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DIO Guitarist CRAIG GOLDY: RONNIE 'Is The Reason Anyone Really Even Knows Who I Am'

May 20, 2010

Guitarist Craig Goldy (DIO, BUDGIE) has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"Words simply fail me.

"There is a hole in my soul and I am unable to comprehend what has just happened.

"Words being one of many of Ronnie's ultimate creative recourses unleashed upon the world have now become my weakness.

"Please forgive me if I miss the mark in my aim to honor the most amazing man I have ever known.

"Ronnie James Dio is and was more than a legendary musician, friend and fellow band member, he was my family. He is the reason anyone really even knows who I am at all and why I exist. He rescued me from sleeping in a car on the streets of San Diego and Los Angeles and brought me into his world where dreams come true, kindness to strangers and fans, warmth, humility and integrity are paramount and where creativity could be without boundaries that could change people's lives forever.

"I know he changed mine. Not just through his music and the voice that turned his unique abilities into a legend, but who he was as a person and how he treated me and everyone he came in contact with directly and indirectly.

"He was so very good to me.

"I have so many memories of his kindness not only to me and his fans, but to perfect strangers as well.

"I was introduced to his talent before I met the man.

"Because of his incomparable talent for lyrics, I knew him before I even met him.

"He loved to read me his lyrics before he recorded the songs they belonged to because he knew that I would crack the code and would understand what he meant before he would have to translate them.

"He loved to be understood and I understood him, and that was where our special connection began so many years ago.

"We will all ache for the music that could've and should've been. However, we will be eternally grateful for the music, the man and the legend that we were given for such a short period time.

"Rest in peace, my dear friend. I will miss you deeply always and forever."

Video footage of DIO's May 30, 2008 performance in Oslo, Norway — featuring Craig Goldy on guitar — can be viewed below.

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