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SEBASTIAN BACH Pays Tribute To RONNIE JAMES DIO With 'Heaven And Hell' Cover (Video)

August 12, 2010

Video footage of former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach and his solo band performing a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Heaven And Hell" (as well as SKID ROW's "Monkey Business") as a tribute to Ronnie James Dio on what would have been Dio's 68th birthday on July 10, 2010 at the Norway Rock Festival in Kvinesdal, Norway can be viewed below.

Commented Bach: "Ronnie James Dio has always been one of my favorite singers since I was around 12 years old. I was fortunate enough to work with the man a couple of times and meet him on other occasions as well.

"We got to play Norway Rock last month and decided literally in the van on the way to the gig to do a tribute to the man that night at the show. We had no chance to rehearse the song — in fact, this was the gig where our gear didn't show up and we played on borrowed equipment. We had no soundcheck, so we just passed around my iPhone listening to the track before the show.

"I got to open for DIO at the Bronco Bowl in Texas with my band in 2000 and it was a great show. Backstage we talked about doing some touring together, which, unfortunately, never happened, but we did play together again at European festivals a couple of times.

"I asked Ronnie, 'Dude, do you think I should do 'Jekyll & Hyde' on Broadway?'

"My Broadway debut was coming up in a couple of months and I did not want to alienate the rockers. I figured I should ask the Man On The Silver Mountain myself. His answer surpirised me and I will never forget his advice.

"'Of course you should do Broadway, Sebastian. It will show people you can do more than one thing.'

"I took his advice. If it was good enough for Ronnie James Dio, it was good enough for me and rockers everywhere.

"So I asked him, 'Ronnie, would you ever do Broadway?' envisioning myself hearing that legendary voice on the Broadway stage. Once again, his answer surprised me. 'No,' came his reply. 'I am very happy doing this, it's all I ever wanted to do, it's still all I want to ever do,' Dio said.

"I guess Ronnie James Dio was happy with people 'knowing him for one thing.' Being the greatest hard rock singer ever was good enough for Dio. Which he was.

"We miss you, Ronnie James Dio. R.I.P. This one's for you."

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