Nobody but nobody can lay claim to having a more influential career than Ronnie James Dio. Whether it was Rainbow, Sabbath or his own namesake, he has never failed to release classic like material and he has one of the most recognizable voices in heavy metal. He has just released another classic in the form of Master Of The Moon and with that in mind I felt it was time to finally sit down and discuss that disc and other things in Ronnie’s life. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed doing it!
Welcome to a flashback to 2004 and my conversation with Ronnie James Dio. A lot of the older interviews were lost and now are being found and reinstated as flashbacks. I interviewed Ronnie about 4 times bfore he died and he was always an amazing human being. A Side note, Master Of The Moon is now avalable on vinyl, a link is at the bottom.
Jeffrey Easton interviewing Ronnie James Dio.
Jeff: Your shows in So. Cal on the last tour were great, seems like your new member, bassist Rudy Sarzo, is having the time of his life.
Ronnie: It is so obvious he is, it really shows. Not really knowing him that well before and now knowing him like I do, I know this is a place he has always wanted to be, we are all of the same mind.
Jeff: Lets get into the new CD, Master Of The Moon, tell us about it.
Ronnie: Well, this was supposed to be Magica 2 and 3 but with Jimmy gone it was going to take more time than I would have been able to give. The textures of this album has a lot to do with it going to be Magica, in that it is more mid tempo, bigger slower songs, the production is the heaviest we have ever done with Dio but when we found out that it was not going to we populated the record with faster songs. The record is also more realistic in nature, it is not a fantasy and there is no concept involved, not a lot of witches and wizards involved. People tell me it reminds them of the Dehuminizer and I agree because of the tempo and the way it sounds.
Jeff: Just the solid heaviness of it.
Ronnie: Yeah, that’s for sure.
Jeff: Lets get into the songs. What are your thoughts on your songs, like One More From The Road?
Ronnie: One More From The Road is about people killing people. It alludes to someone that is going to be burned, executed or crucified. It begins with a crucifixion and ends with a needless execution. I think the last line sums it up with “There’s a Cross you can’t carry, because it is heavier than hell, and if you should meet your maker, just pray he won’t yell, one more from the road. The whole point of it is man’s inhumanity towards man should stop.
Jeff: Another that intrigues me is The Man Who Would Be King. Is this your political views?
Ronnie: It was a song based in the 900’s about Richard The Lionhearted, one of the kings that sent people into the Crusades to recapture the Holy City from the infidels. As soon as I started to write the song I realized the correlation between this and George Bush, the Crusades and the Iraqi war. It was never supposed to be a political statement and it is not Bush bashing although I do not agree with the Iraqi war is completely wrong.
Jeff: What inspired Shivers?
Ronnie: It is about someone that has never been afraid of anything in his life. He then meets someone who gives him shivers. It could e a good person, and evil person, someone you are in love with, someone you hate. It is around that idea about what happens to you when you are overawed by someone or some presence. When that happens, you get shivers.
Jeff: Well, it is a great song, I love it. Overall, how long did it take you to write the album?
Ronnie: It took about three months, which is the usual time for doing a record.
Jeff: You have Craig Goldy back with you for this album, how much did he contribute to the new CD?
Ronnie: An Immense amount, we really write well together. He really interprets what I want very well, he is a great guitarist. He was a fan of the band long before he ever played in the band and that was the common music that we love. To write with him is an easy journey because he knows what I want out of writing. Without him life would be very difficult. This is a great family, everybody is a good person and I think this is the way it is supposed to be, everybody cares about the music and each other. There is no backstabbing, no bitching, no moaning, there is nothing worse that being on the road for four or five months having someone in the corner griping. If you do not like the way things are, then go away, if you want to say something about it, speak up.
Jeff: To go off track for a moment, were those comments above made in reference to some comments made by Jimmy Bain in reference to being in Dio?
Ronnie: You know, I do not read comments that he or Vivian Campbell, who apparently has made nasty comments about me, say about me. My goal in life is to take the high road. There have been many times, whether it was Rainbow, Sabbath or Dio, that I could have gone off on tirades about people that have left, said what horrible people they are. I am not ashamed or guilty about things I have done in my life. The people that are continually bitching and moaning are those who are doing nothing at the time anyway and have nothing better to do than bitch and moan. I myself have not been in bands before, whether it was being fired or leaving because it was time to go. My life just carries on because I would do better in another band or a different group of musicians and that’s what they should do too. As far as the comments go, people have to decide what is true or not true, I can only give my side and I have never screwed anybody.
Jeff: I just saw those comments and just made me wonder because I have never heard anybody else complain about the band, I did not get it.
Ronnie: I do not get it either, it is a question maybe you should ask Jimmy. It has nothing to do with that anymore. It disappoints me that every time they turn around they are saying it is my fault that something happened. You had every opportunity to be in this band, you are the one who chose not to be here, not me. It was not my decision, I did not fire Jimmy, It is up to Jimmy to say whatever he wants to say and I think that they just really end up burying themselves under all of that stuff that they say.
Jeff: To get back on track, what was it like working with Craig on this record as opposed to Doug on Killing The Dragon?
Ronnie: They are different players, but so capable. Doug is a great player and a great guy but I never got much of an opportunity to write a lot of things with Doug. I think from a writing perspective it is very much different thing writing with Craig as opposed to writing Doug but again it is unfair to judge because I did not have that much time to write with Doug. I do know what I get from Craig, I know what his ideas are and we fit very well together. With Doug it was so unproven and him going to Whitesnake proves what I have said all along, that this is the kind of music that he is really into, the more blues based music. I think Doug is a great person so I know he is in the right place and Craig is in the right place.
Jeff: As far as your label experience, you left Spitfire for Sanctuary, why did you leave?
Ronnie: I think we gave Spitfire enough chances to do what I thought should have been done for this band and also there was starting to be some dissatisfaction inside the label. A lot of people have left including the founder. We had the opportunity to go to Sanctuary so I felt it was time to go.
Jeff: Are you happy with Sanctuary so far?
Ronnie: I am very happy, yes. They are not an interfering bunch either, we are a band that knows what we are doing, after all of these years, and they know what they are getting.
Jeff: Did Spitfire do that?
Ronnie: No, they did not either but I would not mind either of them to come down and give their input but over all I am happy that they do not.
Jeff: I do know you had your problems with labels in the 90’s, being with Reprise, Mayhem, Spitfire etc.
Ronnie: With Reprise, they had changed a lot, they had gone into a “modern” era, and they had a release (Strange Highways) that no one there cared about. Reprise was in the mode that here is your last record, what do we go to next? Any label that releases my record is going to get a great piece of product anyway and hopefully they can build on it.
Jeff: Are you happy with the numbers so far?
Ronnie: Yes I am. It is not something that came out of the box and went wow but it is something that will continue to sell. It is ok, at the end of the day we are not a household word like OZZY is because of his T.V. show has but that’s ok because we speak with our music and we do not have to speak through T.V. programs on the side.
Jeff: And your shows are always packed.
Ronnie: Right, because people know what they are going to get. Whether it is a small place like Anaheim HOB or an arena, they know they are going to get an arena show. We are a band that really puts out and works hard and always gives quality. That same thing goes back to record companies; they know they will always get a quality product from us.
Jeff: Well, I look back at your catalog and I cannot find a bad record. I am a little indifferent to the Elf stuff because it is so that time period but it is still good.
Ronnie: All of that stuff is good for its time period. Some things do not translate to now but you have to look back at that time period and think about what was important then and then you can accept it for what it was.
Jeff: Look at Stargazer, it is still a great song and it is almost 30 years old.
Ronnie: A great songs is a great song is a great song, a great piece of music never goes away.
Jeff: After over three decades of recording and four main bands, do you still feel like you are a relevant artist releasing relevant records?
Ronnie: Yes I do, if I did not feel that way I would not bother. I think the relevance lies in the fan base. It is not relevant perhaps to whatever is topping the charts but charts are not important to me. But if you release consistently quality music all of the time then of course it is relevant. I think without making music I would feel irrelevant so I think it is important that you continue to create. I think we show relevance as far as the metal/hard rock market goes.
Jeff: You certainly attract massive crowds. You get great tours and on each record you know you will see Dio at least 2 to 3 times.
Ronnie: Certainly.
Jeff: To go back a little, do you think there will be a chance to have your back catalog remastered and re-released?
Ronnie: I know there is a box set in the works but how much of my catalog they get I have no idea but I would like to see them get all of it.
Jeff: I can just imagine Hearing Holy Diver or The Last In Line cleaned up for the digital age. Will Hear N Aide ever be re-released?
Ronnie: Yes it will be because we are working on the charity Children Of The Night which will be like Hear N Aide. It will be one song with different vocalists and guitarists with unreleased songs donated from bands. Hear N Aide will come out on CD for the first time because it has never come out on CD. The film footage will be reissued as well with Children Of The Night so it will be one big package. It will be released around late spring/early summer
Jeff: Is there anything else you want to tell your fans?
Ronnie: Just that we are still doing it, we will never go away. We are going to Russia in March to do some festivals and then just look for us after the New Year with more touring in the U.S. and we will play some things you did not hear last time.
Jeff: Thank you very much for your time.
Ronnie: No problem, thank you Jeff.
Official Ronnie James Dio Site
BUY Master Of The Moon
Welcome to a flashback to 2004 and my conversation with Ronnie James Dio. A lot of the older interviews were lost and now are being found and reinstated as flashbacks. I interviewed Ronnie about 4 times bfore he died and he was always an amazing human being. A Side note, Master Of The Moon is now avalable on vinyl, a link is at the bottom.
Jeffrey Easton interviewing Ronnie James Dio.
Jeff: Your shows in So. Cal on the last tour were great, seems like your new member, bassist Rudy Sarzo, is having the time of his life.
Ronnie: It is so obvious he is, it really shows. Not really knowing him that well before and now knowing him like I do, I know this is a place he has always wanted to be, we are all of the same mind.
Jeff: Lets get into the new CD, Master Of The Moon, tell us about it.
Ronnie: Well, this was supposed to be Magica 2 and 3 but with Jimmy gone it was going to take more time than I would have been able to give. The textures of this album has a lot to do with it going to be Magica, in that it is more mid tempo, bigger slower songs, the production is the heaviest we have ever done with Dio but when we found out that it was not going to we populated the record with faster songs. The record is also more realistic in nature, it is not a fantasy and there is no concept involved, not a lot of witches and wizards involved. People tell me it reminds them of the Dehuminizer and I agree because of the tempo and the way it sounds.
Jeff: Just the solid heaviness of it.
Ronnie: Yeah, that’s for sure.
Jeff: Lets get into the songs. What are your thoughts on your songs, like One More From The Road?
Ronnie: One More From The Road is about people killing people. It alludes to someone that is going to be burned, executed or crucified. It begins with a crucifixion and ends with a needless execution. I think the last line sums it up with “There’s a Cross you can’t carry, because it is heavier than hell, and if you should meet your maker, just pray he won’t yell, one more from the road. The whole point of it is man’s inhumanity towards man should stop.
Jeff: Another that intrigues me is The Man Who Would Be King. Is this your political views?
Ronnie: It was a song based in the 900’s about Richard The Lionhearted, one of the kings that sent people into the Crusades to recapture the Holy City from the infidels. As soon as I started to write the song I realized the correlation between this and George Bush, the Crusades and the Iraqi war. It was never supposed to be a political statement and it is not Bush bashing although I do not agree with the Iraqi war is completely wrong.
Jeff: What inspired Shivers?
Ronnie: It is about someone that has never been afraid of anything in his life. He then meets someone who gives him shivers. It could e a good person, and evil person, someone you are in love with, someone you hate. It is around that idea about what happens to you when you are overawed by someone or some presence. When that happens, you get shivers.
Jeff: Well, it is a great song, I love it. Overall, how long did it take you to write the album?
Ronnie: It took about three months, which is the usual time for doing a record.
Jeff: You have Craig Goldy back with you for this album, how much did he contribute to the new CD?
Ronnie: An Immense amount, we really write well together. He really interprets what I want very well, he is a great guitarist. He was a fan of the band long before he ever played in the band and that was the common music that we love. To write with him is an easy journey because he knows what I want out of writing. Without him life would be very difficult. This is a great family, everybody is a good person and I think this is the way it is supposed to be, everybody cares about the music and each other. There is no backstabbing, no bitching, no moaning, there is nothing worse that being on the road for four or five months having someone in the corner griping. If you do not like the way things are, then go away, if you want to say something about it, speak up.
Jeff: To go off track for a moment, were those comments above made in reference to some comments made by Jimmy Bain in reference to being in Dio?
Ronnie: You know, I do not read comments that he or Vivian Campbell, who apparently has made nasty comments about me, say about me. My goal in life is to take the high road. There have been many times, whether it was Rainbow, Sabbath or Dio, that I could have gone off on tirades about people that have left, said what horrible people they are. I am not ashamed or guilty about things I have done in my life. The people that are continually bitching and moaning are those who are doing nothing at the time anyway and have nothing better to do than bitch and moan. I myself have not been in bands before, whether it was being fired or leaving because it was time to go. My life just carries on because I would do better in another band or a different group of musicians and that’s what they should do too. As far as the comments go, people have to decide what is true or not true, I can only give my side and I have never screwed anybody.
Jeff: I just saw those comments and just made me wonder because I have never heard anybody else complain about the band, I did not get it.
Ronnie: I do not get it either, it is a question maybe you should ask Jimmy. It has nothing to do with that anymore. It disappoints me that every time they turn around they are saying it is my fault that something happened. You had every opportunity to be in this band, you are the one who chose not to be here, not me. It was not my decision, I did not fire Jimmy, It is up to Jimmy to say whatever he wants to say and I think that they just really end up burying themselves under all of that stuff that they say.
Jeff: To get back on track, what was it like working with Craig on this record as opposed to Doug on Killing The Dragon?
Ronnie: They are different players, but so capable. Doug is a great player and a great guy but I never got much of an opportunity to write a lot of things with Doug. I think from a writing perspective it is very much different thing writing with Craig as opposed to writing Doug but again it is unfair to judge because I did not have that much time to write with Doug. I do know what I get from Craig, I know what his ideas are and we fit very well together. With Doug it was so unproven and him going to Whitesnake proves what I have said all along, that this is the kind of music that he is really into, the more blues based music. I think Doug is a great person so I know he is in the right place and Craig is in the right place.
Jeff: As far as your label experience, you left Spitfire for Sanctuary, why did you leave?
Ronnie: I think we gave Spitfire enough chances to do what I thought should have been done for this band and also there was starting to be some dissatisfaction inside the label. A lot of people have left including the founder. We had the opportunity to go to Sanctuary so I felt it was time to go.
Jeff: Are you happy with Sanctuary so far?
Ronnie: I am very happy, yes. They are not an interfering bunch either, we are a band that knows what we are doing, after all of these years, and they know what they are getting.
Jeff: Did Spitfire do that?
Ronnie: No, they did not either but I would not mind either of them to come down and give their input but over all I am happy that they do not.
Jeff: I do know you had your problems with labels in the 90’s, being with Reprise, Mayhem, Spitfire etc.
Ronnie: With Reprise, they had changed a lot, they had gone into a “modern” era, and they had a release (Strange Highways) that no one there cared about. Reprise was in the mode that here is your last record, what do we go to next? Any label that releases my record is going to get a great piece of product anyway and hopefully they can build on it.
Jeff: Are you happy with the numbers so far?
Ronnie: Yes I am. It is not something that came out of the box and went wow but it is something that will continue to sell. It is ok, at the end of the day we are not a household word like OZZY is because of his T.V. show has but that’s ok because we speak with our music and we do not have to speak through T.V. programs on the side.
Jeff: And your shows are always packed.
Ronnie: Right, because people know what they are going to get. Whether it is a small place like Anaheim HOB or an arena, they know they are going to get an arena show. We are a band that really puts out and works hard and always gives quality. That same thing goes back to record companies; they know they will always get a quality product from us.
Jeff: Well, I look back at your catalog and I cannot find a bad record. I am a little indifferent to the Elf stuff because it is so that time period but it is still good.
Ronnie: All of that stuff is good for its time period. Some things do not translate to now but you have to look back at that time period and think about what was important then and then you can accept it for what it was.
Jeff: Look at Stargazer, it is still a great song and it is almost 30 years old.
Ronnie: A great songs is a great song is a great song, a great piece of music never goes away.
Jeff: After over three decades of recording and four main bands, do you still feel like you are a relevant artist releasing relevant records?
Ronnie: Yes I do, if I did not feel that way I would not bother. I think the relevance lies in the fan base. It is not relevant perhaps to whatever is topping the charts but charts are not important to me. But if you release consistently quality music all of the time then of course it is relevant. I think without making music I would feel irrelevant so I think it is important that you continue to create. I think we show relevance as far as the metal/hard rock market goes.
Jeff: You certainly attract massive crowds. You get great tours and on each record you know you will see Dio at least 2 to 3 times.
Ronnie: Certainly.
Jeff: To go back a little, do you think there will be a chance to have your back catalog remastered and re-released?
Ronnie: I know there is a box set in the works but how much of my catalog they get I have no idea but I would like to see them get all of it.
Jeff: I can just imagine Hearing Holy Diver or The Last In Line cleaned up for the digital age. Will Hear N Aide ever be re-released?
Ronnie: Yes it will be because we are working on the charity Children Of The Night which will be like Hear N Aide. It will be one song with different vocalists and guitarists with unreleased songs donated from bands. Hear N Aide will come out on CD for the first time because it has never come out on CD. The film footage will be reissued as well with Children Of The Night so it will be one big package. It will be released around late spring/early summer
Jeff: Is there anything else you want to tell your fans?
Ronnie: Just that we are still doing it, we will never go away. We are going to Russia in March to do some festivals and then just look for us after the New Year with more touring in the U.S. and we will play some things you did not hear last time.
Jeff: Thank you very much for your time.
Ronnie: No problem, thank you Jeff.
Official Ronnie James Dio Site
BUY Master Of The Moon