Artist Playlists
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Dio formed in 1982 after singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice left Black Sabbath to start their own band. They released their debut album, Holy Diver, in '83 to instant success with the tracks "Rainbow in the Dark" and "Holy Diver," which became a huge hit with support from MTV and rock radio. After a string of successful and influential albums in the '80s ( The Last in Line, Sacred Heart and Dream Evil) Dio experienced a number of line-up change, but remained synonymous with all of the awesomeness of the heavy metal genre. Experience Dio's many incarnations, side projects, and off-shoots with this decades-spanning playlist. - Though Dio's vocals are the stuff of legend, his contributions to heavy metal extend far beyond his fire-breathing pipes. Just about any group dealing in operatic bombast, classical fretwork, and lyrics steeped in strange lore (we're looking at you, Iced Earth and Dream Theater) owe the trailblazer a big fat thanks. Dio means “god” in Italian. That's how influential he is.
- For five decades, Ronnie James Dio devoted his life to a celebration of metal's malicious glory. He ignored the perks of stardom and the latest trends, and instead operated solely for diehard fans. He remained a hero until his death because of the performances on this playlist. If there's a headbanger's heaven, it must look a lot like a Dio concert.