About this artist
Formed in 2006 after late-era Black Sabbath members Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice reunited after a 15-year hiatus for three new tracks on the Dio Years compilation, Heaven & Hell, named after Sabbath’s first recording with Dio in 1980, toured under the moniker in 2007 and released the two-disc CD/DVD Live from Radio City Music Hall later that year. The band’s first full-length studio recording, Devil You Know, arrived in 2009. However, in November of that year Dio’s wife, Wendy, announced that Dio was suffering from stomach cancer, although indicating that the disease was in its early stages and expressing hope for a full recovery and return to performing. Nevertheless, Heaven & Hell subsequently canceled their summer 2010 touring plans and, sadly, Ronnie James Dio succumbed to the disease on May 16, 2010, at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. ~ James Christopher Monger