Ronnie James Dio died on May 16, 2010, after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 67. His wife and manager Wendy Dio shared the news with fans.
Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. 16th May… Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.
A voice like no other
Dio started out in the 50s and 60s. He fronted Elf, then joined Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow. Rising and Long Live Rock and Roll are classics.
In 1980 he replaced Ozzy in Black Sabbath. Heaven and Hell is one of the best metal albums ever made. Then he started his own band, Dio. Holy Diver came out in 1983 and made him a solo star.
He also made the devil horns hand sign famous. He said he got it from his Italian grandmother, who used it to ward off the evil eye.
Right before he died, he was touring and recording with the Sabbath lineup under the name Heaven and Hell. Their album The Devil You Know came out in 2009.
R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio. 1942 to 2010.
Black Sabbath t-shirts
Grab the Sabbath Bloody Sabbath t-shirt or the Black Sabbath 1978 tour t-shirt.