Prior to his tragic death in 2010, Ronnie James Dio had been writing his autobiography, looking back on the remarkable life that led him from his hometown in upstate New York to the biggest stages in the world, including the arena that represented the pinnacle of success to him-Madison Square Garden, where this book begins and ends.Īs Ronnie contemplates the achievement of a dream, he reflects on the key aspects that coalesced into this moment-the close gang of friends that gave him his start in music, playing parties, bars, frats, and clubs the sudden transition that moved him to the microphone and changed his life forever the luck that led to the birth of Rainbow and a productive but difficult collaboration with Ritchie Blackmore the chance meeting that made him the second singer of Black Sabbath, taking them to new levels of success the surprisingly tender story behind the birth of the Devil Horns, the lasting symbol of heavy metal his marriage to Wendy, which stabilized his life, and the huge bet they placed together to launch the most successful endeavor of his career…his own band, Dio.Įverything is described in great detail and in the frankest terms, from his fallout with Blackmore, to the drugs that derailed the resurrection of Black Sabbath, to the personality clashes that frayed each band. The long-awaited autobiography by one of heavy metal’s most revered icons, treasured vocalists, and front man for three legendary bands-Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.(PERSONALIZED TO YOU AND SIGNED BY WENDY DIO) by Ronnie James Dio, Mick Wall (With), Wendy Dio (With) The singer, who was recording and touring with BLACK SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with cancer in late 2009. Ronnie James Dio passed away of stomach cancer on at the age of 67.ĭio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history. Ronnie was always a storyteller and it’s just great stories.” It’s just interesting the way his stories are he was a storyteller. So that’s how it went and, of course, I’d read it along the way and it’s very, very interesting. So he would handwrite it and then he’d give it to me and then I’d give it to my assistant, she’d type it up.

“Everything Ronnie did, lyrics or anything, was always handwritten,” Wendy told VH1 Classic Rock Nights back in 2010. Written with longtime friend of 30 years and esteemed music writer Mick Wall, who took up the mantle after Ronnie‘s passing, “Rainbow In The Dark” is a frank, startling, often hilarious, sometimes sad testament to dedication and ambition, filled with moving coming-of-age tales, glorious stories of excess, and candid recollections of what really happened backstage at the hotel, in the studio, and back home behind closed doors far away from the road.

Rainbow in the dark