Dio - Ronnie's Birthday Show (2024)

DYNAMIC 1994 BROADCAST PERFORMANCE FROM DIO ON RJD s 52ND BIRTHDAY Formed in 1982 by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member Vinny Appice, the band's drummer, Dio released ten studio albums and had numerous line-up changes over the years, with Dio himself being the only constant member. The band dissolved in 2010 when Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer at the age of 67, but Dio has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and remain among the most popular and successful metal bands in history. In 1992, Dio and Appice briefly re-joined Sabbath for a tour and the album Dehumanizer, following which Dio reformed and set about recording their sixth album, Strange Highways. Released in January 1994 to fairly low sales but good reviews and reception from fans and critics alike, the group set out on the road for an extensive US and European tour. On 10th July they performed at the Henry W. Maier Festival Park, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for which the group put on a dynamic show featuring cuts from their latest record and from previous releases, including tracks Ronnie had composed for Sabbath and Rainbow. Recorded for live FM radio broadcast this superb recording is even the more exciting and fascinating as the show took place on RJD s 52nd birthday, which was not overlooked as the concert ends with a finale rendition of Happy Birthday , sung by the rest of the band, the announcer and almost all of the audience.