Many artists pay tribute to Ronnie James Dio including Appice brothers, Lords of Black and more

Many artists pay tribute to Ronnie James Dio including Appice brothers, Lords of Black and more

Today is the tenth year anniversary of the death of Ronnie James Dio (Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell), who is one of the most revered heavy metal singers of all time. Many artists have released videos today to pay tribute to the deceased singer including Lords of Black featuring frontman Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, King Kobra, Blue Murder) and Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio, Last In Line) along with singer Jim Crean, and Electric Mob frontman Renan Zonta.

Wikipedia states the following about Vinny Appice‘s time in Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell alongside Ronnie James Dio (with slight edits):

“Appice joined Black Sabbath during the tour in support of the Heaven And Hell album in 1980. He was quickly brought in to replace original drummer Bill Ward, who quit the band mid-tour due to personal issues. Appice arrived for his first show with Black Sabbath at the Aloha Stadium in Hawaii with his entire drum kit packed into the back of a car. He was forced to learn the band’s songs on stage, using hastily written crib notes for each unfamiliar song. A sudden rain storm made the ink run on Vinny‘s notes. According to an interview conducted at NAMM in 2012, Vinny stated that at the end of the show during the bows he tossed the notebook into the crowd. Appice subsequently appeared on the Black Sabbath albums Mob Rules (1981) and Live Evil (1982).

In late 1982, he left Black Sabbath along with vocalist Ronnie James Dio and formed the band Dio. They recorded Holy Diver (1983), The Last in Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Intermission (1986), and Dream Evil (1987). In December 1989, Appice left Dio and briefly teamed up with Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson in the band Flesh & Blood.

After joined World War III in 1990, in 1992 he returned to Black Sabbath for the Dehumanizer album and tour. “I like Vinny – he’s a nice chap,” Tony Iommi reflected to the Sabbath fanzine Southern Cross. “Vinny was asked to continue with the Sabbath thing, but he didn’t. I like Vinny‘s playing.” Appice rejoined Dio and they recorded Strange Highways (1994) and Angry Machines (1996).

Prior to the 1996 tour, Appice played drums for Las Vegas–based guitarist, Raven Storm, on his album The Storm Project, which also involved long-time Dio engineer and producer, Angelo Arcuri. Arcuri was also a childhood friend of the Appice brothers…..

Appice rejoined his Black Sabbath bandmates Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, and Tony Iommi in 2006 as Heaven & Hell, touring and releasing one studio album, The Devil You Know, before Dio‘s death in 2010.”

Lords of Black‘s “Rainbow Eyes” (Rainbow cover) video:

Carmine and Vinny Appice‘s “Monsters & Heroes” video:

Electric Mob singer Renan Zonta‘s “The Last In Line” (Dio cover) video: