MÖTLEY CRÜE, WHITESNAKE, TWISTED SISTER Members Pay Tribute To DIO On 'The Tour Bus'

Ralph Sutton of the nationally syndicated rock radio show "The Tour Bus" recently hosted an hour-long special tribute to the legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, who passed away on May 16 after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. The program featured music from Dio's career, clips from his appearances on the radio show over the years, and personal Dio insights/reflections from the following musicians:

* Alice Cooper
* David Coverdale (WHITESNAKE, DEEP PURPLE)
* Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE, DIO)
* Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE)
* Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, DIO, FOREIGNER)
* J.J. French (TWISTED SISTER)
* Mike Levine (TRIUMPH)
* Scotti Hill (SKID ROW)
* Vince Neil (MÖTLEY CRÜE)

The entire commercial-free special can now be streamed in three parts below.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history.

The singer, who was recording and touring with BLACK SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with stomach cancer late last year. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance last month at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

HEAVEN & HELL recently canceled summer tour plans because Dio was not going to be well enough to tour.

The band released a new studio album in 2009, titled "The Devil You Know".

Ronnie James Dio, real name Ronald James Padavona, was born in New Hampshire on July 10, 1942.

He moved to Cortland, New York at a young age, where he began playing with local acts. A street in Cortland, Dio Way, was named after him in 1988.

He released his first single, with a band called RONNIE AND THE REDCAPS, in 1959.

His first heavy rock act, ELF, released three albums and opened for DEEP PURPLE, where Dio's voice caught the ear of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Blackmore recruited Dio for his own band, RAINBOW, after leaving PURPLE in 1975.

Dio recorded three studio albums and one live set with RAINBOW before exiting in 1978, including "Rising" and "Long Live Rock And Roll".

He replaced Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH in 1980, recording the "Heaven & Hell" and "Mob Rules" albums, plus "Live Evil", before leaving in 1982. He rejoined the group 10 years later for an album called "Dehumanizer", and again teamed with the group under the HEAVEN & HELL banner in 2006.

He has also recorded 10 studio albums with his own band, DIO, including a classic 1983 debut, "Holy Diver".

Dio was also behind the HEAR N' AID project, a collection of metal artists who recorded the track "Stars" in 1985 to raise funds for African famine relief.