Ex-DIO Guitarist TRACY G: I Am Not Entirely To Blame For 'Angry Machines' Album

June 24, 2011

Wendy Dio, the wife/manager of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, recently told Goldmine magazine that "musically speaking, my least favorite album [for the DIO band] was 'Angry Machines' [1996], because I felt that Ronnie had taken a turn that he was being pushed into, to become more industrial. His fans didn't like it that much, and I'm glad he decided to change and go back to the usual way of writing."

Ex-DIO guitarist Tracy "G" Grijalva who played on "Angry Machines" and 1993's "Strange Highways" responded to Wendy's comments with the following statement sent to the Russian Dio Fan Club:

''If Wendy did not like me or Ronnie did not like me or the fans or the labels or whoever I can't do anything about it If it's me personally or my guitar playing or whatever that she disliked I can't change any of that either. Then again, I have to admit that this is correct in how she feels about that time. It is all fine with me.

"Although she did say she did not like the 'Angry Machines' album or the direction we were going, that's not entirely my fault because her husband had the final say about the recording process Some fans feel the same way also but some do not. So if she, or anybody [else], did not like what we did at that time, that's OK with me. I can't change anything, and even if I could, I wouldn't do it, because that's exactly how Ronnie and I felt at that time.

"I just want her to know that I have nothing bad to say about that time or anybody that was there.

"I am sorry this stuff makes some people angry and frustrated, but I am sure there are lots of fans out there who like what i did and I just want to thank them for their support. I will always respect and remember Ronnie and Wendy but I am going to keep on rocking my way. I do not intend to please everybody."

Tracy left DIO in 1999 after he claimed he was "asked to play in a dual-guitar situation" in Ronnie's band. According to a posting on Tracy's web site, DIO was "looking for more of a Ritchie Blackmore style . . . and wanted [Tracy] to step back and just play rhythm guitar. That's when [Tracy] knew it was time to leave, freeing him to more diligently pursue his home studio projects."

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