Ronnie James Dio—A Devil Horn Salute!

By now, most of you have heard about the passing of metal legend Ronnie James Dio on the morning of Sunday May 16th. He lost a battle with the ever so nasty illness, stomach cancer.  We all knew he was sick but were hopeful he would make a full recovery and record and do a second tour with Heaven and Hell this summer.  Sometimes the dragon is more powerful than the Mighty Dragon Slayer, which I’ve always imagined RJB to be.

He was a rainbow wizard with an amazing musical career that spanned six decades.

It started in 1957 in a band called the Vegas Kings, in which he played trumpet and bass.

He was a natural singer and recorded and performed in several different bands that didn’t have a lot of mainstream success until the heavy rock, blues based Elf took off in 1972.

After Elf, Dio went on to sing with Rainbow, Black Sabbath and his solo band, Dio.

One of the highlights of his later career was reforming with Black Sabbath and recording the Heaven and Hell record followed by a tour. I saw the Radio City concert and it was a complete mindblower. He still had the fortitude to bust out the old Sabbath songs with power and force!

Dio was my first big arena show in 1985. I remember how excited I was for the show and how even more excited I was when my girlfriends and I picked up guitarist Vivian Campbell and bassist Jimmy Bain at the guitar shop and gave them a ride to their hotel. (My bff ended up making out with Jimmy in the backseat. I’m sure he was at least 45 at the time and she 16!)

Metal fans become very attached and fiercely loyal to their idols because we somehow relate to their message and it moves us in ways that are hard to explain.

From now and forever when I greet my fellow Hessians, rock out at a show or to my favorite metal records, the “devil horn salute” will behold an everlasting magical sacred meaning. I will remember the man who popularized it by keeping his spirit alive with each mighty raise of the fist, pointer and pinky up high with thumb clasping bent middle and ring fingers. Thanks for leaving us with the bounty of your metal heart, Ronnie James. You were the greatest. Long Live Rock n’ Roll!!!