The Final Breath of a Legend || Ronnie James Dio Passes Away

Yesterday at 7:45 am, Ronnie James Dio succumbed to his recent battle with stomach cancer and passed away at the age of 67. Just hours after his passing, rumors began to spread across the Internet and while initially Dio’s wife Wendy denied the chatter, shortly after she made the following announcement on his official page:

“Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes 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.”

Losing Dio is losing a metal institution. His contribution to the genre will last for generations to come, and I agree with the sentiment echoed by many that this is perhaps the most significant loss the metal world has endured. Ronnie was a dear friend to some and a great inspiration to many. He will be missed and the shock of this development will tug on heartstrings for years to come. 

We’re going to try to make today centered on Dio as much as possible, starting with the above track ‘Children of The Sea’ from Dio’s time in Black Sabbath. Later we’ll have the ‘Holy Diver' video and at the end the day we’ll conclude with another track from the man’s prolific career. We hope everyone will join us in leaving Wendy and family our condolences on Ronnie’s facebook page, our hearts go out to you all. You can also share your thoughts on this tragic loss with us in the comment section.