Joe Siegler's Tribute to Ronnie

[Joe Siegler]

Unless I'm not understanding what's being said here, wasn't this tour canceled, and the last Dio (the band) show was played 6/21/08? So the video would in fact be from the last time that Ronnie took the stage.

I've since come to believe this is true since I made my earlier comment.

Still, I emailed Rudy Sarzo just to make absolutely sure.

[Sabbath Steve]

I posted a short tribute on my myspace page of my fantasy trilogy,as an aspiring singer,Dio was a major influence and inspiration and so the same in my writing.In fact,I have done some editing already ,and plan to enlist the help of a couple of more people in the opinion dept.

I foresaw the possibility of something happening to someone within the Sabbath camp,though I really didn't think it would be Dio.Because of this and due to the nature of my book and the obvious influences,I tried my best to get the publishing end started last year,before the announcement was made about Dio,it surprised my wife greatly but I even asked her ex-boss,a doctor,if she could be an initial investor in the process.

As for now,I am continuing to try to improve in my writing skills and keeping my fingers crossed that somehow,some way,I can really do something with this,as far as I know,no one specifically from the metal scene has ever done anything like this.,I'm no idiot,I know I have to create an interesting enough story to catch the attention of non-metal heads as well,but within my chapters is an actual tribute to metal,much of it inspired by the person and lyrics of Ronnie James Dio.Now more than ever,I wish that I had the money to at least get things started and take a shot at it.

Though I was familiar with the story of Dio singing for Sabbath,it was the infamous tape double -header of Paranoid/Heaven and Hell where I first heard Dio.Depending on my mood,one side or the other was played a lot.

Over the years I have come to identify myself more with the Dio side of Sabbath,as well as his Rainbow material and solo albums.Though I am a major fan of Iommi's playing and like all shades of Sabbath,in Dio,I have found more of a kindred spirit.As I wrote in my tribute,he really was a hero,with his charity work and treatment of fans,he really lived what he sang about,he stood up for the abused and oppressed in his words and actions. \m/

[IRON-MaN]

I've since come to believe this is true since I made my earlier comment.

Still, I emailed Rudy Sarzo just to make absolutely sure.

It is indeed the Ronnie's last show EVER ! the tour got cancelled only a couple of days before kicking off , the band already rehearsed and everything , but Ronnie's stomach pain was substantial , Doug Aldrich who was stepping into Craig Goldy's place only for this tour ( Goldy has touring commitment with another band at the time) said that the rehearsels were damn good and that Ronnie's voice was great as always !

P.S - It would be interesting to ask Rudy Surzo what was the setlist for this tour , I know Ronnie was keeping some really pleasent suprises for his fans on this tour , some songs that havent been performed for a very long time , Rainbow's Lady of the lake to start with and they were intending to play their new song 'Elektra' as well .

Also note that their are some promotional pics for the band Dio on his limited edition Dio Tournado boxset , those are probably Dio's last promo pics ever ! Doug Aldrich is their instead of Goldy and I believe 'Elektra' was actually recorded with Doug on board , that was Ronnie's last recorded song I believe , but that Atlanta Sabbath show was definitely the last time he ever took the stage !

[Vol4onVol10]

Excellent tribute to an amazing singer who devoted at least 50 years to making great music.

R.I.P RONNIE JAMES DIO
THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL

[Joe Siegler]

Rudy Sarzo replied back, and told me this (he said it was OK to post his email):

I happened to be in Atlantic City playing with BOC that night so I attended the show and hung out with the Ronnie backstage.

We were at rehearsals 2 days away from leaving for England on 11/18/2009 when Ronnie was told by doctors to cancel the tour and begin a comprehensive physical to diagnose the cause of his gastric discomfort during rehearsals. You know the rest.

So yes, that show was his last live performance. I must add that he sang as wonderful as ever those last days at our DIO rehearsals.

Rudy

I went on to ask Rudy if they had worked out the set list, as he (Dio) always tended to come up with some obscure old song to play. Here's what Rudy had to say about that:

And since we were 2 days away from leaving for the UK we had been rehearsing our set list which included Lady of the Lake, Sixteenth Century Greensleeves and a full version of Catch the Rainbow.

Thanks,
Rudy

[Damian]

It would have been great to hear those songs again. I met Rudy backstage that night and talked with him about his book. I felt awkward about asking how he could be there at 9:00 at the House of Blues when Blue Oyster Cult was playing the same night on the other side of the city. I thought maybe they were opening for another band and had already finished playing or something, but I didn't have the guts to ask. It was a nice surprise for me to see him there, and I'm sure looking back on it, he must be happy that he was there for that final show.

[celt]

Lady of the Lake, Sixteenth Century Greensleeves and a full version of Catch the Rainbow!?!?!?!?

Oh dear heavens, I would have passed out from being too happy.

[Sabbathman]

...a full version of Catch the Rainbow!?!?!?!?

At least I got to hear the first parts live...a full version...that would have brought the rainbow before my face for me to catch it!!!

[Charger]

I remember Ronnie confirming Sixteenth Century Greensleeves which would have made me the happiest man alive since, that is my favourite Rainbow tune of all time....but in addition Catch The Rainbow and Lady Of The Bloody Lake!!! Man that would have been over the top set list...I would have been over the moon and back after that show!

[Mark7]

Great work Damian! Such a bummer you were not allowed to film it all, as I'm sure now the band would have loved to have that document now...but what you got was great....Nice memories from Joe, almost parallel to my experience...discovered Mob Rules and Sabbath in 1981 sometime and the Dio era always held a special place for me...I managed to see them in San Francisco in 1982, my first concert ever and I even recorded it! Sadly it would be another 10 years, but I saw the band again twice in 1992. Amazingly, they got it together one more time and I got see this amazing lineup 7 more times between 2007-2009!!! Who woulda thunk it given they could never quite see eye to eye..but they new there was something special about the lineup and that's why they kept going back to it. And finally when they were able to appreciate it....this.

[Sabbathman]

Back in 2008 in Lahti we got the fantastic 2-song medley made of the introductory version of The Temple Of The King and then the full version of Kill The King, one of my wishes became true! And hey, Scott played the opening intro effects of the song "Sacred Heart" but the song that was played after that turned out to be "Lord Of The Last Day"! Ronnie was a bit disappointed for that little mishap, but "Sacred Heart" came later on, with the keyboard intro of "Fever Dreams"! Live situations...anything can happen!

[Paulie 88]

Joe & Damian - Once the video and your texts were posted, I hit the skids all over again. I've been trying to come up with something that says "thank you" properly, but I think I'm going to have to keep it simple by just saying thank you.

All the best,
PAULIE

[Damian]

Joe & Damian - Once the video and your texts were posted, I hit the skids all over again. I've been trying to come up with something that says "thank you" properly, but I think I'm going to have to keep it simple by just saying thank you.

All the best,
PAULIE

It was our pleasure, Paulie. I know what you mean about the impact of it. I edited the footage back in September of last year, and after Ronnie was diagnosed, I kept going back to watch it. Once we heard that he was not going to make it, it was tough having to wait to release it. We wanted so badly to share that performance with everyone, and for a few days I was thinking it wasn't going to happen. Once we got the green light, I added the titles to the footage, and the rest is now history. That night haunts me, dude. I don't know how to really explain it.

[hammer]

Joe & Damian nice work guys fitting tribute to an Amazing performer , who is sadly no longer with us but will always be with us...

I have been a long time sabbath fan since I was about 13 I think , now pushing 47.
And was lucky enough to see Heaven & Hell 3 times on their tour down under August 2007.

Joe keep up the good work and plaese keep the site going man .

Cheers

Bucko

[FireAndIce]

WOW how did I miss this before??

Looks like I'm 2 months late, but great job putting this together guys. Thanks for giving us a little "semi-pro" sample of this gig!!!

[Damian]

WOW how did I miss this before??

Looks like I'm 2 months late, but great job putting this together guys. Thanks for giving us a little "semi-pro" sample of this gig!!!

You're welcome, thanks for the kind words. Would have loved to film the whole show, was planning on it right up to almost show time, but we were forbidden from taping anything beyond the opener.

[Riffs]

I too had somehow missed this video before today.

I know it's been a while since Ronnie passed away but I did feel strange watching this performance. Maybe it's my imagination but he looks tired, which makes the solid performance all the more phenomenal.

I can't believe he was still performing at that level. The other guys too, for that matter. We are incredibly, incredibly lucky that such intense music is/was still being performed by the band, considering their age. It makes me ponder on life and maybe reexamine whether I take certain things for granted.

Feelings of joy, sadness but also gratitude came to the surface while watching this.

Thank you Damian, Joe and everybody else involved in this little piece of history.

[LordOfMetal]

R.I.P Dio

[sarsippius67]

Forgive the gratuitous bump, but this really needs to be at the top, stickied perhaps.

Thanks again Joe and Damian for putting this together for the fans

[dioslefthorn]

Very Cool indeed !

[RobotOfDecay]

I'm new here, so all I can add is great tribute from Joe Siegler.

And obviously Rest In Peace Ronnie, THE best singer of all time. I had the great fortune to see Ronnie three times live, twice with Dio and once with Heaven and Hell. All times I was completely blown away. There was no one better.

Much love,

Will

[Damian]

Thanks again. I figured this thread would be revived around the middle of next month, for obvious reasons, but its nice to see that new people are still checking it out!