FIREBALL MINISTRY's REV. JAMES A. ROTA II Remembers RONNIE JAMES DIO
May 17, 2010Rev. James A. Rota II of Los Angeles' FIREBALL MINISTRY has issued the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):
"FIREBALL MINISTRY had the privilege to tour with DIO in 2004. The third night in, Ronnie passed me in the hall, stopped and said, 'Hey, I heard that at the last two shows you guys haven't had a dressing room. Any night that happens, just come into ours. We never eat or drink all the stuff they give us anyway.'
"We spent the rest of the time on the road in that dressing room with him as much as we could. He treated us as his equals, even though we were his disciples.
"Not only was he a true gentleman, but he also never hit a bad note the whole tour. From 'Gates of Babylon' to 'Don't Talk to Strangers', his voice was always perfection.
"On one of the nights in the dressing room, I asked him, 'Ronnie, what do you do before each show to warm up?' His reply as he gave me a sly pat on the shoulder, 'Jimmy, you either got it, or you don't.' He obviously had it.
"From myself and the rest of FIREBALL MINISTRY, thank you, Ronnie, for making it up so we had the right path to follow. You will always be the true master."
Photo Credit: Kat Von D
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