Rest In Peace – Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010)
It has been a very slow news weekend in the metal world, so it saddens me to post the following info:
Ronnie James Dio, legendary vocalist for Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell and Dio, has died after a battle with stomach cancer, according to wife Wendy Dio. He was 67 years old.
The heavy metal singer died early this morning. He was being treated at M.D. Anderson in Houston.
A Twitter rumor circulated Saturday night that Dio had died. It caught fire so quickly that his wife had to issue a formal denial.
His wife released a new statement to blabbermouth.net today confirming his death:
Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. [on Sunday] 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.
Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all.
We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us.
Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss.
Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.
In my opinion, Ronnie James Dio is and always will be one of the greatest singers in the history of heavy metal. His has had some amazing accomplishments with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his solo band DIO. Our condolences and well wishes go out to Wendy Dio, and the entire DIO family, and friends. The metal world lost one of their greatest Icon’s today. Ronnie James Dio will be greatly missed.
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Hard Rock Hideout 
This is simply sad. I saw RJ DIO live only once but it was also one of the few shows that I got to see w/my little brother and that’s a tough long story to tell all on its own. I’m a long time sabbath fan. Everything Sabbath. All encarnations. Born Again. heaven and hell. Everything. In the Job Corp friends gave me the nickname Dio which I didn’t deserve but loved anyway. I lit a candle.