Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio

1942-07-10 – 2010-05-16 (age 67) Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
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Biography

Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona, July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), was an American rock and heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, among others. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser Hear 'n Aid. He was widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture in metal culture.

Before his death, he was collaborating on a project with former Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice, under the moniker Heaven & Hell, whose only studio album, The Devil You Know, was released on April 28, 2009. He has sold over 47 million copies of albums with all of the bands he has worked with.

He died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, CA. One of the last songs he recorded was titled "Metal Will Never Die".

Photos

Known For

Live Aid
Live Aid

1985

as Self

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
Dumb: The Story of Big Brother Magazine
Dumb: The Story of Big Brother Magazine

2017

as Self (archive footage)

Satan’s Top Forty
The Hear 'n Aid Sessions
The Hear 'n Aid Sessions

1986

as Self [Dio]

Iron Maiden: Flight 666
Dio: Dreamers Never Die
Heaven and Hell: Rockpalast
Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life
🎦
Heaven & Hell: Neon Nights
Dio: Holy Diver Live
Dio: Holy Diver Live

2006

as Vocals

Dio: Evil or Divine
Dio: Evil or Divine

2003

as Himself - Vocals