VINNY APPICE: The Good And The Bad Lessons I Learned From Working With RONNIE JAMES DIO

Tom Theurer of MusicFrenzy.net recently conducted an interview with legendary drummer Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, KILL DEVIL HILL). You can now listen to the chat in six parts below.

When asked about what lessons he learned from working his former DIO, BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL bandmate, legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio, Appice said, "Ronnie was great. Ronnie was an incredible person, and I learned from him. I've been doing it for a long time, so I learned a lot of stuff from him. And then I learned a lot of stuff that he did that I didn't think was good, too. Which was, when you have a good band, everybody should share it. And that was the problem with the early DIO stuff — he had a great band and really big, successful albums, and there was not a lot of sharing in it, basically, for people [that were in the band] to get excited about. And I think that's what kills a lot of bands. I mean, this band here [KILL DEVIL HILL], Rex [Brown, current KILL DEVIL HILL and former PANTERA/DOWN bassist] and I have done this for years, yet we're sharing everything four ways, as a team, and [that way] we get the best out of everybody. That leaves incentive for everybody. We get the best music, and that's what counts. Because otherwise what happens is what happened with DIO — with the albums, if [the bandmembers] didn't bring in any ideas, [they were] not getting any publishing [royalties], so then people are just [focused on] trying to get ideas in and have them be used. And music shouldn't be forced; it should be a natural thing [where] everybody contributes and everybody has a good time. Unless one guy is just sitting there just doing nothing. Then you've gotta address that problem. But, I think, just being a team together [where everything is split equally], everybody is gonna try and put 110 percent, and then you get great music out of it, and that's what we're doing [with KILL DEVIL HILL]. Because what happens [in a DIO-type situation] is when you [tell a bandmate], 'I don't think that [idea] really fits [what we're doing],' [you are basically] saying, 'You're not getting that part of the publishing.' [Laughs] And you get somebody trying to present something, and [the decision maker in the band] says, 'I don't like it. I really don't think it fits.' Then that person [trying to submit ideas] would think, 'Well, shit, man. That's too bad. Now I've gotta try to come up with something else or I'm not gonna get any money off this album. So it comes down to a money issue rather than just [a] creative [one]. [In KILL DEVIL HILL], if we don't use [an idea], fine, we'll use something else. And everybody's still making an equal share. It makes it easier."

Interview part 1:

Interview part 2:

Interview part 3:

Interview part 4:

Interview part 5:

Interview part 6:

The self-titled debut album from KILL DEVIL HILL will be released via SPV/Steamhammer on the following dates:

U.S./Canada: May 22
Germany: May 25
Rest Of Europe: May 28

"Kill Devil Hill" was produced by Warren Riker, who is best known for his work with DOWN, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SUBLIME and CATHEDRAL. The effort will be available in a standard CD edition, as an iTunes digital download, and double gatefold LP.

Vinny Appice has anchored the rhythm and power live and in the studio for the music of DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, WWIII, AXIS, Rick Derringer, John Lennon, and more. He has recorded and co-written songs on over 25 albums and CDs, including many multi-platinum records. Touring the world for over two decades resulted in selling millions of records! Vinny's drumming can also be heard on numerous movie soundtracks, including "Wayne's World 2", "Heavy Metal", "Iron Eagle" and "Bedazzled". Vinny, the author of drum instruction book "Rock Steady" and DVD "Hard Rock Drumming Techniques", has performed incredible powerhouse drum clinics around the globe. Numerous books have been written about BLACK SABBATH and DIO with the authors always mentioned Vinny's unique powerful drumming style.