Holy Diver

[Werewolf]

May 25th 1983 Holy Diver.

[LonnieFisher]

Dio was so awesome!

[EMCE Hammer]

I gotta say I wouldn't have guessed you being into Dio Werewolf. I'm glad he made the last album with Sabbath before he got sick.

[Werewolf]

I gotta say I wouldn't have guessed you being into Dio Werewolf.

Dio's solo stuff appealed to me right away. It wasn't the usual sex, drugs and partying drivel and added to that was a heavy dose of D&D sword and sorcery lyrics and imagery. He also never seemed to talk down to his audience or try to pretend he was just another rebellious teen.

Edit: This reminds me why I never really got into bands like Judas Priest. You've got balding paunchy middle aged dudes screeching condescendingly to 80s teens "We don't need no, no, no parental guidance here." At their age you would hope not. I couldn't take that seriously. That and the whole biker bar look phase many bands were going through didn't appeal to me.

[LonnieFisher]

I saw Dio sing for Sabbath on the Mob Rules tour. That was spectacular. I also saw his Holy Diver concert. That was a really great time for his music. I thought Sabbath was getting better with every album he was on, but it was good for him to go out on his own. He was my favorite singer, until King Diamond took that title from him.

[cjefferys]

Nice, Dio ruled!

[EMCE Hammer]

I'm going to need to dig out my Dio shirt now. Early teen me thought his stuff with Sabbath was deep. Later teen me just thought he rocked solo. Dusty old me thinks he seemed like a really nice guy. Time to dig out my Hear'n 'Aid VHS too.

[Werewolf]

Dusty old me thinks he seemed like a really nice guy.

That's another thing I liked about him. He seemed like a genuinely kind and caring person. He also never bothered with a persona or playing a character on stage. He never came of as fake.

[Spawn67]

Yes Dio was not only one of the greatest singers/frontmen of all time but one of the nicest rockstars I have ever meet who had no ego whatsoever (lemmy was equally as nice). He took alot of heat in his career and he basicially saved Sabbath and took them in a whole new direction when in the late 70's they were considered a washed up act (still ruled though). Where early sabbath was gloom and doom Dio's vocals took it in a epic triumphant raise your sword feel.
I meet him backstage after one of his shows. He signed my Rainbow Rising album and remains my most prized possession. Jimmy Bain the bass player (R.I.P.) and the artist Ken Kelly signed it as well (got him to sign it at a convention)..

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[Earth 2 Chris]

I always loved to hear Dio tell his story how he came up with rock's "devil horns", which is ironically taken from his Grandmother putting the eye of protection on him. Very charming guy. And what pipes!!!

Chris

[cjefferys]

I always loved to hear Dio tell his story how he came up with rock's "devil horns", which is ironically taken from his Grandmother putting the eye of protection on him. Very charming guy. And what pipes!!!

Other than his amazing vocals, Dio's greatest contribution to metal was the invention of "throwing horns". (although some other folks take credit for this as well, including Gene Simmons)

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Of course he does.

I worked with a rather...colorful guy about 20 years ago who swore he was at the first Sabbath show that Dio played at. He swore the fans nearly booed him from the stage at first, but he won them over by the end of the show. Not sure if there is any truth to that, but it was a good story either way.

Chris

[tay666]

Sadly I only saw Dio once, and not until 2003.
When he opened for Iron Maiden.
That was a hell of a line up Maiden / Dio / Motorhead
My daughter and I had 3rd row for that and loved the whole night.