Ronnie James Dio’s career has spanned more than 50 years, including stints at the helm of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath and Rainbow. In October 2006, Dio began touring with former Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinnie Appice under the moniker Heaven & Hell. Sadly, they only released one album before Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer in November 2009. He died six months later at the age of 67.
Ronnie James Dio didn’t understand why he was in pain
In April 2009, Heaven & Hell released their only studio album, The Devil You Know, to widespread acclaim. It should have been Ronnie James Dio’s time to shine, but the legendary vocalist was in great pain.
Dio, along with his wife Wendy, visited a Beverly Hills specialist with chronic digestive complaints. Although he underwent a series of tests, he left without a formal diagnosis.
Dio thus embarked on a tour with the supergroup Heaven & Hell. According to guitarist Geezer Butler, he spent several nights playing “with a terrible pain in his stomach”.
Butler said: “We didn’t know it was the last tour at the time.” Dreamers never die Documentary.
And no duo. Wendy recently told the Los Angeles Times that her husband has already shipped Heaven and Hell gear overseas in anticipation of another round.
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Wendy Dio said: “Ronnie didn’t want to take a break.”
By the time the rock icon received the diagnosis, “that doctor over there said, ‘There’s nothing we can do for you. There’s nothing we can do for you. ‘” Wendy said: “You should just go home and organize your stuff.” “It was horrible. We went back to the hotel with tears in our eyes.”
Dio passed away on May 16, 2010
Despite undergoing treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, Ronnie James Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer on May 16, 2010. He was 67 years old.
Barely nine months ago, Dio played his last concert with Heaven and Hell on August 29, 2009, at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In a backstage interview with a reporter from BlackSabbath.com, Dio rated the tour “9.5 out of 10”.
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