 'll give it that but to say he was better than Ozzy/Black Sabbath, I don't think I can agree with that altogether.
It's easy to say that Ozzy was better after he left Black Sabbath because he did get his stuff together and totally kicked ass and has ever since.

Hey, you guys seeing these other posts that says he's still alive. WTF is that all about.
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/ronnie-james-dios-death-is-a-hoax_100364664.html
http://blog.taragana.com/e/2010/05/16/ronnie-james-dio-dies-false-death-124130/
http://www.examiner.com/x-47246-Tabloid-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m5d16-Ronnie-James-Dio-lives-to-rock-another-day-cancels-tour-due-to-stomach-cancer

hah...i guess we could get into a DLR vs.Van Hagar type argument, but it's no win situation.

When rumours of his death first surfaced late Saturday / early Sunday everyone saying it was a hoax...but I happen to be a fan of RJD's official facebook page and later on in the day the update by his wife i posted in the OP showed up.

[mikepmcs]

agreed Ponch.
RJD was a god in his own right, don't get me wrong, I loved him too!!!!

I guess I just posted those links because I'm wondering how this stuff can circulate.  I saw his wife's post on his official site.

[rav440]

R.I.P. RJD he was one of the best if not the best vocalist ever in metal

Heaven and Hell - Die Young Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqRRBtQsw3w

[THE STIG]

As far as which Sabbath was better is subject to opinion "Dehumanizer" and "Heaven & Hell" but I could'nt get into "Mob Rules" and "The Devil you Know" as much. But I think overall you just have to say Dio was the more talented musician between the two, but Ozzy's managment and which is what has kept him relavent through the rise of grunge, hip-hop, and whatever other useless form of music has topped the charts since the the early 90's. That being said I think Tony Iommi has always been the back bone of all things Black Sabbath. But like someone else said Dio Sabbath vs. Ozzy Sabbath are two very diffrent sounds just like any other band that has changed singers i.e. Anthrax, Iron Maiden,  Van Halen etc. But the death of Dio still sucks the metal world has lost a true titan.

[RallyeMike]

Whats really amazing is how well his voice stood over time. I can think of only a very few aged rock singers who have been able to maintain, but even then, none of them as well as Dio.

[89MOPAR]

 My "priest" at my wedding walked to the pulpit, down the church aisle, to " Holy Diver "     
  i was already at the front, so it was great watching guests reactions as the song came on and he strolled down 
Guys my age laughed, the older folk must've wondered what the hell ?