Metal Icon Ronnie Dio Dies

Frontman succumbs to stomach cancer

American metal icon Ronnie Dio has sadly passed away after battling stomach cancer.

Ronnie Dio had an enormous impact on rock music. Rising to fame in the deeply uncool mid 70s, the singer first came to public attention as the frontman of Rainbow – formed by English guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.

Touring the world, the singer was contacted by Black Sabbath after the group were forced to sack Ozzy Osbourne. Virtually irreplaceable, Ronnie Dio managed to not only fill Ozzy’s role but to take the group in a new direction.

Remaining at the top of rock music for almost a decade, the ‘Dio era’ retains a following amongst Black Sabbath fans.

Later forming his own band Dio, the singer was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year. Fighting a brave battle, the frontman penned his memoirs in between treatment at a specialist hospital.

Now it seems Ronnie Dio has lost his fight. Posting on the singer’s official website his wife Wendy confirmed the sad news that the former Black Sabbath legend passed away in a Texas hospital.

“Today my heart is broken” she wrote. “Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away”.

“Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.”

In addition to countless hit records and some truly enormous tours, Ronnie Dio is best known for popularising the ‘devil’s horn’ hand gesture. Inspired by his Italian grandmother, he took the gesture for the ‘Evil Eye’ and made it his own.

“He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match it,” close friend and Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, told AP.

-
Join the Clash mailing list for up to the minute music, fashion and film news.