WENDY DIO Says Pro-Shot Footage Of RONNIE JAMES DIO's Memorial Service Has Gone Missing

November 4, 2010

The double-disc set "Dio At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" — the first official release from Niji Entertainment Group, the label formed by the late Ronnie James Dio and his wife/manager Wendy Dio — was the focus of this past Wednesday's (November 3) edition of the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Special in-studio guests were Wendy Dio, bassist Rudy Sarzo (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, DIO, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT) and drummer Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, DIO).

You can now listen to the program at RocklineRadio.com.

When asked by one "Rockline" listener if there are any plans to release footage of Ronnie's public memorial service — which was held on May 30 and included performances by QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate, former DEEP PURPLE bassist Glenn Hughes, ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna and others — Wendy replied, "We'd like to, except that somehow the tape that was done that night no one seems to be able to find. So we have been searching and we have been asking, but at the moment, we have not got the tape."

Regarding how she thought the memorial service turned out, Wendy said, "That was love and friends [coming together to honor Ronnie]. [He] absolutely [would have approved]. And nothing went wrong, which was unbelievable. We had ten days to bring it together and nothing went wrong. It was almost like [Ronnie himself] was orchestrating from above because he was such a perfectionist with everything, and everything went right."

The first disc from "Dio At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" was recorded at the first-ever U.K. performance by Dio's solo group, while on tour supporting their classic debut, "Holy Diver". And the setlist does a superb job reflecting DIO's debut (featuring such classics as "Rainbow in the Dark", "Stand Up And Shout", etc.),as well as classics from both RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH ("Man on the Silver Mountain", "Heaven and Hell", etc.) — resulting in a thoroughretrospective of Dio's career, from RAINBOW to BLACK SABBATH to solo hits.

The second disc of "Dio At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" features guitarist Craig Goldy's debut — recorded in 1987, in support of the "Dream Evil" album, and contains highlights from Dio's career.

The first disc represents "a new, young band coming out of the box," Wendy tells RollingStone.com, "and then the [second disc] is a more seasoned band."

The set will be released as a deluxe digipak including a booklet filled with rare photographs and liner notes, and original replica all-access laminates from both shows.

Ronnie was the executive producer on the Donington project, and was very much looking forward to the release.

Due on November 9, "Dio At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987" feautures the following track listing:

CD 1: 1983

01. Stand Up And Shout
02. Straight Through The Heart
03. Children Of The Sea
04. Rainbow In The Dark
05. Holy Diver
06. Drum Solo
07. Stargazer
08. Guitar Solo
09. Heaven And Hell
10. Man On The Silver Mountain
11. Starstruck
12. Man On The Silver Mountain (Reprise)

CD 2: 1987

01. Dream Evil
02. Neon Knights
03. Naked In The Rain
04. Rock And Roll Children
05. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
06. The Last In Line
07. Children Of The Sea
08. Holy Diver
09. Heaven And Hell
10. Man On The Silver Mountain
11. All The Fools Sailed Away
12. The Last In Line (Reprise)
13. Rainbow In The Dark

Check out the cover artwork below.

Metal Injection report on memorial service:

SeanCarnage.com report on memorial service:

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