Ronnie James Dio talks w Eric Blair 1997

[@billk9628]

When "Holy Diver" came out, I was 17,and delivering pizza's like many teenagers. But I lived 2 miles from Alpine Valley!!!!!! I got the call to deliver 14 pizza's to Back stage! I met this man, and he was the most gracious, and generous customer I had! You see how he is in this video, imagine being 17 and meeting your idol? On the job? And then getting a $150.00 tip? We only talked for a few minutes, but I always new that was the most special conversation I'd ever have! I told him if i didn't have to work I'd be out there in the crowd! He said, yeah, but you wouldn't be back stage would you? He thanked me for taking care of his crew, shook my hand and said thank you! I am now 52, and this is one of my best memories! Thank YOU Ronny!

[@josephbarr1659]

Amazing story. I never got to meet Dio, sadly. Only saw him live twice, but he has been my favorite singer since probably Dehumanizer. In 1990 I was just making the transition from Led Zeppelin to Black Sabbath (and other metal), so still had a lot to learn. Every first-hand account I have heard about people meeting RJD has been a positive one. Everything about him screamed greatness. You are so fortunate to have met him. And how great was it that Dio turned a negative (you having to work) into a positive?! Thank you for sharing your story.

[@josephbarr1659]

I was just thinking more about this story. Aside from being just a totally awesome story, it makes me wonder how many people out there have had their own encounter/interection with RJ Dio I think it would be fun to compile a list of such stories, and maybe even publish it. It's something that could really help bring his fans closer to him.

[@frakman1]

Thank you for sharing that lovely and heart warming story Bill. I'm only now watching his interviews and seeing what a decent and intelligent man he was. Makes me appreciate him even more.

[@jaimecarrillo613]

Bill K awesome story 🤟🏽 I was lucky enough to see Dio live many times but will always remember first time we were standing to the left of the stage just watching before getting to our seats and He Noticed Us Standing there & MADE US KNOW SURE HE APPRECIATED US BY GIVING US THE 🤟🏽 & POINTING TO US APPLAUDING👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 ALWAYS LOVED HIS FANS 👏🏽. I MISS HIM ALWAYS 😢 RIP RJD😔🤟🏽

[@billk9628]

@@jaimecarrillo613 I was so damn lucky to have grown up where I did! For us kids, this was normal! Every summer from 1979 until I left the area in 1995, we spent our summers at Alpine Valley, I've seen literally hundreds of shows there, most were free because I knew people and also knew where to jump the fence! :-P Little did I know that I was growing up at a time in history that would prove too be the peak of live music! Nobody does it the way we did! I have friend and family in the Motley Crue video "Same ole Situation", and I was on the roof of the Beer garden that night! I've met Bill Cosby (not that he was worth bragging about) and Rick Springfield, (who was a stuck up douche)! Axle Rose had two homes in the area both on lakes I used to fish. People will never know what this was like, but my class mates all know! We were the chosen ones! And If this sends me to hell, well? In the immortal words of Jerry Garcia,,, "At least I enjoyed the ride"!

[@AbigailBGnath]

His passing still hurts. So glad KZbin is the platform for these gems. It keeps RJD alive.

[@IronMaidenDoD]

i still miss him.

[@sarty23]

So do I.

[@BryanEddy09]

Beautiful man.forevet.

[@carolinepercy1216]

';+💝+\mXm/+💝+

[@antimurphy8212]

It seemed like when Ronnie was alive, the world was definitely a better place. Ronnie was an amazing human being. His spirit lives forever!

[@wildernessman9388]

Heaven and Hell album is the Mona Lisa of the heavy metal generation.

[@iconicon7354]

Revelation for the Children Of The Sea and the Epiphany of those who will Die Young.

[@dazauto1400]

Mob Rules was pretty awesome too!

[@chrismcmullen4525]

No. 1 in my book.

[@MicahMicahel]

Duo had his act together and the influence was incredible... they were still Sabbath but they were so much tighter

[@MrOctober44]

You're all fools! The Mob Rules!!

[@davidallen346]

There will never be another singer /musician like Dio. Such a intelligent man !

[@jormungandr7885]

+David Allen Actually there is one singer that is as good as Dio, Nils Patrik Johansson, check him out, he's singer in Astral Doors, Wuthering Heights and Civil War

[@mattirealm]

Except that this is about Dio and not those other guys, and he was pretty damn good, and is missed.

[@t.j.stonehouse5416]

David Allen thank fuck .....weird midgets should stay out of metal . don't get triggers , hooooollllllllllllyyyyy diiiiivvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvaaahhh. such a pompous mystical midget. oh r.i.p.

[@t.j.stonehouse5416]

David Allen oh dio ...my hero!

[@t.j.stonehouse5416]

Roger Anglin. holy diver ! fuckin midget . good riddance :) . dio sucked .

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

It is so awesome that Ronnie James Dio got to finish his career with the band that he was the most happiest with. Even though it was called Heaven And Hell at the time it was still Black Sabbath. I am happy for Ronnie James Dio that he got a third chance to sing with Black Sabbath because the first two times ended badly , and the most important part is they repaired their friendship. I love every band that Ronnie James Dio was in Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio.

[@AngelMartinez-qs3cf]

Ronnie James Dio, greatest Heavy Metal Singer, IMO. Loved it! People might beg to differ though. Thank you for posting this.

[@stargazer17]

I love RJD. May he rest in peace. Thank you for sharing this video!

[@jennyjohansson47]

He really was an intelligent man, In every interview he has something interesting and valueble to say..and even though it doesn't matter, I must say that he looked very good

[@arminpoorfard306]

He was not just a musician.He was a philosepher.RIP Ronnie James DIO.

[@AuntBevsABCJuice]

Hell yeah. His writing was super deep

[@LACaradoc]

Dio's music helped me survive high school. It still helps me to this day. Thank you for a great interview!

[@jhrharrison]

I can see the respect you have for him; you're a good listener, Eric! Most interviewers with a "rock star" of this stature (vocally) would be injecting so much of their own dialog that the result would be to leave many questions unanswered. Good interviews like this give us yet another piece of the puzzle! I also like what he said about the late Chris Cornell.

[@TheHomelessDreamer]

Been a Dio fan since 1982... That was the best interview of him I have ever seen/read/heard.

[@RattlerX5150]

We all miss you Ronnie

[@maniamraja5543]

Wonderful....to witness DIO given a frank relaxing interview..... it show how much down to earth DIO is...

[@dimebag6384]

I was 12 when a school friend lent me rainbow rising in 1978 it was like a religious moment that changed me forever I'm 53 now but when I listen to rainbow rising I still feel like that 12 year old kid thanks ronnie R.I.P. brother.... the next album he lent me was van halen1 after that I was a lifer 🤘

[@jamiewarriorwarlordmccallu5712]

awesome 1997 interview, with the metal king ronnie james dio. we all love this kind nice man, i wish he was still here. loved him in elf, rainbow, black sabbath, and his own band dio. a legend that will live on forever. so humble too. rare in a real singer. and ronnie is a true singer.

[@dayanamurdock6227]

Hahaha the king of what? Loser

[@jorgepaul5049]

I do never heard a guy so down to earth like Dio. He say anything without no hipocricy and he didn't say nothing bad about nobody.

[@OneMan-wl1wj]

Damn...great to hear Ronnie respect Cornell..both gone now ..rip legends.

[@Pamela6743]

I wore out my cassette tape of Holy Diver. My mother used to yell at me to play something else....nope🤣🤣🤣. I was fortunate enough to see him in concert a few times. Pure magic. RIP Dio The man on the silver mountain. ❤️❤️❤️

[@twotalljones4790]

What a nice down to earth man.I remember hearing a story of a great musician saying he could not believe the sound that came out of this man.

[@MatthewBaumgarten]

Wow, what an awesome interview and I never knew Dio liked Soundgarden & Tool that’s cool

[@jojomendoza4472]

DIO... was the man!

[@redwatch1100]

Rainbow Rising is one of my favorite albums of all time. Dio has the best interview of anyone.

[@bmardon2112]

Eric you are a fantastic interviewer, perfect exchange of q&a etc

[@RICHARDVIII]

Best ever rock vocalists' in the world and deeply missed

[@MichaelGiordano777]

Ronnie is like modern day Metal Mozart. So articulate and creative. And ahead of his time. There will never be another Ronnie James Dio. Good lord the most articulate person I have ever heard.

[@BozJustBad]

Very nice guy, gives everyone their credit despite what he may feel about them personally or the feuds he may have had with them, like Ritchie. Wonderful man, a great loss for music and humanity also.

[@neonspec]

That was a great interview. One of the best I've seen with a big name in metal. Will be checking more of Eric Blair out. R.I.P Ronnie \m/

[@freebirdforever2674]

BRILLIANT interview with the greatest vocalist in rock and metal. I love Dio's mind and the way he thinks.

[@gillesbourgeois5348]

great little man, little physically sized but huge musically gifted, and something quite rare: no ego! a band singer. anyone can say he was great singer.

[@M98-j9k]

No ego? Lol.

[@sadboi7537]

@@M98-j9k Without his ego, he would’ve called it quits after leaving Rainbow, thus no Sabbath and Dio. He was known to have a temperamental ego, yes, but he wouldn’t have created some of the best metal music in history had he stopped around 79’ or 80’.

[@exfedrichard]

The interviewer does a great job, NOT interrupting, letting him talk! Awesome!

[@jamesclark6142]

I am so glad Ronnie James Dio chose to do what he did... Such a contribution to, not only the world of music, but the world in general! Rest in Peace man...

[@matthazelby506]

What,not pay his band mates?

[@jamesclark6142]

@@matthazelby506 Really... Is that what you take away from his life and career?

[@matthazelby506]

@@jamesclark6142 no. You can't take away the voice,Rainbow,Sabbath etc. I was just being argumentative. 🙂

[@jamesclark6142]

I don't disagree... He did screw some good people over...

[@matthazelby506]

@@jamesclark6142 He's gotta be up there with any Rock vocalist. I just find my respect diminishing, bit by bit, every time I watch him slagging yet another musician off. Don't want to be offensive but if you let that shit eat you up, it kills you from the inside.👊

[@AnunnakiThe1]

I missed you DIO , may the gods received you in their eternal light . I was dodging bullets and surviving bomb shrapnel during Iraq- Iran war in mid 1980's when I got his Tape on underground black market smuggled from Turkey to Iraq and heard Rainbow in the Dark song , it still brings my past , he nailed it so accurate ? it was like a knife cutting through my heart . everything I experienced in that damn war he laid on that song accurately. he was forged by the Gods indeed as a shooting star . will always be your fan DIO all the way from Iraq \m/

[@josephbarr1659]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Glad to know Dio has so many fans across the world. I hope you are safe these days, and have a blessed life.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

Good career retrospective. He had Richie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, and Vivian Campbell as guitarists. Not to shabby, lol

[@plciferpffer3048]

This should be used in a documentary movie. This interview is amazingly good!

[@arturslunga4226]

His discography from 1975 to 1984 is unmatched.

[@AuntBevsABCJuice]

1985... Sacred Heart was a great album too. Vivian Campbell was exceptional. His contributions to the first 3 solo albums are unmatched. Other than that, I totally agree with your opinion.

[@Spaceghost_94]

Priceless interview!

[@paulfigg4048]

Love this interviews with RJD! He seemed to really enjoy speaking with you. Thank you for having these available

[@mynamesnotimportant1012]

Great interview of a legend. Those were exellent questions. It was also sad because he's gone.He still lives on and always will.

[@holydiver1376]

I've never seen a performer who cared so much about his fans. It's like he had no ego, despite being the best metal singer in the world.

[@tomdecuca3627]

This shows exactly why this tremedous talent never truly achieved success on a monetary level that he should have -he was a really good man! A real human being! Intelligent,well spoken and direct! Not too many people like him in any business.

[@ajones747]

I love dio soooooooooo much!

[@TheDarKnignt]

You're such a great interviewer, it's extremely rare, incredible interview

[@blairingoutshow]

Wow, thank you!

[@ohguy1991]

Dio is one of the most intelligent person I've ever listened to. He speaks so well and is very humble

[@fernandogarciam.9819]

More than a musician, an intellectual. excellent video, great human being.

[@dingabell5054]

Outstanding interview! R.I.P. Ronnie Jame Dio.

[@robertcromwell7571]

Ronnie was a good friend helped me out a lot.

[@danriley5848]

Ronnie was one of the nicest people I have ever had the privilege to meet a true legend. 🙏🤘

[@JokersWild70]

One of the best singers ever, and just a class guy who treated his fans with total respect. A massive loss to the world of music. Never got to see him live 😟

[@keviniles8748]

Always a class act. He was always intelligent and well spoken and gave thoughtful answers. Miss him!

[@muriloninja]

Love listening to his interviews. Crazy, I was never into Black Sabbath after Ozzy but Dio was incredible! That's whats great about music, I can go back now and appreciate Dio even more now.

[@AuntBevsABCJuice]

Dio makes Ozzy look like a babbling idiot. Well, I mean.. Ozzy is a babbling idiot but you understand I'm sure.

[@ClandestineLodge]

Excellent interview! My favorite singer!

[@blairingoutshow]

CHECK THIS OUT kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJTGZpSEbrp9hpo

[@YogaArmy]

LOVE Dio so much. He was the best and will always be the best. RIP

[@Hotanbrotan]

Massive legend, respect !

[@naschylobo]

He was right on about Tool and Soundgarden

[@cpmyers]

Fantastic interview!! Nicely prepared with great questions. Thank you very much for the upload!! Also, big respect that you allowed the subject of the interview to speak and fully answer the questions you asked. Keep posting more interviews. You have a new subscriber!

[@philwright2480]

Great Interview

[@jaimecarrillo613]

My first time seeing Him Live I Will Always Remember He Saw Us standing to the left of the stage before reaching our seats He Pointed @ Us Gave Us The 🤟🏽 Always showing his appreciation and love for his Fans ☺️👏🏽 I MISS HIM DEARLY😢 RIP RJD 🙏🏽

[@christheghostwriter]

My first concert, age 16: Black Sabbath on the Mob Rules tour in Bethlehem, PA. Saw Dio on his first solo tour two years later, when I was 18, and a friend of mine hooked me up with backstage passes. I had the privilege of meeting RJD, and he was incredibly gracious to me. I was so nervous, and he was so kind and patient with my silly questions. I went on to be a musician and performer in the 90s, and I never forgot what it was like to meet him. I had some moderate success for a few years with a group called Lovecraft, and whenever a fan took the time out of his or her day to express their feelings about our music or performances, I always made sure to be polite and gracious with them. It didn't matter if I was tired because we'd been on the road for two weeks, living out of a van, it didn't matter if some hot chick was waiting for me to hang out after a show, it didn't matter if I was hungry or hungover or pissed off at the sound guy. If a fan approached me and wanted to meet me or ask for an autograph, I made sure to express how grateful I was for their positivity. I wouldn't have been on that stage if it wasn't for the people who bought tickets to the show, and I never took that for granted. And meeting Dio when I was 18 was the reason why. If one of the greatest rock singers in history had the time to be polite to me and shake my hand, then a nobody like me could certainly treat people the same way.

[@AuntBevsABCJuice]

Allentown Fairgrounds. Saw Maiden there too. Both were awesome. I never met Dio. I met Bruce Dickinson on that Powerslave Tour. I think he and Dio are equally intellectual, really down to earth cool guys. I was all of 12 years old then so it was like the greatest thing ever lol.

[@Chris-rs2bg]

No question, HUGE musical influence till the day

[@syadkir]

Eric, thanks! Wonderful interview with the man, and you're a great interviewer yourself. Very enriching talk!

[@eadio8686]

So missed you

[@achillesalexander5327]

This guy was a Class Act! Heavy Metal can learn so much from this one Man Musician.

[@patrickbooten7028]

RJ DIO , a iconic hardrock / metal singer . RIP you magnificent singer . No interuptions in this interview . Says a lot about eric blair .💜💜💜💜👍

[@ianrosen1815]

I like his motto "be the people". It reminds me of the saying "No man is an island" by John Donne. We have to all work together to change things.

[@Classic_DM]

What an awesome interview.

[@josephbarr1659]

Amazing. Love RJ. Dio. Thanks for posting.

[@andrewzenn1719]

Great interview,. Great interviewer. And rjd is so cool.

[@blackythetiger]

Dio , God... yes , glad to met you many times over the years... Great and always a smile for all People .... you and Lemm were so awesome R.I.P Love you and Great Respect ... Chris

[@jonathanbarnes3061]

"Honesty is the most beautiful feature in a woman", what a question quote . Ronnie James Dio was always an advocate for the the voiceless . BUYAH.

[@chrisrichards3618]

I got to know Ronnie with children of the night benefits at the country club in Reseda, California, where I was a production coordinator for future star entertainment and he was the best. I loved him my idol, my favorite to this day and now I’m 60.

[@davefoster3918]

Great interview, what a nice p, intelligent guy Dio was, sadly missed!

[@GaryCantonDrums]

10 years gone today. Rest In Peace Ronnie. 🤘😔🤘

[@edminer9061]

Rest in pease Ronnie! I loved your voice!

[@mahartma]

Good to see Ronnie was in good spirits, even at his musical nadir. I winced a bit when the interviewer held an Angry Machines CD into the camera.

[@steppinout67]

It's very interesting to see an interview where Dio is talking about Ritchie with no animosity toward him when in previous interviews, one from 1994 for instance, he talks about what a bad person Ritchie is.

[@antoniochagas701]

Time has passed, he's not that pissed like he was back then

[@MicahMicahel]

He seems like he’s above it

[@billk9628]

As a musician, when you break off a band, it's like a kick in the kidney! When you're together, your heart pours out like water into a glass, but that's the only place you can do that! During your time as a band, you pour your soul out and hope that it becomes something special.. When it fails, you feel like nothing will ever be good again. And then you find a few guys and start over. It's a vicious cycle, but at the end of the day you have to sell out or go home! Nothing is left! There is no, "In between"!

[@ToothlessWizard]

Never met the man, did see him live once with the Killing the Dragon tour. I feel lucky I got to see him. Never knew you could actually miss someone you never really knew. Thanks for uploading this interview, very very good stuff! RIP Ronnie. \,,/

[@samtraygis1337]

Great role model such a cool guy

[@charlesbarr3561]

Wow, listening to RJD talk about his admiration for Tony, and this is years before the Heaven and Hell moniker releases The Devil You Know'. That right there, is why The Devil You Know is so great.

[@chrismcmullen4525]

Great interview. Ronnie was one of a kind.

[@AmberLie]

Ronnie James Dio has become the most influential and inspirational people in my life, after someone compared my lyrics to his. Holy hell.

[@normanpaterson4645]

One of my favourite vocalists of all time ! Rest I Peace , Ronnie ! You sure as hell earned it !

[@swordofgod2835]

So awesome he is a Soundgarden fan. I almost thought Chris Cornell was somewhat of a Robert plant, Dio hybrid

[@sadboi7537]

RIP Ronnie. Thank you for your talents. Literally one of the best of all time. ❤️🙏

[@humbartwessel9790]

Rip Dio. I love you

[@pliskenx51mm83]

The man was so down to earth!

[@ReconX20]

good interview

[@jamesrangi1988]

I love DIO, and now I love him more!!!!

[@CS-sf1rz]

Amazing interview. RIP

[@dereksmallsuk]

Ronnie James Dio. The Rock and Metal 'scene' (?), is greatly diminished in your absence. R. I. P.

[@michaelledford4751]

What a talent RJD was,the only vocalist in rock that equalled his raw vocal prowess is Rob Halford durring the 90s when his full voice came in,im 75 now & attended nearly every music festival since 1972 as well as over 70 concerts,i have 72 ticket stubs still so the number is prolly closer to 100 shows and aside from Frank Zappa seeing RJD was always the highlight of my summer,Dio & Zappa were the only 2 bands that didn't turn the volume up so loud that vocals werent drowned out by the band,hearing RJD sing was the highlight of his shows no matter the skill level of the band ,Ronnie was an excellent musician in his own rite,i saw him play bass on 3 occasions durring sound checks & he was phenomenal .

[@Danimal77]

I loved this period of Ronnie's career. From Dehumanizer through Angry Machines. All 3 albums were criminally underrated. Ronnie was ANGRY and vicious behind the mic and the songs were about REAL things people could relate to, more than Dungeons and Dragons and Wizards and Rainbows theme.

[@SC-hu5pz]

Dehumanizer!!!!!! One of my favorites of not my favorite album.

[@HoLDoN4Sec]

May you rest in peace, the greatest god of rock.

[@MKmarcos97]

So fucking cool see Ronnie talking about TOOL and Soundgarden.

[@chrisrichards3618]

Awesome

[@tjworker5482]

Last in Line is by far, my fav song! It’s me to the end and has power that motivates

[@Istargazer_]

amazing interview

[@jencinas87]

long live DIO!

[@danpayton3387]

F ING LEAGED RIP DIO MISS U AND YOUR MUSIC

[@Rextum]

For some reason, I never fully understood or appreciated Dio back in the day. Gradually, I found Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules, then the first two Dio solos, then Dehumanizer and now, after Dio has already passed, I am enjoying Angry Machines as well. Many people say AM is Dio’s worst album, but the more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it! It might be the heaviest Dio has ever done! The dark, brooding atmosphere, the weird moments, the odd time changes... for me, a very cool album! I will always love the Ozzy-era Sabbath a lot, but Dio’s music grows on me everytime I listen to it. Feel kind of stupid not realising that earlier than I did.

[@gmanthatguy3937]

Great observation. I also don't understand the hate for Angry Machines. I like that album a lot. Very heavy. Some of the lyrics are kind of hokey, but the music is rock solid. Great album!!!