Video footage of DIO DISCIPLES performing yesterday (Saturday, March 5) at the street party for the “Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund” in Glendale, California can be seen below.
DIO DISCIPLES, which pays tribute to Ronnie James Dio and is fully supported by Dio’s widow/manager, Wendy, features singer Joe Retta (SWEET, HEAVEN & EARTH). Joe hails from Rochester, New York and and was raised on ’70s R&B and rock during an era when, as he describes it, “music had more soul and was more diverse.” His influences include such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Steve Marriott, Paul Rodgers, Robert Plant and, of course, Ronnie.
DIO DISCIPLES currently consists of the following musicians:
* Joe Retta (SWEET, HEAVEN & EARTH)- Vocals
* Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) – Vocals
* Craig Goldy (DIO) – Guitar
* Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) – Bass
* Scott Warren (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL) – Keyboards
* Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, LAST IN LINE) – Drums
In a recent interview with Myglobalmind, Goldy stated about the formation of DIO DISCIPLES: “You see, the band DIO was run like a family. So when your family member dies, the other members of the family that are left behind often try to do things to keep their loved one’s memory alive. So that’s where the DIO DISCIPLES came from. Wendy and Simon [Wright, sometime DIO DISCIPLES drummer] called me and said, ‘We should really do something.’ Because there were all these tributes going on for Ronnie; some of them were just trying to cash in on his passing and some of them were legitimate. However, we said, ‘We are his family we should do something.’ So that is where DIO DISCIPLES came from.”
Goldy told Music Life Magazine that DIO DISCIPLES live performances are unique experiences. He said: “At every DIO DISCIPLES concert, there is a moment when the audience and band really connect. I am getting chills just talking about it. There are people in the audience looking up to the sky and singing at the top of their lungs with tears in their eyes, singing to Ronnie in heaven saying they miss him. It’s just beautiful, and that’s what the project was for.”
According to Goldy, there are tentative plans for DIO DISCIPLES to record an album of original material later this year.
Source: Blabbermouth
