David Coverdale Shares His Love For Ronnie James Dio

During a recent interview on Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern, David Coverdale, the former lead singer of Deep Purple and current frontman of Whitesnake, discussed his deep bond with the iconic heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who passed away in 2010.

Coverdale expressed his fondness for Dio, stating that they first crossed paths in the early 1970s when Dio was a member of Elf, later transitioning to the band Rainbow. Notably, Elf was signed to Purple Records, the same label as Deep Purple, resulting in Coverdale and his band frequently touring with Elf as their opening act.

He also emphasized the enduring nature of their friendship, remarking that he had known Dio for what felt like multiple lifetimes.

When asked about Ronnie’s singing abilities, Coverdale responded with enthusiasm, saying, “Oh my God, he was fabulous!” He then went on to mention that Ronnie’s voice can be heard on Roger Glover’s album The Butterfly Ball [And The Grasshopper’s Feast], which Coverdale himself had also guested on.

He added that while he found some of the darker elements in Ronnie’s singing beautiful, he felt they didn’t completely capture Ronnie’s true style. Nonetheless, he acknowledged their tremendous success. Coverdale then eagerly shared his experience of hearing Ronnie sing beautiful melodies and songs, emphasizing how amazing he was.

Reflecting on Ronnie’s career, Coverdale credited him with introducing him to two guitarists, Viv Campbell, and Doug Aldrich. He amusingly recalled Ronnie’s approach of finding and training guitarists, only for Coverdale to eventually recruit them for his own projects.

Remembering The Heavy Metal Legend

Ronnie James Dio, well-known for his work with bands including Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and Dio, died in May 2010 at the age of 67 from complications related to stomach cancer.

Ronnie achieved worldwide renown as one of the most legendary and influential heavy metal vocalists in history. Unfortunately, in late 2009, he received a devastating diagnosis of cancer. Determined to fight, he underwent chemotherapy treatments. In April 2010, he made his last unforgettable public appearance at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards held in Los Angeles.

Ronnie James Dio Memoir

In July 2021, Ronnie’s autobiography titled Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography was published by Permuted Press. The book was co-authored by Mick Wall, a respected music writer and a close friend of Ronnie for three decades. Mick Wall continued writing the memoir after Ronnie’s death.

Dio: Dreamers Never Die, a comprehensive documentary chronicling the life and experiences of Ronnie, will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray in September. Previously, it made its television debut on Showtime in December, and it can also be streamed through the Showtime app.