WENDY DIO Says There Are 'At Least Three' Unreleased RONNIE JAMES DIO Songs That May See Light Of Day

September 29, 2017

Wendy Dio, wife and longtime manager of Ronnie James Dio, has confirmed that there are "at least three" previously unreleased songs from the legendary heavy metal singer that may eventually see the light of day.

Ronnie James Dio, best known for his work with BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW and DIO, died of stomach cancer in May 2010 at the age of 67.

During a brand new interview with the "Talking Metal" podcast, Wendy was asked if there is any unreleased Dio material in the vaults. She said (hear audio below): "I think there's at least three, maybe five songs — not completed, but songs that have the lyrics and Ronnie singing them. We have the [DIO] band [playing on them], of course. Some are half done, some are just ideas and things. I have to really look. I haven't really had the time or wanted to go into that part of his life again, but I do have all the computers, and it's time — it's been seven and a half years now [since his death], so I can actually go in there and look without breaking down."

Wendy also talked about the status of "Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography Of Ronnie James Dio", the revealing memoir of the heavy metal master, which was three-quarters written before the singer's death and which was originally scheduled to be published several years ago via MTV Books.

"I am gonna finish the book," she said. "We've got the book, which hopefully can come out next year. I keep saying that, but I haven't had the time to sit down and go over it. He'd written his book up to the middle of RAINBOW, which is good, because I know the rest of it, 'cause I was there."

According to Wendy, there are also plans for a documentary that will cover Dio's career from his early days with ELF to his final project, HEAVEN & HELL. She said: "I'm in the process of talking to a lot of different companies about that."

Guitarist Doug Aldrich, who was a member of DIO for a short period between 2002 and 2006, recently revealed the existence of a previously unreleased Ronnie James Dio demo recording. The track in question was written during the sessions for DIO's "Magica II", a sequel to 2000's "Magica" that was left unfinished when Ronnie died in 2010. A "Magica II" track titled "Electra" made it on to 2012's "The Very Best of Dio Vol 2", but Aldrich said more material may surface from the sessions.

A hologram of Ronnie James Dio made its debut at last year's Wacken Open Air festival in Germany and set out on a world tour, backed by the late rock star's former bandmates from the DIO band. The tour, dubbed "Dio Returns", will make more than eighty stops around the globe, kicking off in Helsinki, Finland on November 30. The European leg of performances in theaters will be followed by tours of South America, Australia and Asia. The trek will arrive in the U.S. in the spring of 2018 and hit select festivals next summer.

The third annual Bowl For Ronnie bowling party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, will take place on Friday, October 6, at the Pinz Bowling Center in Studio City, California. The event, hosted by Eddie Trunk, will include a celebrity bowling tournament and a raffle drawing. Last year's Bowl For Ronnie brought in $36,500 for the cancer charity, which is now in its eighth year of raising awareness and much-needed funding for cancer research.

Bowl For Ronnie participants can anticipate an evening of fun, food and, of course, bowling with rockers and celebrities competing for trophies in the name of raising funds and awareness for the Dio Cancer Fund. Among the raffle prizes will be a specially designed bowling ball and pin featuring the Bowl For Ronnie artwork.

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