What do you say to the dead? Will you forgive me for living? (RIP Ronnie James Dio)

N'Al on 17/5/2010 at 08:45

:(

Admittedly, I've only ever listened to Dio in his guise as Black Sabbath frontman (incl. Heaven & Hell), but I'm thinking now's a good a time as any to start listening to his solo/ other stuff. Any pointers?

Namdrol on 17/5/2010 at 09:28

RIP :(

Heaven or Hell has a place of honour waiting for you.

N'Al, go for Holy Diver.

I wonder if the massive carving my mate did over 25 years ago on a chemistry lab bench, of the Dio logo and Holy Diver is still there?

witherflower on 17/5/2010 at 11:33

\m/ R.I.P :tsktsk:

Yandros on 17/5/2010 at 13:59

Quote Posted by N'Al

Admittedly, I've only ever listened to Dio in his guise as Black Sabbath frontman (incl. Heaven & Hell), but I'm thinking now's a good a time as any to start listening to his solo/ other stuff. Any pointers?

Quote Posted by Namdrol

N'Al, go for Holy Diver.

I agree, Holy Diver is certainly his best solo album. You might also want to check out the latter two of the three studio albums he did with Rainbow in the late 70s - Rising and Long Live Rock 'n Roll - both are fabulous. "Gates of Babylon" from the latter is a classic, as are "Stargazer" and "A Light in the Black" from the former.

Anyone else here have any of his stuff from (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_%28band%29) Elf?

june gloom on 17/5/2010 at 14:57

Dehumanizer is my favourite Dio Sabbath album, and his solo albums Strange Highways and Angry Machines continue thematically and stylistically to the point where they're sometimes called the Dehumanizer Trilogy. Well worth a listen.

Queue on 17/5/2010 at 15:50

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow was an excellent album.

hopper on 17/5/2010 at 17:26

Indeed, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow is easily as good as the other two. I'm listening to it as I write. Man on the Silver Mountain and Catch the Rainbow are also classics. On vinyl, no less. That album has been in my possession for more than 25 years :thumb:.

As for Elf, I have their self-titled album. Not entirely my cup of tea, but I really like "Never more", because it sticks out between the more traditional blues-rock songs with its arrangement and lyrics pointing in the direction where Dio's music later developed.

N'Al on 17/5/2010 at 17:42

Quote Posted by dethtoll

I agree, Dehumanizer is Dio's best Sabbath album. Will check out your (and everyone else's) suggestions. Thanks guys!

Risquit on 17/5/2010 at 19:09

Truly sad. I've been on the biggest Dio kick lately too. Been running for the last 9 weeks to Heaven and Hell's The Devil You May Know on my iPod. Its really a great album and a testament to his talent, particularly "Bible Black" and "Atom and Evil". If you don't already have it, get that and Black Sabbath's The Dio Years and Rainbow's greatest hits album.

I had the opportunity to see him on the Last in Line tour in 1985 and Heaven and Hell in 2007 and will never forget either one of those shows. RIP :(

theBlackman on 18/5/2010 at 05:09

What do you say to the dead?

So long it's been good to know you.