Jason

They have a Heaven and Hell concert they run occasionally, and there's a "Hanging With.." episode, as well as (I think) an appearance on "That Metal Show".

But they spent Sunday and Monday night running a bio-pic on David Cassidy.

Ringmaster

Geezer broke my heart with his description of Dio's last days and his memories of the man. I wish i saw H&H perform live. I thought I would have time to see Ronnie in action, but I guess its a regret I have to bare. It's quite fitting that the last song on H&H's "The Devil You Know" is called "Breaking into Heaven" because I'm sure that's what Ronnie did.

RIP and long live your legacy, Dio!

Giantrobo

I know it's way to early to ask but I wonder if Wendy doing anything Public down the line after their Private funeral? I'd seriously consider going to something like this for Ronnie.

Giantrobo

All I can remember of Vivian's split from Dio was him saying he was sick of smoke machines and getting nearly burned every night on stage. I think someone else,( Ronnie? ) said he went to Def Leppard to get chicks.

VHS?

RONNIE JAMES DIO - Public Memorial Service To Be Held May 30th
Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 19:13:41 EST

There will be a Public Memorial Service for RONNIE JAMES DIO (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, RAINBOW, ELF) on Sunday, May 30th at 2:00 PM PT at The Hall Of Liberty located at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA.

According to Dio's website, "this will be a celebration of the life and music of Ronnie James Dio and is open to all of his friends and fans from around the world. For those of you that will be flying in from out of town or out of the country, we have made special rates at various local hotels available to you! Just got to our official Facebook Page for hotel information!"

Wendy Dio, the wife/manager of Ronnie James Dio has asked that in lieu of sending flowers, "please make a donation to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund. You may send your check or money orders to the Niji Entertainment Group, 12400 Ventura Blvd. #624, Studio City, CA, 91604."

Ronnie James Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer on Sunday, May 16th at 7:45 AM PST at the age of 67.

Supermallet

I might try to go to that.

islandclaws

That could be epic in a Heavy Metal Parking Lot kind of way. Hundreds, or thousands, or long-haired Hessians drunkenly crying along to Holy Diver? I might have to go.

Fuckin' A. Satan would be stoked to party with Dio!

JumpCutz

Viv was definitely Dio's best guitarist but he lost his fire...and his balls when he joined Def Leppard.

Giantrobo

She disabled her comments.

This **** can say whatever she wants about a beloved man's soul, but when people react...she disables the comments.

cungar

People like that are not used to hearing opposing views. Chances are she's never been told how ugly she is.

VHS?

Giantrobo

FUCK!!!!! I hope the Metal Fans nail them.


Story Here

Sick Church To Picket The Funeral Of Ronnie James Dio
terrybezer / News, Top Posts / 21/05/2010 11:15am

A sickening religious cult are planning to picket the upcoming public memorial service for Ronnie James Dio.

Metal Hammer are both sickened and outraged to learn that a Baptist church are planning to protest at the funeral of Ronnie James Dio.

This disgusting plan from the Westboro Baptist Church,. who have already made a name for themselves in the States through their homophobic hatred and picketing of funerals, is advertised on their website’s schedule (which carries the url GodHatesFags.com).

These mis-informed, ill-guided, moronic fuckwits wrongfully accuse Ronnie of Satan worship and encouraging violence of every form, in a post filled with hatred and ridiculousness.

Should you wish to read the post in full, we’ve provided it at the bottom of the page. Just be aware that it carries enough bullshit nonsense within it to make Gandhi want to kick off.

Blabbermouth report that this Kansas-based cult last year filed a legal brief that confirms that they “believe it is their duty to protest and picket at certain events, including funerals, to promote their religious message: ‘That God’s promise of love and heaven for those who obey him in this life is counterbalanced by God’s wrath and hell for those who do not obey him.’”

There isn’t a word in any language that sums up these low-life scumbags so we’ll stick with this one – ****s.

Here is their ‘brief’ in full:

“WBC to picket this public memorial to remind you who worship that old Serpent, Satan, that your time is very short.

“You know 67 year old, Satan-worshiping (or at least one of their enablers) Ronnie James Dio (of showing his devil horns to the world each time he goes in public) Black Sabbath fame is dead, right? We’ll be there!

“Just because the chances of any of God’s elect being amongst this group of heavy metal sycophants is slim to none does not mean they should not get some good words.

“Yes, it is true that Ozzy Osbourne did “accidentally” bite off the head of a bat, but THAT is the least of their sins (little nasties!), they currently do not do that, but they throw raw meat to the audience and encourage violence of EVERY FORM!

“Here you have the list of admitted sins of this now dead and in hell pervert:

“1) He hates his neighbor(s) starting with Ozzy Osbourne, and continuing down to his pornography star niece Gen Padova!

“2) He hates God. Pay especial attention to the fact that he changed his original sir name from Padova to Dio, which means God in Italian.

“3)Ronnie the simpleton enabled, and encouraged Sorceries: everything he was about including the little finger horn thing (he got this from his mother which is an incantation to ward off the “evil eye”) to the drugs, bloody raw meat and his fellowship with those pentagon necklace wearing freakish band members.

“Yes, Ronnie James Padova (NOT DIO) is currently residing in hell. When all those who worship him and his false gods meet him in hell it will be just like this: Isaiah 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: Isaiah 14:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

“Praise God all ye, His people. The Great Day of the Lord draws nigh. AMEN!”

arminius

So is the slug in the video part of this "church"? Be nice if something biblical happened at the funeral.

Bob_Bobbson

Wendy Dio has released a short statement on the Westboro baptist church:

"Ronnie hates prejudice and violence! We need to turn the other cheek on these people that only know how to hate someone they didn't know. We only know how to love someone we know!"

I feel terrible for her. First she has to deal with the death of her husband and then something like this happens, at his memorial service no less.


Like I've seen mentioned in the comments on blabbermouth, this might not be the best idea for the Westboro Baptist Church. I know it might sound stereotypical, but sometimes metalheads can have intense reactions to things like this. Get a huge group of them together and insult a hero and icon of the genre? It might not turn out well.

Fist of Doom

Wow, what an amazing response in the face of such blind and ignorant hatred. Especially considering the pain she's going through now.

These Westboro idiots are only looking for media attention. I wish the media would stop giving it to them.

Shamus McAnally

What an truly odd and saddening week.

Saturday night, at a show, ZO2 were talking while unloading from the stage and someone got a Tweet, then a text, first that Dio had passed and then that it might have been a hoax. We talked about Dio and his music for quite a while. Then Sunday, after arriving home, I get the news that Dio had indeed passed away.

For never seeing him live (in person, anyway), I respect incredibly the legacy of the man, first as a person, then as an artist. To have those legacies wrapped up in one special human being, particularly in this day and age, is all too uncommon. RIP Ronnie. You touched so many lives in so many ways; you will be sorely missed by many.

This past Monday night, during Butch Walker's concert in Cleveland, after finishing a song, Butch said something to the effect of "As a kid growing up, I was a metalhead. Yesterday a metal legend passed" and he paid tribute to RJD by launching into a cover of "Rainbow in the Dark". He obviously didn't sound like RJD, but he sold that song, putting his all into it. I just thought it was really cool that he did that and ended up with a really nice version too. (I hope someone posts it on Youtube soon.)

And then hearing about the WBC and their plans. I can't believe, after all the picketing they've done, something hasn't happened to them. I understand freedom of speech, but other folks/groups that invoke the 1st amendment have faced much more adversity for doing far less. Picketing at funerals for homosexuals, military servicepeople, and now RJD. I hope Wendy Dio's plea is followed as not to cause her any more angst (guaranteed anything happens, it gets pinned on Dio being evil and cultivating that in his fans). But, freedom of speech shouldn't cover complete lunacy.

God bless RJD for everything he was to everyone and may his family and friends take solace that he left an incredible legacy that will live forever.

KnightLerxst

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/njsh0TJYJ6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/njsh0TJYJ6U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

B5Erik

Just in case you haven't seen this - it's Ronnie's last interview (brief, though it is)...

<embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:vh1.com:512147" width="512" height="319" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=vid%3D512147%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Avh1.com%3A512147" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed>

astrochimp

I got the goosebumps when they started playing

cactusoly

watching VH1 classics and they showed a news report/promo of the Golden Gods Awards and mentioned that Ozzy Ozbourne's "bandmate" Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer after the show was taped. Pathetic, you think they would make an effort to keep theur facts straight.

Shamus McAnally

I knew eventually that would have to make it up. Thanks KL!

It was one of the more special concert moments I've ever experienced. It was rather daring of Butch to attempt that song, but it was pretty cool that he did more than just acknowledge it as well (which would have been a nice gesture, in and of itself).

Trout

I think it's time for a good old fashioned Norwegian church burning.

Rypro 525

speaking of Norwegian church burnings, just joined the facebook Petition to have Varg Vikernes burn down Westboro Baptist Church

Bob_Bobbson

Wow. That was...awesome.

B5Erik

I may end up going to the memorial this weekend. It's just close enough to drive, and this would be a historic event. Plus I would like to support Ronnie.

I just hope that I can get a seat (the auditorium holds 1,200 people, and over 800 have confirmed that they will be there so far).