Dio: Dreamers Never Die

This film is a warm, funny and wonderful tribute to the greatest voice in rock history. A man whose voice never faltered and whose enormous stage personality was only surpassed by his love of music and his fans - the latter being comprised of both average Joes as well as all those musicians that grew up in Ronnie's shadow.

For the general viewer it tells the tale of the legendary vocalist that managed to reach the pinnacle of success in three of the best rock bands of the 20th century. But it also contains a lot of footage and details that will keep the hardcore fans glued at the screen.

The passionate and enigmatic character that was Ronnie James Dio comes back to life as you watch the film, as does the pain of his passing in the end. It is a film that should be watched by everyone that likes rock and metal.

As you may have guessed by my tagline, I am a huge Ronnie James Dio fan and have been since my early teens and it was so great to FINALLY see a documentary on this great singer and icon.

I was only able to see it for the first time today. I missed the initial limited theatrical run as the person I was going with got sick with Covid only days before we were due to go and out of solidarity with him, I decided not to go either knowing his disappointment about not being able to go.

It was then released on Showtime in America, a streaming service not available here in the UK. Thankfully, I was able to catch it this morning and I found it a really good retrospective of his life and music.

So, why have I not rated this a 10? This is because I felt that it breezed through too many Iconic periods in his life much too fast. They actually spent more time talking about his cameo in Tenacious D's - Pick of Destiny movie, than they did about his entire time in Rainbow and his first stint in Black Sabbath.

They also completely glossed over the period from 1986-2006. Sure, the 90's were a dark time for Ronnie as it was for most Hard Rock and Metal artists that made their bones in the 70's and 80's, but the period was not without its merits. Some great albums came out during this uncovered period. Maybe not Strange Highways or Angry Machines, as they were just a bit too industrial for my European neo-classical rock tastes, but certainly Dream Evil, Lock Up the Wolves, Magica, Killing the Dragon and Master of the Moon and of course the brief Black Sabbath reunion album from 1992 Dehumanizer all could have been talked about more as these are albums although maybe not as iconic as Rainbow Rising, Long Live Rock N Roll, Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Holy Diver and The Last in Line, they're certainly nothing to sniff at and all of them are really worthy of the Dio name and should have been given the respect that they deserved too.

However, one part really struck a personal chord with me and that was when they were talking about the relationship Ronnie had with his fans and how he would always remember you. I had the absolute privilege of seeing Ronnie 16 times over the years and from the late 90's onwards, and through the kindness and generosity of Wendy Dio, (Ronnie's wife and manager), my best friend and I were always able to procure after show passes whenever he played the English Midlands so I got to meet him about 7 or 8 times in all. The last time I saw him was following a Dio concert in Birmingham in 2008 and when Ronnie saw me and my friend he walked over to us, smiling broadly and gave us both a hug and said "I knew you two would be here tonight, you've always been here for me". The guy was just pure magic as an artist, and human being.

I was thoroughly moved by the final 10 minutes of this documentary that detailed his declining health and sad passing from cancer in 2010 and my thoughts went straight back to that day and the emotions I felt then and I still feel whenever I think about a world without Ronnie James Dio.

I'm glad I've finally seen this now and I enjoyed it immensely, but I just wish it could have been a lot more thorough as a career spanning retrospective of such a great talent.

He was the best and he still IS the best as his music will always live on.

Enjoy!

This documentary was extremely well put together.

The interview subjects couldn't have been better chosen, the subjects broached were all relevant and interesting, and the ending was a fitting tribute.

The music that we have from RJD is never going away and for that I am grateful.

But as far as documenting the different eras of his importance, this movie does it and does it well.

From his days doing doo-wop (that may not be what it accepts is, but that's what I'm calling it), through his time attempting to still make music that people cared about in an era of grunge and then nu-metal, he obviously gave it everything he had.

Hail the horns! \m/

Rockumentary on the inspirational career of Heavy Metal Warrior/Wizard Ronnie James Dio.

Details his beginnings in doowop as The Vegas Kings, greaser types Ronnie & The Prophets / Rumblers / Red Caps, through into Elf {with the huge voice}, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and ultimately DIO, it seems preternatural synchronicities accompanied him all along, and contributing to forging the juggernaut that would become HEAVY METAL. Finding his medieval gothic aesthetic persona in Elf & Rainbow, accentuated & complementary in Sabbath, then giantly evolved in namesake DIO.

The Horns

Intriguing integrations with The Occult, and utilizing The Cornu to supposedly differentiate himself from Ozzy's ubiquitous use of the "peace sign", while also asserting derivation from ancestral folklore to ward off {& implement} The Evil Eye according to intent. There are differing variations throughout various cultures and religious traditions.

Its use in diabolism spans back to the grimoires, but used in the media and the Satanic religion by Anton Szandor LaVey, and then by band Coven on album Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls. It signifies the Horns of Satan uplifted in defiance of the blindlight and salutation, as well as a gesture of energy direction, combined with left or right implementation, and symbolic gesticulation.

Devil's Due

The manifestation of Demonic 'mascot' Murray {more like 'guiding daemon'}; in My estimation, "Setan" finally making himself known, with giving The Devil His due on album covers, complete with the Satanic Sign of The Horns. Concerts essentially becoming veritable Infernal Mass services with all the psychodrama, imagination, charm, power, and magic of the stage show pulpit.

How he birthed taken name DIO from birthname {supposedly from a mobster}, creating a legend that would last into perpetuity. The inversion of the logo revealing the word DEVIL, even within the Italian word for "god" - turns out the Luciferian ideal of oneself as God has been there all along.

Throughout His evilution, meeting wife Wendy who became his trusted manager, he put his heart and soul into all his endeavors, impacting the lives of all he met, as testimonials throughout the presentation in the many interviews featured asserts.

It seems that overall, RJD bade that people look within themselves to find their own greatness, even displaying icons of darkness to exemplify that your power is already within you, you just have to bring it out. Entertainer, musician, poet, creator, Wizard, and Warrior - he wore many hats and horns, mastering all. He finally got his own crown, horns & wings.

Interviews: Ronnie James Dio, Wendy Dio, Mick Wall, Dave Feinstein, Dick Bottoff, Sebastian Bach, Ron Wray, Rob Halford, Eddie Trunk, Roger Glover, Glenn V. Hughes III, Lita Ford, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Dan Lilker, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, Tony Iommi. [5/5]

This is an excellent documentary and a must watch for any Dio fan or fan of heavy rock from a certain era. Dio , to coin a cheesy term, was a rock god . He was musically everywhere in my youth and his voice remains a firm.favourote . This program manages to tell that story without going OTT or smarmy . It is peppered with stories and testimony from more famous names than we're used to seeing in a single program . It also manages to show that whilst not a saint Dio was also a good nice guy. The fact that a benificiary of his last ever recording is a cancer charity and the engineer who produced it with him cannot , all these years on, contain his tears says it in one. He climbed that silver mountain and anyone who watches the last 10 minutes without a lump in their throat or a tear in their eye has a heart of stone .

The background music throughout is of course fantastic .

The program has lots of standout moments and quotes . No spoilers , watch it yourself .