Posted on 01/14/2010 9:43:30 AM PST by My Favorite Headache
Legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) was diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer and is currently receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic. His wife/manager Wendy Dio has issued the following update on Ronnie's condition:
"After a few hiccups between Christmas and New Year's, such as a blood clot, a trip to the emergency room, and a three-day stay at the hospital, we had a quiet holiday spent with family and close friends.
"Ronnie and I just returned from Houston, where Ronnie had his third chemo treatment, and all seems to be going well.
"Ronnie and Simon Wright [DIO/ex-AC/DC drummer] went to see 'Avatar', which [Ronnie] thought was amazing! He has also been writing more chapters for his book.
"While at M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre on his second trip, [Ronnie] met a DIO fan named Carmen who has been having treatment every other day for a year, and is eagerly awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Ronnie and Carmen have become fast friends.
"Carmen is a very positive happy person whose existence, like Ronnie's, depends heavily on music and sports.
"On the third trip, we also met his mom and sister, whose total support is so important to all cancer patients. They have become part of our family as well.
"The support we get from all of our friends and fans is such a blessing to Ronnie and I.
"Ronnie, [along with fellow HEAVEN & HELL members] Geezer [Butler], Tony [Iommi] and Vinny [Appice] will be doing some interviews in the upcoming weeks to be included in the new 30th anniversary BLACK SABBATH 'Heaven And Hell' DVD, due out sometime this year.
"We would like to thank Simon Wright, who has been such a help with everything and a good, good friend, of course our doctor at MD Anderson, Dr. Ajani, and especially our family doctor, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, without whose quick diagnosis and help with all the nurses and hospitals, we would be lost. His care and compassion is unwavering.
"Thanks again to all of Ronnie's friends and fans, and — by the way — Ronnie has not lost any hair yet!"
According to a posting on the BLACK SABBATH fan site Black-Sabbath.com, fans can send get-well cards to Ronnie James Dio through the official fan club address:
Dio Fan Club 12400 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 624 Studio City, CA 91604
Additionally, if you'd like to send an email to Ronnie, you can do so via getwellronnie@black-sabbath.com. After a short time, Black-Sabbath.com webmaster Joe Siegler will print them out and pass them over to Ronnie and his wife/manager Wendy Dio.
Dio, 67, has performed with ELF, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, and his own band DIO. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser "Hear 'n Aid". He is widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice and for popularizing the "devil's horns" hand gesture in metal culture. He is currently involved with HEAVEN & HELL, a project which also includes Iommi and other former BLACK SABBATH bandmates Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice. Their first studio album, "The Devil You Know", was released on April 28, 2009.
How long will it take Pat Robertson to say he brought this on himself?
If Obamacare passes, he may be the “Last in Line”.
He probably already did in the 1980s on an episode of the 700 Club. Dio does TONS for charity. Good man.
Damn. He’s one of the most amazing singers there is.
Wow, the guy from the Knack yesterday with brain cancer & now this guy.
Yet Keith Richards lives on.
“The Devil is never a maker. The Less that you give, you’re a taker”
Seems like some pretty sound thinking there.
As for Dio, I find his use of the word "blessed" a little odd.
Dr. Kapoor why does that sound familiar?
Sounds like Ronnie and his wife are coping well and have made use of all those offering support as he fights this medical battle.
Hope he beats it and continues to do well.
Dio, Rob Halford, and Bruce Dickinson are on the Mt. Rushmore of opera-inspired metal singers. They are true artists.
"Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone." - Mark 10:18
Good works doesn't pay for past sins. We don't have the resources to repay our sin debt to God. There is an answer, though...
Beat it Ronnie!!! You’ll be in our prayers.
Mind if we throw Geoff Tate up there?
Who woulda thunk this guy would wind up as a metal god?
don’t forget Geoff Tate in his prime...
We said the same thing 30 seconds apart ;)
LOL Dio looks like he was on the 50s Doo-Wop circuit in that photo!
I don’t think Queensryche had the impact of the other three bands. Tate is obviously a great performer, but I wouldn’t put him up with the three I mentioned in terms of overall impact on metal.
Ian Gillian (Deep Purple) should be on that list, too. Think “Child in Time” from the live album “Made in Japan”.
Got that right.
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