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Ronnie James Dio Funeral Takes Place in Los Angeles

The funeral of Ronnie James Dio, best known for his time fronting Black Sabbath in the late '70s and early '80s, was held on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Along with some 1,200 fans who braved the heat to watch outside on video screens, the Los Angeles service was attended by a number of the singer's hard rock peers, including one-time Deep Purple singer Glenn Hughes (like Dio, a '80s-era Sabbath alumnus), Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate and Paul Shortino, who had a brief stint providing vocals for Quiet Riot in the late '80s.

Dio's cousin David Feinstein, who played guitar in the singer's early '70s blues-rock outfit Elf, paid his respects to the late rocker. "He touched all of us with his music and his message and his magic," he said. "I know that Ronnie truly loved all of you. He had a great appreciation for your loyalty. I'm talking about all you out there, all the fans."

There were also musical tributes: latter-day Asia vocalist John Payne performed a version of 'Heaven and Hell,' the title track of the first and most successful album to come from the Dio-Sabbath collaboration, while Anthrax's Joey Belladonna gave a rendition of 'Man on the Silver Mountain,' a track by Dio's late '70s group Rainbow.

Dio died on May 16 from stomach cancer. He spent his final years touring with Heaven and Hell, a reformed version of the circa-1980 Black Sabbath line-up.

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assault_attack

Thank you Tom Smith for sharing the RJD Memorial Program to the fans who could not make it to the service. Also to all the youtube videos that fans have put up, You all Rock!!

R.I.P. RJD. Gone but you will never be forgotten.



June 02 2010 at 5:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pa

One of a kind, INDEED!!!!! RIP my brother.

June 02 2010 at 5:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BAM BAM

SO SAD TO SEE ONE OF THE GREATS LEAVE US TOO SOON. MY PRAYERS TO ALL WHO LOVE HIM!

June 02 2010 at 5:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Donna

A sad day in music history. Rest in Peace Ronnie.

June 02 2010 at 5:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
accutek380

BELT-EM OUT IN HEAVEN RONNIE.

June 02 2010 at 4:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
madman

one of the metal kings

you gave us all some real fkn metal !!!!

i went out and got hiz greatist hits..

it rocks..buy one...he will smile down on you !brung back the good ol daz.....

rip my my brother

HEAVY METAL RULES......

June 02 2010 at 4:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jackie

Ronnie you were the best of the best, both professionally and
personally. I miss you, I love you and I always will. Be at peace,
Master of the Moon. Heaven is a more beautiful place with your gentle
grace. I will never forget you!

June 02 2010 at 3:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
margaret duhon

Glad I got to see Heaven & Hell Summer of 08 when they opened for Judas Priest. I also saw Dio as a solo when Lita Ford opened for him. I will miss him and his music. RIP Ronnie

June 02 2010 at 3:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Yee Haa

Ronnie, God Bless You and Rest In Peace. I always remember hearing commercials for when you would be playing a gig here in the Binghamton, N.Y. area with Elf. Also battle of the bands, when I was a kid.

WENE AM in Endicott was the popular radio station then.
Appearing on such and such a date, at whatever venue, "Ronnie James Dio and Elf"........

Nice old memories....

You will be missed.

Mark

June 02 2010 at 3:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bryce

"Just a rainbow in the dark!"

June 02 2010 at 2:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply