Heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio passed away Sunday after a battle with stomach cancer. Dio was a metal icon to all heavy metal fans out there, and very much an influence on many past and current metal bands.
His wife and manager, Wendy Dio, delivered the sad news Sunday evening. Wendy also reported that close friends and family were able to say good bye to him. She asked for privacy at this time, and said that he loved all of his fans and that his music would live on forever.
Lars Ulrich had this to say Sunday on Metallica’s website, “Ronnie, your voice impacted and empowered me, your music inspired and influenced me, and your kindness touched and moved me. Thank you.”
Dio was known for his powerful voice even though he was quite small in stature, and he is credited with making the universal “Metal Sign” or “Devil Horns” hand gesture synonymous with Heavy Metal today. A gesture his grandmother used to do give him as a child that meant protection against evil.
Dio was the replacement for Ozzie Osborne in Black Sabbath and fronted several other successful heavy metal bands such as, Elf, Rainbow, Heaven and Hell, and Dio.
He was loved by many musicians and celebrities. Dio regained more fame later in his career when he reached a certain “classic” status and also had a song written about him by Kyle Gass and Jack Black’s “Tenacious D”. He also had his hit song “Holy Diver” revived and covered by modern day heavy metal band “Killswitch Engage” that reached #12 on mainstream rock charts back in 2007.
Ronnie James Dio will be loved and missed.
What a sad day for metal fans everywhere
Dio, time to go. you must give your cape n scepter to me……and a smaller one for KG.