# Fact: Ronnie James Dio is a metal god. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649 "2010-01-20T02:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/1 "2010-01-20T02:18:22Z")
[Proof.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqLFl2obk-o&feature=related) I’ll cut a bitch who disagrees. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/2 "2010-01-20T03:03:18Z")
Still not my style of music, but I always thought anyone whose first name is Ronnie and whose last name is Dio, has to be cool. The middle name’s the frosting on that cake. I worked with a guy who was in a hairmetal band that had a medium high profile in the 80s, and he loved RJD. And Yngwe Malmsteen, the other coolest name in metal. I turned him onto Prince; he was surprised at how good a guitarist Prince was. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/3 "2010-01-20T03:34:57Z")
Ronnie James Dio was a fucking God in the 80’s. The guy is like 5-foot-4 and old enough to collect Social Security Retirement, still tours and he still has great pipes. Even if Dio is starting to look like Gollum now, I like this performance better: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Zbj0iyI4NMQ/hqdefault.jpg "Dio - Heaven And Hell") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbj0iyI4NMQ) ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/4 "2010-01-20T03:38:41Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > Ronnie James Dio was a fucking God in the 80’s. The guy is like 5-foot-4 and old enough to collect Social Security Retirement, still tours and he still has great pipes. > > Even if Dio is starting to look like Gollum now, I like this performance better: > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbj0iyI4NMQ&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbj0iyI4NMQ&feature=related) Tough little bastard manhandled that guy off stage.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/5 "2010-01-20T03:39:46Z")
Aw, crap! I didn’t know he had cancer. Be well, Ronnie! :: makes devil horns to ward off the evil cancer :: ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/6 "2010-01-20T05:44:38Z")
I saw Heaven and Hell (which is what Black Sabbath + Dio is calling itself these days) live in October and can confirm from firsthand experience that Dio _still_ rocks. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/7 "2010-01-20T12:25:48Z")
I was just taking my 11-year-old son and a buddy of his home from soccer. I asked them if they wanted to just hang out and talk or listen to metal on the way home. “May we listen to metal please?” Ah, kids. I cued up The Last in Line and it started up with the fingerpicky part. “Mr. WordMan? Um, this isn’t metal…” “wait for it” “…it still isn’t metal” “wait for it” RJD: “…we are coming…HOME!!!” “Cooooool.” 😃 I thought “my work here is done” and drove 'em home. My son and I will occasionally point at each other and say “No, YOU are the throw before the toss!” 😉 RJD’s lyrics are just all kinds of awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/8 "2010-01-20T13:31:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I thought “my work here is done” and drove 'em home. My son and I will occasionally point at each other and say “No, YOU are the throw before the toss!” 😉 RJD’s lyrics are just all kinds of awesome. I’ve gotten my 3.5 year old to throw the metal horns while listening to Priest. It’s so cute when she asks if we do it now, and I tell her no we have to wait. Then one day I did it while driving and she said “No daddy, you can’t do that at the end of the song!” I saw Heaven and Hell a couple of years ago, I wanted to go again last year but just couldn’t make it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/9 "2010-01-20T14:40:50Z")
Ronnie has inspired many a young rocker. From “The Pick of Destiny”: [QUOTE=Ronnie James Dio] \*I hear you brave young Jables, you are hungry for the rock But to learn the ancient methods, secret doors you must unlock Escape your father’s clutches in this oppressive neighborhood On a journey you must go to find the land of Hollywood In the City of Fallen Angels, where the ocean meets the sand You will form a strong alliance and the world’s most awesome band To find your fame and fortune, through the valley you must walk You will face your inner demons, now go my son and ROCK! \* [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Gesturing\_Mildly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@Gesturing\_Mildly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gesturing_Mildly)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/10 "2010-01-20T16:24:27Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > Ronnie James Dio is a metal god You say this as if there is some dispute. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/11 "2010-01-20T16:53:26Z")
I agree he’s a god but what about Tony Iommi? Forty years later and guitarists are still playing catch up with him and his missing finger in the quest for heavy. Do yourself a favour and feast your eyes on this [bit of Black Sabbath awesomeness](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh-p3BA2Xo8) from way back. It’s the first part of ten. When Rolling Stone did their list of greatest singers of all time they mocked Maynard James Keenan (of _Tool_) for picking Dio on his list. I haven’t read that stinking rag since. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/12 "2010-01-21T01:50:48Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Ronnie has inspired many a young rocker. From “The Pick of Destiny”: You forgot the song… [Tenacious D- Dio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcgAbHNFMc8) It’s a passing the torch song … ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/13 "2010-01-21T01:57:45Z")
Dio has rocked for a long long time. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KkcmTCVbDG4/hqdefault.jpg "Tenacious D - Dio (Studio Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkcmTCVbDG4) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/14 "2010-01-21T12:55:13Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > I agree he’s a god but what about Tony Iommi? He basically invented Heavy Metal as we know it today. He is totally revered in guitar circles. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ronnie-james-dio-is-a-metal-god/525649/15 "2010-01-21T13:07:00Z")
RJD blew out my left eardrum when I was 17. Holy Diver tour, Hammersmith Odeon, London. He’s a bastard.