Video: DIO DISCIPLES Perform New, Original Music At 'Ride For Ronnie' Event

DIO DISCIPLES, which pays tribute to Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio's widow/manager, Wendy, performed three new, original songs during the band's May 22 appearance at the "Ride For Ronnie" motorcycle rally and concert for Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund in Encino, California. Fan-filmed video footage of one of the tracks, which is apparently called "'Till The End Of Time", can be seen below.

DIO DISCIPLES' lineup for the "Ride For Ronnie" event consisted of the following musicians:

* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) - Vocals
* Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) - Vocals
* Craig Goldy (DIO) - Guitar
* Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - Bass
* Scott Warren (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL) - Keyboards
* Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, OPERATION: MINDCRIME) - Drums

Some of the recent DIO DISCIPLES shows have also included singer Joe Retta (SWEET, HEAVEN & EARTH). Joe hails from Rochester, New York and and was raised on '70s R&B and rock during an era when, as he describes it, "music had more soul and was more diverse." His influences include such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Steve Marriott, Paul Rodgers, Robert Plant and, of course, Ronnie.

Speaking to Hek82 at the "Ride For Ronnie" event, Owens stated about DIO DISCIPLES' plans to record and release original music (see video below): "Craig has really been instrumental in getting these songs written and trying to get it going on. And Joe and Oni [have] been doing a lot of shows with DIO DISCIPLES. I hadn't been with DIO DISCIPLES for over a year, and they asked me to come do this [event]. They're really trying to push DIO DISCIPLES to put some music out — Wendy's been pushing it, and Craig's been pushing it — so these three we have here was three good ones we've already recorded. So it makes it special and it makes it even cooler that DIO DISCIPLES is gonna do our own thing."

In a recent interview with Myglobalmind, Goldy stated about the formation of DIO DISCIPLES: "You see, the band DIO was run like a family. So when your family member dies, the other members of the family that are left behind often try to do things to keep their loved one's memory alive. So that's where the DIO DISCIPLES came from. Wendy and Simon [Wright, sometime DIO DISCIPLES drummer] called me and said, 'We should really do something.' Because there were all these tributes going on for Ronnie; some of them were just trying to cash in on his passing and some of them were legitimate. However, we said, 'We are his family we should do something.' So that is where DIO DISCIPLES came from."

Goldy told Music Life Magazine that DIO DISCIPLES live performances are unique experiences. He said: "At every DIO DISCIPLES concert, there is a moment when the audience and band really connect. I am getting chills just talking about it. There are people in the audience looking up to the sky and singing at the top of their lungs with tears in their eyes, singing to Ronnie in heaven saying they miss him. It's just beautiful, and that's what the project was for."