American heavy rock singer Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, has died at the age of 67, his wife and manager have said.
Dio had been suffering from stomach cancer.
Before joining Black Sabbath he sang in Rainbow - formed when Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple - and later in Heaven & Hell and the self-titled band Dio.
Dio's wife Wendy paid a loving tribute to her husband on his website, saying: "Today my heart is broken."
She said her husband had passed away on Sunday morning.
'Live on forever'
"Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away," she wrote.
"Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."
He was being treated at a hospital in Houston, Texas, according to his website.
The statement of his death was confirmed by Los Angeles publicist Maureen O'Connor, Associated Press reported.
Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a US tour.
He was born Ronald James Padavona to an Italian-American family in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
He is said to have got the idea for his name change from a mobster called Johnny Dio.
Rated one of rock's most powerful vocalists, he rose to fame in the mid-1970s as lead singer of Rainbow, before replacing Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1980.
Later that year the band released their ninth studio album, Heaven And Hell, considered by many fans as one of the greatest heavy rock LPs of all time.
Dio's solo hits included Rainbow In The Dark, The Last In Line, and Holy Diver.
"He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match it," Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, whose band used to tour with Dio, told AP.
Hopefully Tenacious D will do a tribute since spoofing Dio was their whole deal.
Westboro Baptist Church has claimed that it is planning to picket the public memorial of Ronnie James Dio, who died this month from stomach cancer.
The infamous church from Kansas, who have a history of well-documented hatred towards homosexuals, are planning to protest at the memorial in Hollywood on May 30, citing that the singer is a "Satan worshipper."
In a statement released on Thursday, May 20, the church said the ex-Rainbow/Black Sabbath singer used his status and platform to "teach rebellion against God, in the form of glorying atheism, promoting the devil hand sign and other such idolatries."
The statement also read, "The arrogant God-hating fool changed his name from Padavona to Dio (meaning "God" in Italian). His Black Sabbath fans worshipped him as a god. He stood idly by & watched his niece, Gen Padavona, become a filthy porn star. God's promises are true, including his promise to punish the wicked forever."
As previously reported on Spinner, the public memorial for Dio, who was 67, will take place on May 30 at The Hall of Liberty on Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles.
Wendy Dio, the singer's manager and wife, has requested in lieu of sending flowers, people should instead donate to the Ronnie James Dio 'Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund' by sending donations to: Niji Entertainment Group, 12400 Ventura Blvd. #624, Studio City, CA 91604, USA.
Ronnie James Dio Memorial to Be Picketed by Westboro Baptist Church
http://www.spinner.com/2010/05/21/ronnie-james-dio-memorial-westboro-baptist-church/ (http://www.spinner.com/2010/05/21/ronnie-james-dio-memorial-westboro-baptist-church/)
*Iceman ThumbsDown!* WHAT THE GOD DAM f**k!!!!!!! sorry, but Picketing a mans funeral is just plain wrong, just thought i'd tell you dudes
When someone dies, I feel they have paid .... and everything dies with them... the good the bad and the ugly, Mr Ronnie James Was the nicest man in the Biz! he was kind to all his fans and treated them so down to earth and all ego went out the window... these people who think they are going to change the world by portesting his wake , need to open there eyes and sit in judgement on themselfs! look deeply in and on to there own life sand ask themselfs are they with out sin?
Those people are gonna get their butt kicked by metal heads!! lol
Those people are gonna get their butt kicked by metal heads!! lol
Ronnie James Dio Memorial to Be Picketed by Westboro Baptist Church
http://www.spinner.com/2010/05/21/ronnie-james-dio-memorial-westboro-baptist-church/ (http://www.spinner.com/2010/05/21/ronnie-james-dio-memorial-westboro-baptist-church/)
*Iceman ThumbsDown!* WHAT THE GOD DAM f**k!!!!!!! sorry, but Picketing a mans funeral is just plain wrong, just thought i'd tell you dudes
They're only a lot of f*gg*ts.
We could see Dio (I see him twice, first time with his band in 2006, and the second one with Heaven and Hell last year); but, none of us saw that "God". I think that jewchristians're a lot of vulgaric people besides gives respect to a great person.(http://www.infinitymugenteam.com/Forum_345/Themes/default/images/warnmute.gif) I will not tolerate anyone flaming the Jews or Christians. ~SpiderMew