RONNIE JAMES DIO Is Not Dead

May 15, 2010

Contrary to published reports, legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) **has not** died after a six-month battle with stomach cancer.

After rumors started circulating via the Internet late Saturday that Dio had lost his cancer fight, BLABBERMOUTH.NET reached out to Ronnie's wife/manager Wendy Dio, who sent back the following message at approximately 11:35 p.m. PST on Saturday, May 15 / 2:35 a.m. EST on Sunday, May 16:

"I am at the hospital and Ronnie has NOT passed away!!!! He is not doing good, but he is not dead.

"I will let you know if anything changes.

"Thank you for your concern."

***UPDATE***: Wendy Dio posted the following message on Ronnie's official Twitter profile at approximately 3:45 a.m. EST on Sunday, May 16: "Don't believe the rumors, Ronnie is still hanging in there!!! Hugs, Wendy Dio." ***

It was only a month ago that Dio, 67, spoke about his battle with cancer with the Artisan News Service on the "black carpet" of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which took place on April 8 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. When asked about how he had been feeling since he was diagnosed with the disease late last year, Dio said, "Well, I feel good and bad at times. It's a long process. Chemotherapy is a... I never realized what a difficult thing it was to go through. It's a real cumulative effect — the more you have, the more it piles up on top and it takes longer and longer to get over it. I find it very difficult to eat. I don't like to eat anyway, so I guess that's OK. But I know I have to. But this makes it very, very hard. But if you're determined to beat it, then you have to go with what you believe is going to beat it for you, and in this case it's that. I go to a great hospital in Houston called M.D. Anderson, which I think is the best hospital in the world, I have the best doctor in the world, Dr. Ajani, who I really trust and I really believe in, so I think I've done all the right things. It makes me feel positive about my life and positive that there is a lot more of it to live."

Earlier this month, HEAVEN & HELL canceled its summer tour plans in Europe due to Dio's treatment for stomach cancer. The band said in a statement that Dio wasn't "well enough to tour this summer. We hope that everyone understands and want to thank fans and industry colleagues for their continuing support at this time."

Mick Mars (MÖTLEY CRÜE):

Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE):

Chris Jericho (FOZZY):

Ronnie being interviewed by the Artisan News Service at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards on April 8, 2010 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles:

Ronnie being interviewed by Jose Mangin of Revolver TV at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards on April 8, 2010 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles:

Ronnie being interviewed by "VH1 Classic "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards on April 8, 2010 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles:

Watch a video interview with Ronnie James Dio and his wife/manager Wendy Dio from March 2010 (courtesy of KIAH-TV).

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