RONNIE JAMES DIO Talks Lineup Changes

Ronnie James Dio spoke with Electricbasement.com about the lineup changes the band has endured the last couple years.

On the departure of bassist Jimmy Bain: "I was very surprised. When Jimmy left, we were writing at the time. When we did the album, we contacted Jeff [Pilson], who had played with us before. Jeff's reputation is great, and he's a brilliant person, but the reality was Jeff couldn't play with us on the road because he and his wife were having their first child. So Jeff came in and played, so I don't consider him a replacement. He was only there for that one single purpose.

"As for [guitarist] Craig [Goldy], he's been in and out a couple of times. That shows it wasn't a personal thing. The last time he left, he left for his own personal reasons — not him against me or someone else in the band. He had his own personal demons he had to deal with.

"[Guitarist] Doug [Aldrich] left for good reason. The kind of music WHITESNAKE makes is the kind of music Doug liked more. That's what he played in LION, BURNING RAIN and, now, WHITESNAKE.

"The kind of music WHITESNAKE makes is more blues-based. With David Coverdale offering him probably a whole lot of money, that's fine. I understand. Doug's such a good player, such a good person. He's truthful and honest and a friend 'til the end.

"I couldn't be happier for Doug. We decided to see if Craig had sorted out his problems, and it turns out he was ready to devote himself to us. As for all the change, when you're actually in the band, it doesn't seem like that much."

Read the rest of the interview at this location.