DIO: Classic 'Holy Diver' Tracks Coming To 'Rock Band'

September 10, 2010

Two classic DIO tracks — "Holy Diver" and "Stand Up And Shout" — will be made available on September 14 in the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Wii.

With more than 400 artists, including JIMI HENDRIX, THE WHO, AC/DC and GREEN DAY, who are exclusive to Rock Band, as well as more than 1,100 songs available through the Rock Band platform and 65 million songs sold through its download store alone, Rock Band is the undisputed sales and content leader in the interactive music space, providing the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums. Rock Band DLC additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii.

Back On Black — the company which specializes in vinyl reissues of classic metal albums and is dedicated to providing top-quality releases for record collectors and metal fans worldwide — released the classic debut album from DIO, "Holy Diver", on 180-gram limited-edition gatefold red vinyl on July 30.

Originally issued on May 25, 1983, "Holy Diver" has been hailed by critics as DIO's best work and a classic staple in the heavy metal genre. The LP was certified gold in the U.S. on September 12, 1984 and platinum on March 21, 1989.

"Holy Diver" re-entered The Billboard 200 chart in late May — shortly after the band's frontman, Ronnie James Dio, died of stomach cancer — at No. 149 and bowed at No. 11 on Pop Catalog (4,000; up 322%). A best-of from DIO, "The Very Beast of Dio", also debuted on Catalog at No. 32 (up 617%).

DIO's "The Very Beast of Dio" was officially certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 11, 2009 for shipments in the United States in excess of 500,000 copies.

Issued in October 2000, "The Very Beast of Dio" is the second greatest-hits collection CD — and the first to be released in the U.S. — from the Ronnie James Dio-fronted band.

DIO's last release was the "Holy Diver Live" CD, featuring a performance of the classic "Holy Diver" album in its entirety, from start to finish, recorded live for the very first time in 2005 in front of a sold-out London crowd. It also includes, among others, "Heaven & Hell", "Sign of the Southern Cross" and "Mob Rules" from vocalist Ronnie James Dio's BLACK SABBATH days, "Tarot Woman", "Man on the Silver Mountain" and "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" from the RAINBOW era and "We Rock" from his solo career.

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