Ronnie James Dio, one time vocalist for Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and of course Dio, populariser of the "devil's horns" handsign and short person.

Instant Zen brought to my attention the song 'Holy Diver', a song that, upon first hearing it, had me just about doubled over w/ laughter. I have not heard many other songs by Dio (just a live album he did w/ Black Sabbath that mercifully got thrown out the window on a trip to L.A.), but the very notion that someone could think to write a song as ridiculous as 'Holy Diver' gets a not crap.

the 'mob rules' and 'heaven and hell' albums he did with sabbath make dio not crap.

regardless of how embarassing their singers are or have become, black sabbath are still not crap and never will be.

best nonsensical lyrics ever, even beating out naked raygun.

"rainbow in the dark" and "holy diver": damn funny.

"Oh don't you see what I mean?!"

"You can release yourself but the only way is DOWN!!!"

"don't write in starlight or the words may come out real"


wtf?

Still not crap though.

Jack Black built a career around this schtick.

"Look out!"

Not Crap!

I thoroughly enjoy the title tracks of the first two Dio records whenever I catch them on the radio. "Holy Diver" and "The Last in Line" are as good as mainstream metal gets, big dumb fun. I do not, however, have any desire whatsoever to hear any more songs by the band Dio. I attended a concert by Dio and Dokken in 1986 and the two aforementioned songs are the only musical impressions I took away from that evening. These impressions are not such that they inspire me often to return to them.

I have never liked Rainbow. I am eternally predisposed to dislike any band featuring Ritchie Blackmore, not matter how many Joe South covers they might do.

I'm ambivalent about Dio's tenure in Sabbath. It has its moments, no thanks to Ronnie James, but I don't much like the last two Sabbath records with Ozzy. I've never heard Dehumanizer though.

I have always been curious about Elf but the vinyl, when I see it, is always much more costly than the chance I'm taking seems worth. I've long wondered if Elf betrays Dio's Georgia roots more blatantly than his bands that followed. I would be interested in hearing Dio front a Southern-fried boogie band. Anyone care to comment on Elf?

The holes in my Dio expertise notwithstanding, I'm gonna go out on a (very short) limb, and say that Ronnie James Dio is crap.

I don't know much Dio. I only know Holy Diver because someone I know does a brilliant impression of it (well, I assume it's a good impression; it is certainly a very funny impression, and for that reason is good). I know he fought a dragon on stage which is probably the second best stage stunt I've ever heard of (the first being Thor blowing up a hot water bottle on stage during Thunder on the Tundra). But for one reason only, I must vote Not Crap:

Rainbow - Gates of Babylon.

Fucking fantastic.

My landlord caught me 'singing' this at the top of my voice once while doing the rock and roll hoovering.

Not crap.

full point wrote:Jack Black built a career around this schtick.

Dio seems to appreciate him...