Ronnie James Dio, lead singer of Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Dio, dies [Updated]

Influential heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, best known for his iconic wailing for Black Sabbath and, before that, Rainbow, has died of stomach cancer. His death was announced via a statement on his website from wife Wendy Dio, which read:

Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes 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. -- Wendy Dio

[Updated at 2:45 p.m.: Dio's stomach cancer diagnosis became public in late 2009. Earlier this year, the artist announced that a planned European tour with his band Heaven & Hell would have to be canceled due to his declining health. Dio, however, was able to appear in Los Angeles at an early April  metal event sponsored by hard rock magazine Revolver, where he spoke of the challenges of dealing with chemotherapy. 

"I never realized what a difficult thing it was to go through," he said in a video interview with Artisan News. "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."

Dio was born July 10, 1949, according to the Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, yet there has long been dispute about his age. Fans have long put Dio's true birth date as the summer of 1942, and numerous reports of Dio's death have cited his age as 67.

Dio replaced Ozzy Osbourne as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, who left the band in 1979 after increasingly reckless behavior. Dio's first album with the group, "Heaven & Hell," has been certified platinum by industry trade body the RIAA, putting its total shipments at more than 1 million copies.  Soon after the release of 1981's "Mob Rules," Dio left Black Sabbath to start his own group, Dio.

Dio continued to record with his namesake group into this decade, and more recently had formed Heaven & Hell. The latter was essentially a reunion of the Obsourne-less Black Sabbath, and released the studio effort "The Devil You Know" in 2009. The Rhino album entered the U.S. pop chart at No. 8 after selling 30,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.]

The Times will continue to update this post with a more expansive look at one of the godfathers of heavy metal, but, for now, check out the above clip, eight minutes of Dio 101, which illustrates the breadth of Dio's powers. Every metal vocalist who's ever reached for an operatic note owes a debt to the master.

-- Randall Roberts and Todd Martens

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Comments

[Chandler]

Ronnie you were an amazing songwriter and an even more amazing vocalist. The dirt bag pop singers and rock star wannabes these days don't come close to RJD's vocals. It's so hard to believe that you checked out but at least you don't have to deal with cancer anymore. I can't wait to meet you one day in the here after. Thank you for your music, your mysticism of songwriting genius and for being one of the greatest performers to ever grace the stage. RIP

[Ken Harper]

I had the privilege of meeting Dio a decade ago. We exchanged stories of our beloved dogs, mine who was very ill (Tuesday Harper) and his dog who had recently passed away from the same disease. I am now a professor in the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and I often tell the story of meeting my childhood hero and... being so relieved he was as kind and humble as I could have ever hoped for. Thank you Dio for making dreaming more than OK. Wonderful journey to you.

[Joe]

This is who every rock singer aspires to be, whether they've openly said it or not. I'm sure he has influenced hundreds, if not thousands. I grew up on this guy's music, from my early teens to my early 40's. God must have needed another great voice for the choir. RIP RJD.

[Geraldine Cregg]

Ronnie Dio was the front man for a do-whop band "Ronnie James & the Phrophets: in the Syracuse NY area circa the late 50's -early 60's

[Jeff Ray]

No mention of his first, and rather underrated band Elf?

[Milton Taboada]

R.I.P. DIO
All my sympathy to Dio's family in this trying time.

[jojo]

Jack Black must be very depressed right now....

[Ashur]

RIP and condolences to the family. A great artist.
-Ashur

www.CorvetteMafia.com

[Black Sunshine]

I guess he's going to see the man on the silver mountain...

[theMike]

love & miss ronnie L(

[Pete]

Oh no, here it comes again
Can't remember when we came so close to love before
Hold on, good things never last
Nothing's in the past, it always seems to come again
- Neon Knights

[JO]

How sad.

Saw him first in 1984 (Last in Line tour) and last in 2003 (on a ticket with Deep Purple and the Scorpions).

I still think "Heaven and Hell" is Black Sabbath's best album. I remember thinking "The Mob Rules" was the greatest song on the "Heavy Metal soundtrack." And always considered "Holy Diver" to be one of the greatest.

And the first time I heard "The Last in Line" on 106.7 KAZY in Denver, I rushed out to the store to buy the album.

I had read a few interviews where he was discussing his illness and thought if anyone could beat it, he could. No doubt he was a fighter.

This is sad, man. Never met him. But enjoyed his music so much.

It's just sad.

[Keith in VA]

RIP Ronnie James Dio, a true music legend. Maybe Ozzy will sing some Dio-era songs if Sabbath ever plays again. For Dio and all the fans...

[Mark Hodgetts]

Ronnie Dio was an amazing vocalist. I'll never forget hearing his voice for the first time on Rainbow Rising. An incredible performer who I had the privilege of seeing live just once.

Such power, such presence, I'll never forget.

What was his best song?

Man on the Silver Mountain? Tarot Woman? Heaven & Hell, Rock & Roll Children? Catch the rainbow?

Who knows they were all great.

Long Live Rock & Roll

Rock on Ronnie

[Rick]

Damn... this was unexpected

Los Angeles will miss the one and only Ronnie James Dio: A true metal warrior, one of the best vocalists in rock and roll.

If you grew up with Ronnie you will never forget and now you will always miss his singular and dedicated talent.

Long Live Rock And Roll and Long Live Ronnie James Dio !!!!!!

Amen brothers........

[Royce]

A great Poet and Singer has died. You were one of a kind RJD and we'll never forget you.

[Raymond F]

Wow.. I'm 50 years old. Family have died. Friends and celebrities have died and I haven't cried. I'm listening to the clip above right now as I type and I've got tears in my eyes. I've loved, I mean LOVED this guy since I was 19. Ronnie, You. Are. The. Best. PERIOD! I'll bet that tonight, if we stick our heads out the window, we'll hear people the world over blasting Ronnie's music. I will be. Thank you Ronnie. ♥

[Glen Danzig]

God Bless the Man on the Silver Mountain!!

[shawn]

RIP Dio a rock inspiration. I am truly sad to read this and I send my prayer to Dio's family. You will be missed Ronnie.

[wog]

I never saw Ronnieplay..but I met him twice...once in 1986 and once in 1999...both times very gracious and engaging....a true gentleman...one of the fineset Rockers ever to walk the earth
\,,/

[Al]

Whenever Dio looked in my direction in concert, I knew he was looking at me despite the thousands of other people around me. Ronnie James Dio was a class act and will be missed. Stand Up And SHOUT! R.I.P. Ronnie.

[Ken]

God, what a voice.

The diagnosis must of been frightening.
So sad it ended like the way it did but I truly hope he is in a better place, free from pain.

Sad for his wife.

RIP
RJD

[Rob in L.A.]

Ronnie was one of the truly great singers in rock and roll. His influence was so widespread. He had a voice that could blow the roof off. I saw him in concert about six times or so, with Rainbow, his own band, with Black Sabbath then Heaven and Hell. I am truly saddened today to hear the news, and it's a sad day for rock and roll losing one of it's icons. I practically grew up on rock and roll listening to him. His voice and his music will live on forever. Listening to Dio right now. Heaven now has it's newest Metal God.

[happy ziggy]

I met Ronnie Dio in the mid-80s. I told him that I thought that he had one of the greatest voices in the history of rock and roll. He seemed so genuinely grateful, and gave me a huge bear hug! What a nice guy. My sincerest condolences to his family.

[marco patino]

One day we'll see you through the Gates of Babylon RJD, may you sleep well and dream deep.....