Dio has rocked for a long, long time,
Now it's time for him to pass the torch.
You're too old to rock, no more rockin' for you.
We're takin' you to a home,
But we will sing a song about you.
~ from "Dio", by Tenacious D
The first time I heard that song from Tenacious D's self-titled album of 1991, I nearly pissed my pants. It was great to see that Ronnie James Dio has a good sense of humor as well, and is apparently a fan of the D. The video for "Push", which is included in the DVD extras, starts off with a cameo by Jack Black and Kyle Gass playing a bastardized acoustic version of "Heaven and Hell", while sitting out on a street corner. As they look up in shock, between verses, there is Dio himself holding up a large gold coin as he angrily tells them, "I have something for you boys, if you'll play some Tenacious D!!", and then drops it in their guitar case. The astounded look on their faces was priceless.
Ronnie James Dio certainly is getting up there in age, although I haven't been able to confirm it, since most sources say he was born in either 1942 or 1949, but this concert proves that although he may well be pushing 60, he still has the heart and lungs to out-metal all pretenders. I can personally attest to this, since I saw him open for the Scorpions and Deep Purple on their 2002 summer tour, which was only a few months prior to the concert on this DVD. Dio is easily one of the best hard-rock/heavy-metal singers of all time, and still sounds as powerful as he did during his glory days of the 70's and 80's. There just may be something to this selling your soul for rock and roll business after all.
Dio was born Ronald James Pardovana and later changed his name to Dio. Why? Maybe because it means God in Italian, or maybe it just made for one hell of a cool metal band name. If I was a betting man, I would side with the 1942 birth year, for Mr. Pardnova, which would have made him an even 60 years young when this concert was filmed. Shit, I remember my father being into Lawrence Welk when he was 60 - Rock On Dio!
Article comments
1 - SFC SKI
Well, if Ronnie James DIO-DIO-DIO still has the skills to shame men 40 years younger, then more power to him, somebody has to be out there singing about the meh-tul!
A lot of his contemporaries really should be out golfing or whatever it is retired worn-out rockers do, but I'm glad to see he is still worth seeing, and knowing the set list really makes me want to pick this one up. Thanks for the tip!