Manowar "tribute" & their attitude to cancer

[Worthless Recluse]

The band Manowar have announced that they are releasing a various-artists tribute album to Ronnie.

http://www.magiccirclemusic.com/news...php?idnews=431

There is no indication so far that any of the proceeds will go to a cancer charity, or any other charity.

It appears that RJD was instrumental in the formation of the band, as explained by former member Ross the Boss:

Ross remembers Ronnie James Dio:

Sunday May 16th was a very sad day indeed for the music world. We lost Ronnie Dio a great singer,songwriter performer and human being! First my deepest sympathies to Wendy and his family , He was always the sweetest person you could ever want to meet! Surely one of the greatest singers of all time!

My Dio story goes back to 1980 when I was in a band called Shakin Street. We were supporting Black Sabbath in the U.K. and North America , Two dates into the tour in England Im backstage and over comes Ronnie James Dio introduces himself to me !!! believe that wow ! He started telling me he was a fan of my last band The Dictators and he knew everything about us, CBGBs, and the New York Rock scene. I couldnt believe it ! But the thing was he was so gracious , classy and downright cool ! Then he proceeds to tell me about this guy that was travelling with their genius technician Dawk Stillwell ,his name was Joey DeMaio and he plays bass like you never heard and that I should meet him . Well right after the conversation he introduces me to Joey and I guess the rest is Metal History ! Ronnie R.I.P. brother

http://www.ross-the-boss.com/

On the other hand, it appears that Manowar have lied in the past about a band member's child having cancer:

CR: You left the band for a period in the early 90s and Manowar contributed the time away to your son’s health problems. Was this the case?

SC: It was the very end of 1989 leading into 1990. I was officially gone in 1990, the first time. I can just tell you and the world that my son was never sick. So you can deduce from that what you may. However, that’s what I’ll tell you [concerning the official statement].

CR: Didn’t Manowar claim he had leukemia?

SC: It doesn’t matter. Yeah.

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/n...-left-manowar/

I used to love that band (when they were good... perhaps even when they were not). I expect many people here will have some personal experience of the disease that claimed our beloved Dio. What do you make of this?

[nunoni]

disgruntled ex-band members having a go at the only band where they had any success, and using Dio's death for that... very sad.

[Riffs]

disgruntled ex-band members having a go at the only band where they had any success, and using Dio's death for that... very sad.

I fail to see how these two guys are "using Dio" in ANY way. That's rather weird thinking.

The first quote is simply Ross remembering warmly Ronnie James Dio and (correctly) crediting him for having a small role in the creation of Manowar. Classy.

The second quote comes from a second, completely separate interview with Scott Columbus. In that interview, he is asked whether his son had Leukemia as the band claimed to explain why they had split. He denies that it is the case. Ronnie James Dio is never even mentioned in the interview. He's simply answering a question concerning him and his son.

How you read it as two guys using Ronnie's death to take shots at their former band is beyond me...

[DiosSword]

I'm not sure about RTB and Scott Columbus using RJD's death as a shot at Manowar...I wasn't there, and I don't know the full context.

But if the story about Columbus' son having leukaemia was a fabrication, then the hell with them for that. One of my uncles died of leukaemia, and my stepfather died of colon cancer. Watching someone waste away from a killing disease is not something I'd wish anyone to go through.

I was a fan of Manowar during their Into Glory Ride/Hail To England/Sign Of The Hammer era, though in retrospect Joey DeMaio's constant trumpeting of Manowar as "true metal" and other bands as "false metal" is a bit laughable. Still, I have Battle Hymns, Fighting The World (cover art a direct ripoff of KISS' Destroyer and Love Gun), Kings Of Metal and Louder Than Hell. I enjoy them now and again.

I had known there was a connection between Black Sabbath/Dio and Manowar, but I thought that it was limited to DeMaio being on Sabbath's road crew during the Heaven And Hell tour.

Since then, I've heard other rumours, that DeMaio and Dio were related, etc., as with Dave "Rock" Feinstein.

[Worthless Recluse]

Posted on Facebook just now:

Dear Friends and Fans of Ronnie, I have seen
lately on Blabbermouth.net a lot of announcements of bands releasing
"so-called" Dio Tribute CD's. Please do not be fooled by thinking they
are doing this for the Fund, the money is going in their pockets and not
to the Fund. I find this totally disgraceful and upsetting tha...t
they are trying to make money off Ronnie's death.- Wendy Dio

Also:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...gId=535916305:

From David "Rock" Feinstein's Myspace blog:

*PRESS RELEASE FROM DAVID "ROCK" FEINSTEIN*
Category: Music

I just found out that ( Magic Circle Music ) stated on their site that I was contributing a song to their proposed tribute album to DIO. It also states that I specifically wrote this song for Ronnie. This is totally UNTRUE! The song is a song called "Far Beyond", and was a cut on the "FEINSTEIN", "THIRD WISH" album, released by Magic Circle Music, (SPV) in 2004. The song was co written by myself and John West eight years ago. I am NOT a part of this Magic Circle tribute album, and will ONLY be a part of any tribute to Ronnie that is sanctioned by "Niji Entertainment Group", and Wendy Dio.

David "Rock" Feinstein

[FireAndIce]

Yeah there are alot of so-called Dio tribute albums in the works, mostly by bands that 1-nobody has ever heard of or 2-are washed up has-beens looking for a buck. In all cases they're trying to line their own damn pockets using a man's death. Despicable

[nunoni]

Just published on Manowar's facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/vid...=1338798713418

Ronnie James Dio Tribute - Manowar Pt.1 of 3 [HD]
by MANOWAR (videos)
2:32
Here is the first promo clip of the new Magic - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio

I hope you all will enjoy it and please do not be influenced by some of jealousy and negativity being spread about this very heartfelt project , which I along with many others who shall soon come forth are very proud of. Magic Circle Music will be issuing a statement very soon but in the meantime let me personally express my feelings about it with some indisputable facts:

1. Joey DeMaio along with other members of Manowar knew Ronnie long before the people who are speaking ill of this project, with the exception of Rock Feinstein.

2. Joey and Ronnie were very close friends and no words of jealousy can ever change that, please look at the video that is forthcoming to see it for yourself.

3. In my opinion, Rock Feinstein has one person and one person only to thank for the fact that he has a career today and that person is Joey DeMaio.

The fact is... Joey signed him to Magic Circle Music personally, Joey not only made it possible for him to play at Wacken, but Joey played the song Far Beyond on stage with him.

It is well known that Ronnie and Rock had not spoken to each other (not the first time for something like this to happen) for many months and Joey alone is responsible for re-uniting them onstage that night.

Lastly, this tribute is being done in memory of a friend by his friends not for financial gain... Joey DeMaio trusts his fans, and his fans trust him... seeing this video will hint that there is a real, legitimate history (and reason) behind our Dio project.

-Neil Johnson, Director

[Psychdoc]

I'm sorry, but I think Shakespeare said it best, "thou protesteth too much".... (apologies for a bit of paraphrasing).

The fact that the Manowar camp has put this out only makes me think even more that their real intent is to cash in on Ronnie's death.

[VikingChrist]

Yeah there are alot of so-called Dio tribute albums in the works, mostly by bands that 1-nobody has ever heard of or 2-are washed up has-beens looking for a buck. In all cases they're trying to line their own damn pockets using a man's death. Despicable

In all honesty, these bands probably aren't going to make money from this stuff. Tribute albums generally don't sell very well unless there are huge names attached to them. Most of these bands are probably just looking for publicity. Honestly, Ronnie's estate will probably make out better than any of the bands on these records because publishing royalties have to be paid. I doubt that most of the bands on any of these tribute albums will make anything at all.

[nunoni]

this statement by Manowar, particularly the bit "Joey DeMaio along with other members of Manowar knew Ronnie long before the people who are speaking ill of this project, with the exception of Rock Feinstein", seems like DeMaio has a grudge against someone in Niji, but I never heard any such stories, so this really is odd. I was absolutely not expecting this sort of problems.

[devilmaycare]

I'm sorry, but I think Shakespeare said it best, "thou protesteth too much".... (apologies for a bit of paraphrasing).

heh heh If in doubt when quoting Shakespeare... Add an "eth" eh??

What I like about your quote though is that the actual line is...

"The LADY doth protest too much, methinks."

Serves him right for wearing those loincloths!

[VikingChrist]

this statement by Manowar, particularly the bit "Joey DeMaio along with other members of Manowar knew Ronnie long before the people who are speaking ill of this project, with the exception of Rock Feinstein", seems like DeMaio has a grudge against someone in Niji, but I never heard any such stories, so this really is odd. I was absolutely not expecting this sort of problems.

I was wondering about the same thing. Manowar's statement seems to be in response to Wendy/Niji's statement and I took Niji's statement as being aimed directly at Manowar/Magic since that was the tribute album that was getting mentioned on Blabbermouth.

[Psychdoc]

Thanks DMC. I knew there was a "lady" somewhere in that quote, and it is an even more appropriate description of the situation.

[BunnyPink]

Yeah there are alot of so-called Dio tribute albums in the works, mostly by bands that 1-nobody has ever heard of or 2-are washed up has-beens looking for a buck.

And I'll give them my bucks . . .

[Baricco]

It's amazing Mrs Dio gave this information from their foundation, but please lady, never consider the bull... that some haters use to write in Babblermouth.

Ronnie James Dio's widow, Wendy Dio, who also served in the role of Dio's longtime manager, has released the following two statements to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Statement 1:

"Regarding Rock [THE RODS frontman/ex-ELF guitarist David Feinstein] and [MANOWAR bassist] Joey DeMaio's relationships with Ronnie:

"Rock and Ronnie were cousins, they loved each other like brothers, they spent time together, called and sent text messages to each other all the time, our families vacationed together. Rock was one of the pallbearers that carried Ronnie's casket at the funeral.

"Ronnie knew Joey DeMaio, they were not friends.

"Can we now put an end to this?

"I am sure there will be people name-calling me for what I say, but everyone has a right to their own opinion, including me!

"Statement 2:

"In answer to [registered BLABBERMOUTH.NET user who goes by the name] 'alternativemonkey', who has every right to ask, instead of assuming, [whether] the Ronnie James Dio "Stand up and Shout" Cancer Fund is my supposed 'slush fund,' as some of you have already accused me of:

"I received the Articles of Incorporation of The Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up and Shout" Cancer Fund, a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation on June 1st, 2010. Registration # 3295083 from the Secretary of State of the State of California. Which states: This corporation is a nonprofit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes. The specific purpose of this corporation is primarily to provide free cancer-screening programs and testing to the public regardless of any individual's ability to pay for same, to provide financial assistance to cancer patients who are burdened with the cost of health care. Additionally, this corporation may engage in activities that are reasonably related to, or in furtherance of, its stated charitable purposes or in any other charitable activities. This Corporation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code).

"The Board of Directors are as follows: Gloria Butler, Wendy Dio, Dr. Lois Lee, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, Stanley J. Diamond (attorney at law), John Doran CPA, Adam Parsons, Tim Murch, Paul Newman, Nick Jackson, Neil Warnock, Robin Shaw, Maureen O'Connor, Dean Schachtel and Sheila Melody.

"The funds are being held in Wells Fargo Bank. To date we have received donations of $170,620.69 through PayPal, and $38,003.05 in cheques. We received a $10,000 donation from METALLICA, and generous donations from DEEP PURPLE, Slash and Metal Blade Records and from all the wonderful friends and fans.

"We held our first Board meeting on June 9th and discussed our first release of funds going to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas, The T.J. Martell Foundation and other cancer centers, we will be requesting proposals from each organization as to how the donation will be spent to be considered by the Board, before any funds are released to them.

"I will keep you updated of where your money is going, and can assure you it will NOT be going into any administration costs, but to the people that need it. This is the main reason I wanted to form this fund, so we do know where the money goes and not eaten up by a big corporation that does have administration costs.

"The T-shirts and buttons were made and sold to us at cost by Blastwaves, the memorial books I personally paid for, and we have to charge postage, as the post office does not mail out for free, there are NO other administration costs. The memorial packages are packed and addressed at my office, by friends and Board members who volunteer their time."

Mrs Dio, you owns my admiration.

Regards.

[VikingChrist]

Rnnie's son speaks:

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...sitemID=141892

Looks like Joey contacted Dan and is planning to donate to charities that Dan recommended. Interesting.

[Worthless Recluse]

Rnnie's son speaks:

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...sitemID=141892

Looks like Joey contacted Dan and is planning to donate to charities that Dan recommended. Interesting.

It is strange that Magic Circle didn't mention in any of the publicity about the album that the proceeds would be donated to a cancer charity. Anyway, hopefully that's the end of it.

[Riffs]

It is strange that Magic Circle didn't mention in any of the publicity about the album that the proceeds would be donated to a cancer charity.

I don't see anything strange about it. Before it became trendy for artists to pose as messianic and charitable figures (see the extremely lame Bono for a perfect example), people used to donate and, you know, shut their mouth about it!

These days, it's like the average people expect to see huge neon signs pointing to generous donators or else, they simply assume these people don't give to charity.

Everyone (including Joey eMaio) is free to donate (or not) anywhere they see fit and we don't have to brag about it. As for Wendy Dio, she can pick the royalty check she will receive from Magic Circle (she is entitled to it by law) and put it the charity she cares for, or not. Her choice as well.

My opinion of a few people involved in this mess has gone downhill, I must say :(

[devilmaycare]

I don't see anything strange about it. Before it became trendy for artists to pose as messianic and charitable figures (see the extremely lame Bono for a perfect example), people used to donate and, you know, shut their mouth about it!

I fail to see anything lame about someone using their fame/ celebrity to actually put the time and effort in, pull the strings they have access to, and actually raise MILLIONS of dollars for a cause they believe in...

He could spend his time off sitting around counting his money... but he chooses to do something worthwhile.

[nunoni]

it's called "self-promotion". He could raise the same money without making sure everyone knows about it. He could probably give away that much money without having his lifestyle affected in the least.

[devilmaycare]

nah. i disagree. he goes far beyond that.

but whatever. i know lots of people dislike bono.

and even more simply don't understand - or don't want to understand - what he does.

but hey... at least he doesn't pretend to be a "real man" about in loincloths & body lotion right?

[Riffs]

I fail to see anything lame about someone using their fame/ celebrity to actually put the time and effort in, pull the strings they have access to, and actually raise MILLIONS of dollars for a cause they believe in...

The cause he believes in is himself. What he does is raise his profile with mainstream lovers, meet religious and political leaders who never gave a crap about the poor and pose as a sort of messiah. It's all show.

He could spend his time off sitting around counting his money... but he chooses to do something worthwhile.

He doesn't sit around to count it, he hides it

[nunoni]

but hey... at least he doesn't pretend to be a "real man" about in loincloths & body lotion right?

nopes, he needs a hat and shades for that

[devilmaycare]

nopes, he needs a hat and shades for that

Personally. I'd go with the hat & shades too nunoni... I don't know what your tastes are but I figured most guys would...


Not that there's anything wrong with that of course...

Each to his own....

---------- Post added at 11:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:50 AM ----------

He doesn't sit around to count it, he hides it

Fuck! So would I!

In fact I do... Just on a smaller scale...

---------- Post added at 11:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:52 AM ----------

The cause he believes in is himself. What he does is raise his profile with mainstream lovers, meet religious and political leaders who never gave a crap about the poor and pose as a sort of messiah. It's all show.

Personally, although I give a few grand to Amnesty each year... All I can say is that he does a fuck site more than I do in terms of charity...

So I'll keep quiet... You are obviously in a much better position than me to judge the motives of someone who raises MILLIONS for charitable causes right?

[nunoni]

so whoever gives the most in the most public manner possible is the most charitable person on earth? Hmm. No.

Body oil or not body oil, I much prefer Manowar's attitude in raising a few thousand and not saying they are doing it, even with the sort of pressure and bad mouthing they've had to put up with. It had to be Dio's adopted son to come forward and disclose where the money is going to.

Something about the left hand not knowing what the right hand does.

[devilmaycare]

so whoever gives the most in the most public manner possible is the most charitable person on earth? Hmm. No.

Did I say that? Show me where? Or are you reverting to your old "misquote out of context" tactics?

[Riffs]

Personally. I'd go with the hat & shades too nunoni... I don't know what your tastes are but I figured most guys would...

Dio chooses loincloths

Fuck! So would I!

In fact I do... Just on a smaller scale...

Interesting.

That's my problem with this. Bono is depriving Ireland from millions and we're talking about a country that struggles greatly right now.

So I'll keep quiet... You are obviously in a much better position than me to judge the motives of someone who raises MILLIONS for charitable causes right?

I'm in a position to make up my own mind, as you are. You can keep on believing in this gimmick as long as you want.

I'll just get back on topic and to my point: no matter what one thinks of Bono, other people (inclding artists) don't HAVE to advertise that they give their time, mony or energy to charities.

It's not a requirement to flash our world concerns. At least, it didn't used to be before it became trendy to do do so.

All I'm saying is, why do people automatically assume that if an artist doesn't advertise he is giving part of the process, then he doesn't give anything?

[devilmaycare]

That's my problem with this. Bono is depriving Ireland from millions and we're talking about a country that struggles greatly right now.

Fair enough. To be honest though, I don't give a flying fuck about Ireland... (shrugs)

I'm in a position to make up my own mind, as you are. You can keep on believing in this gimmick as long as you want.

I'll just et back on topic and to my point: no matter what one thinks of Bono, other people (inclding artists) don't HAVE to advertise that they give their time, mony or energy to charities.

It's not a requirement to flash our world concerns. At least, it didn't used to be before it became trendy to do do so.

All I'm saying is, why do people automatically assume that if an artist doesn't advertise he is giving part of the process, then he doesn't give anything?

Again fair enough. My point has always been that I don't CARE if Bono preens, poses & preaches... I don't give a fuck if he has some kind of Messiah issues... He seems to be doing some good, raising awareness & raising some money. For whatever reason he puts himself out there & gets a job done... Money is raised, initiatives are taken... It's okay by me if his name is next to it.

As for Manowar, again I've never said they AREN'T giving money... but that with the TIMING of this "tribute" they SHOULD publicize the fact whether or not they are giving money. So that people can make an informed decision about whether to buy a record they maybe wouldn't usually.

[nunoni]

Did I say that? Show me where? Or are you reverting to your old "misquote out of context" tactics?

Did I say you said that? Show me where?

Mine was a rethorical question to emphasise Bono's actions are as much about self-engrandising as anything else. And Manowar's don't seem to be, so far. They are putting out a triubute by a lot of metal bands, and giving part of the proceedings to entities that fight cancer.

Manowar are the right band to do that. Their history is connected to Dio, they toured together, they payed tribute to him while he was alive, and they always recognised him as part of their "true metal" thing, whatever that may be. And I remember a Dio interview where he states his admiration for Manowar, particularly for Eric Adams' vocals.

IN this matter, all the bickergin has been one sided, and it's not been generated by Manowar. As for Feinstein's statement, well, one could cynically say that he needs the permission of the Dio estate to release that song Metal will never die, which, being the last Dio song, no doubt will increase the sales of his forthcoming record by a large factor.

[Worthless Recluse]

Fair enough. To be honest though, I don't give a flying fuck about Ireland... (shrugs).

I do, sunshine, as an Irish citizen myself. Bono is an utter hypocrite and a national embarrassment, but that's another debate.

The issue about Manowar is that the tribute was rushed out with unseemly haste, and any sensible observer would have assumed that this half-baked compilation was a money-spinner for themselves, when others were only to happy to contribute something to attempt to alleviate the suffering of others, inspired by their admiration of RJD. The nature of Ronnie & Joey's relationship is irrelevant: if my best friend dies today, it doesn't give me the right to capitalise from his death tomorrow. If we accept that Manowar are NOT doing this, that should be the end of the debate. We don't know why Manowar aren't contributing to the SUAS fund and personally I don't care, but the fact that some seem to be using this or other aspects of the issue to cast aspersions on Wendy Dio is shameful.