Universal are pleased to announce the release of a deluxe edition of Dio’s ‘Dream Evil’ album on March 4th 2013.
When Ronnie James Dio finally succumbed to stomach cancer in May 2010, the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal lost one of its most talented and fervent ambassadors. As lead vocalist to such Rock giants as Rainbow and Black Sabbath, as well as fronting his own eponymous band for nearly three decades, Dio created some of the genres most defining and respected works.
Albums such as Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Rising and Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll for Ritchie’s post Deep Purple band Rainbow; then Heaven And Hell, Mob Rules and Dehumanizer for the mighty Black Sabbath and with his own band Dio, albums such as Holy Diver, The Last In Line and Sacred Heart, all stand as towering monuments of sheer class and brilliance in the Rock pantheon.
As a live performer, Dio knew few equals. With his lions roar and incredible vocal range, the front-man presided over countless memorable rock shows, delighting millions of fans all over the world.
Born Ronald James Padavona in 1942 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire into close Italian-American stock, the young Ronnie began his recording career whilst still at school. Initially learning trumpet and French Horn (the breathing technique for which would later assist him with his powerful vocal style), Ronnie moved onto bass guitar and vocals for bands such as The Vegas Kings who later became Ronnie And The Rumblers (later the Red Caps) and Ronnie Dio And The Prophets (Dio being a reference to the mafia member Johnny Dio).
Winning a scholarship to New York’s famous Juliard School for the performing arts, Ronnie by this time had discovered Rock And Roll, the pursuit of which led him to support Deep Purple with his new band Elf. Ronnie’s powerful vocal would catch the attention of Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore who later enlisted Dio, along with his fellow Elf band members, when Blackmore was looking to recruit his new project, Rainbow.
Staying with Ritchie from ’75 to ’79 and recording the aforementioned studio albums, as well as the live album On Stage, Dio eventually departed citing musical differences. A chance meeting with guitarist Tony Iommi in, of all places, the Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood, found Dio filling the lead vocal position in Black Sabbath replacing the previously jettisoned Ozzy Osbourne. This combination produced two explosive studio albums and lifted Black Sabbath once again to the pinnacle of the Metal vanguard.
However, differing personalities between the British and U.S. factions of the band would come to a head during the mixing of the live album, Live Evil and his refusal to support Ozzy Osbourne for some U.S. shows lead Ronnie and drummer Vinnie Appice to lay the foundation for a new band, the neatly named, Dio.
Dream Evil is Dio’s fourth album, released on July 21, 1987. It features former Rough Cutt members Craig Goldy and Claude Schnell, and includes the singles ”All The Fools Sailed Away” and ”I Could Have Been a Dreamer”. Dream Evil was Dio’s last album to feature drummer Vinny Appice
This new 2-cd deluxe edition comes with a bonus disc containing amounts other tracks the bands triumphant gig at Monsters of Rock. An expanded booklet with notes by Malcolm Dome endorsed by Ronnie’s widow Wendy makes this the next in line of ultimate Dio reissues.
DISC ONE
Night People
Dream Evil
Sunset Superman
All The Fools Sailed Away
Naked In The Rain
Overlove
I Could Have Been A Dreamer
Faces In A Window
When A Woman Cries
DISC TWO
Hide In The Rainbow (Dio EP)
I Could Have Been A Dreamer (Single Edit)
Dream Evil (Donnington – 22/08/87
Neon Nights
Naked In The Rain
Rock N Roll Children
Long Live Rock N Roll
The Last In Line
Holy Diver
Heaven And Hell
Man On The Silver Mountain
All The Fools Sailed Away
The Last In Line (Reprise)
Rainbow In The Dark
