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Metal Legend Ronnie James Dio is in my mind the greatest Metal singer and song writer of all time. At one time in my life, I absolutely idolized Ronnie, as he was the John Lennon of Metal; being able to convey a multitude of personal feelings in a few lines of a song. He was one of those few people in my life that wrote songs that seemed to convey exactly what was in my heart, be it good or bad. Guess you had to be there. I saw Ronnie in the mid 70's when he was in Rainbow with Ritchie Blackmore. Some jerk threw an M-80 on stage when Cozy Powell was doing his drum solo and Ronnie came running out on stage, stopped the show, and proceeded to snap out at the audience. Also saw Ronnie when he was singing in Black Sabbath in the early 1980's, but never getting the chance to see him up close.
One day, in 1997, while living in Pennsylvania, I got the chance not only to see him live, but to meet him and tell him how much his music meant to me for most of my life.
I saw Ronnie at a club in Scranton, PA in 1997. I was there a few hours before the show, and I positioned myself behind the barricade center stage, right in front of Dios mic. I had a sign made up for him to see as he entered the stage to start the show. At 11:00, the lights dimmed, beer bottles began smashing on the walls next to me, the crowd went wild and the band hit the stage. Ronnie made a grand entrance, wearing a full length leather jacket, casually took it off, all the time still being towards the back of the stage, and as the band tore into the opening riffs to the classic DIO song "Jesus, Mary & The Holy Ghost", I unfolded my sign which read "Hi Ronnie, I'm __...Can I shake your Hand?" Ronnie read the sign and ran ( Yes, he actually ran down the stage) towards me center stage and stretching as far as he could over the barricade, shook my hand and smiled warmly. After the show, I went out to his tour bus hoping to meet him and get the many Dio CD's that I brought autographed. Around 3 in the morning, Ronnie came out of the club and proceeded to sign autographs and talk to the masses. I positioned myself as the 'Last In Line' hoping to get to talk to him for awhile. As I approached him, to my surprise, he looked at me and smiled widely and said "Well, here's my friend from the front row..." then he walked up and hugged me. Ever so cool. We talked awhile after that, and then I shook his hand one last time and he walked onto his tour bus and I crept away into the darkness from which I came.
Today marks 2 years since Ronnie died. Indeed, gone - but not soon forgotten.
I really miss you, Ronnie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjG5CspkBuI&ob=av2n