A younger fan's tribute

[Jack24]

A tribute to the greatest of all time and my hero, Ronnie James Dio.

This past week has been one of the most upsetting of my life. Dio was not just the best singer ever, but something more. I realise now how much my life revolved around Ronnie James Dio. I read Blabbermouth every day, as well as this site and the Black Sabbath site and I would perk up every time I saw a story with the word Dio in the title, I must have seen just about every interview with him on youtube, and of course, the music of Dio has provided the ultimate soundtrack for the last five years of my life.

As a younger Dio fan (I turn 18 in two days), I never had the privilege of being around for most of my favourite album releases or seeing Ronnie on so many great tours. I also never got to meet him, which was a dream of mine, but I did have the honour of seeing him perform twice; with Heaven and Hell in 2007 and with Dio in 2008, just six months later, in Birmingham. Those two shows are two of my fondest memories. Perhaps the best of many moments was hearing Ronnie sing the start of Temple of the King beautifully, before tearing into another song, which after a few goosebump-covered seconds I realised was Kill the King. A great surprise and a brilliant performance.

Last year I remember the feeling of elation when I saw that a Dio UK tour had been announced. When I heard it was cancelled I was devastated, I had looked forward to it like I did Christmas when I was younger, but even worse was worrying what was wrong with Dio. When it came out that it was cancer my heart sank briefly, but it was approached with such a positive attitude by Ronnie and everyone else that I didn’t think it a possibility that he wouldn’t make it. As the months passed I think everyone’s confidence grew, and I really felt that the green light was imminent. I think the saddest part about this whole thing was that Ronnie obviously wanted to carry on living and performing and had so much more planned.

The thing Ronnie’s friends and peers have most emphasised in their tributes is his kind, gentle and gracious nature, and I think that really translated over to the fans. An amusing example of this was at the Dio show I saw when someone passed Ronnie a rose, which seems so uncharacteristic of a metal concert, but that’s the bond Dio and us, the fans shared. He was not just a musician, he was a hero and a role model who was loved and cherished and perhaps had the most loyal, devoted and loving fans of any musician.

I’d like to offer my deepest sympathies to Wendy and Ronnie’s family and friends of whom there seem to be so many, and also to all the fans who are struggling to cope with the loss of Ronnie.

Thank you Ronnie for the memories, the music and the happiness you brought me and for being my hero. Long live Ronnie James Dio.

Jack
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Rest in peace Ronnie James Dio

[William_the_Bloody]

I was going to comment on how intelligent and well-written you are for a mere eighteen years, then I realized you're not from the United States, so of COURSE you are intelligent and well-written

I'm over twice your age and can't hope to write a more fitting tribute. Thanks for taking the time.

Oh, you know, since you are eighteen, I'm curious, what are your favorite tracks? I'm wondering if the new generation hears things differently than us old-timers.

I like "Gates of Babylon," "The Last in Line," "Bible Black"... those are my top three. All epic beyond reason.

[MySweetRonnie]

RIP Ronnie