DIO: 'Holy Diver' To Be Re-Issued In September

August 18, 2005

According to MelodicRock.com, DIO's 1983 landmark album "Holy Diver" will be re-released in upgraded form on September 30, 2005. A joint project between Universal Music and Rock Candy Records, this new version of a recognized rock classic has been comprehensively remastered for maximum impact, and will also come complete with extensive sleeve notes, expanded original artwork (including hand-written lyrics) plus a brand new audio interview with singer Ronnie James Dio himself. Distribution is via Universal Music.

In the course of the interview, Ronnie talks in detail about the formation of DIO the band, and the background to the "Holy Diver" debut — the first time he'd released a record under his own name, and the first time (having parted company with both RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH) he was truly in charge of his own destiny.

DIO start an 11-date U.K. tour on October 9, 2005, the intention being to play the "Holy Diver" album in full in the course of what promises to be a memorable night of truly timeless music.

"It wasn't my idea, but suggested by someone else," Ronnie James Dio told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. "And this seemed to be a good concept at the time, although the closer we get to doing this, the more concerned I'm getting!

"I have to admit that I've not actually listened to the album for ages, and I keep putting it off. I'm actually scared of doing so. I know what I'm like. I'll hear what we did back then, and start thinking, 'You know what? This could have been done better, and that can be improved.' But I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and do it soon.

"A lot of bands have been playing one of their classic albums from beginning to end onstage recently. DEEP PURPLE did it with 'Machine Head' and SLAYER with 'Reign in Blood'. It's something people really seem to be into, and I'm sure DIO fans are going to love it. And it's not as if it'll be a massive departure for us — we do a lot of the songs live anyway. The 'Holy Diver' album will just be a part of the whole live experience on the tour."

There are plans for DIO to both film and record this landmark event, but it won't happen on the British tour. Rather, they're going to do this in Russia.

"We're gonna be spending a month out there, and decided that's where the filming and recording would happen. That's not meant to be any slight to our British fans at all. But to go on tour in Russia is a special event in itself."

Find more on

Prev More News Next

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).