Dio was an American heavy metal band centred around vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Formed in 1982, the group originally consisted of Dio, guitarist Jake E. Lee (replaced by Vivian Campbell for the first active lineup of the band), bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Vinny Appice. The band's final lineup, active until Dio's death on May 16, 2010, included guitarist Craig Goldy, drummer Simon Wright, keyboardist Scott Warren and bassist Rudy Sarzo.

History Dio was formed in October 1982 by vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice following their departure from Black Sabbath. For the first lineup, the pair worked with Rough Cutt guitarist Jake E. Lee and former Wild Horses and Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain for around six weeks, before parting ways with Lee due to stylistic differences. Preferring to work with British musicians, Dio asked Bain for suggestions of a replacement; he recommended Sweet Savage guitarist Vivian Campbell, and Campbell joined the group. Around the release of the band's debut Holy Diver in May 1983, Claude Schnell joined as Dio's first full-time keyboardist. After two more studio albums – The Last in Line and Sacred Heart – as well as live release Intermission, Campbell left the band in March 1986. He was replaced by former Giuffria guitarist Craig Goldy.

Goldy remained for just one new album, Dream Evil, before leaving Dio due to "musical differences" in August 1988. After "hundreds" of submissions from guitarists worldwide, Rowan Robertson was chosen as Goldy's replacement in May 1989. A few months later, Bain and Schnell were replaced by Teddy Cook and Jens Johansson, respectively. In December, Appice also left Dio, with Simon Wright leaving AC/DC to take his place early the next year. The new lineup recorded and released their only album Lock Up the Wolves in 1990. The following January, Dio returned to Black Sabbath.

By November 1992, Dio and Appice had left Black Sabbath for a second time. They reformed Dio and added new guitarist Tracy G and bassist Jeff Pilson early the following year, after initially working with original member Bain. After recording Strange Highways, the group returned to a five-piece with the addition of Scott Warren on keyboards. Pilson remained until the end of the album's tour in late 1994, when he rejoined Dokken, although he contributed to the 1996 release Angry Machines. Larry "Bones" Dennison replaced him for the next tour, which spawned the live release Inferno: Last in Live. In February 1997, Appice was replaced for a run of shows by James Kottak, after being hospitalised for pneumonia. He was also next to leave Dio permanently, when he toured with Black Sabbath from June 1998.

Appice was replaced, again, by Simon Wright. The following year, former members Goldy and Bain also returned. Again, Goldy only lasted one album – 2000's Magica – before he was replaced by Doug Aldrich in January 2002. The new guitarist recorded Killing the Dragon, but by early 2003 had left due to "scheduling conflicts" with his other group Whitesnake. Aldrich was originally set to be replaced by Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini, however he was replaced within a month by the returning Goldy. Bain also left in early 2004. Pilson returned to perform on Master of the Moon, with former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rudy Sarzo taking over on tour from July. Aldrich would later return to fill in for Goldy on tour in 2005 due to an arm injury, and again in 2009 due to scheduling conflicts with Budgie.

On May 16, 2010, Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer, marking the end of his eponymous band. All four other members went on to form Dio Disciples with former Judas Priest frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens in 2011, while original members Appice, Campbell, Bain and Schnell formed Last in Line with former Lynch Mob vocalist Andrew Freeman in 2012.

Members

Official members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsRonnie James Dio 1982–2010all releasesVinny AppiceJimmy BainJake E. Lee1982guitarnoneVivian Campbell1982–1986Claude Schnell1983–1989Craig GoldyRowan Robertson1989–1991guitarLock Up the Wolves (1990)Teddy CookJens JohanssonSimon WrightTracy G1993–1999guitarJeff PilsonScott Warren1993–2010Jerry Best1995–1996bassnoneLarry "Bones" Dennison1996–1999Inferno: Last in Live (1998)Chuck Garric1999–2000noneDoug AldrichguitarWarren DeMartini2003noneRudy Sarzo2004–2010bassHoly Diver – Live (2006)

Live substitutes ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsJames Kottak1997 drumsKottak filled in for Vinny Appice during a tour in February 1997, when he was hospitalised for pneumonia.Bob Daisley1998bassAfter Larry Dennison had to leave a tour early, Daisley took over for Scandinavian shows in late 1998.

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesOctober – November 1982Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Jake E. Lee – guitarNovember 1982 – May 1983Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vivian Campbell – guitarHoly Diver (1983)May 1983 – March 1986Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Vivian Campbell – guitar Claude Schnell – keyboardsThe Last in Line (1984) Sacred Heart (1985) Intermission (1986) At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010)March 1986 – August 1988Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Claude Schnell – keyboards Craig Goldy – guitarIntermission (1986) Dream Evil (1987) At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986 (2013)May – September 1989Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Claude Schnell – keyboards Rowan Robertson – guitarrowspan="2" September – December 1989Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Vinny Appice – drums Rowan Robertson – guitar Teddy Cook – bass, backing vocals Jens Johansson – keyboardsJanuary 1990 – January 1991Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Rowan Robertson – guitar Teddy Cook – bass, backing vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Simon Wright – drumsLock Up the Wolves (1990)Band inactive January 1991 – November 1992November 1992 – March 1993Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocalsrowspan="2" March – summer 1993Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocalsSummer – November 1993Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Vinny Appice – drums Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Tracy G – guitarStrange Highways (1993)November 1993 – October 1994Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Tracy G – guitar Scott Warren – keyboards Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993 (2014)August 1995 – May 1996Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Tracy G – guitar Jerry Best – bass Scott Warren – keyboards May – summer 1996Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Tracy G – guitar Jeff Pilson – bass, backing vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Angry Machines (1996)November 1996 – May 1998Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Tracy G – guitar Larry Dennison – bass Scott Warren – keyboards Inferno: Last in Live (1998)May 1998 – June 1999Ronnie James Dio – vocals Tracy G – guitar Larry Dennison – bass Simon Wright – drums Scott Warren – keyboards rowspan="2" June – September 1999Ronnie James Dio – vocals Larry Dennison – bass Simon Wright – drums Craig Goldy – guitar, keyboards Scott Warren – keyboards September 1999 – January 2002Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Simon Wright – drums Craig Goldy – guitar, keyboards Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Magica (2000)January 2002 – April 2003Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Simon Wright – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Doug Aldrich – guitarKilling the Dragon (2002) Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003)April – May 2003Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Simon Wright – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Warren DeMartini – guitarrowspan="2" May 2003 – March 2004Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Simon Wright – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Craig Goldy – guitarMarch – July 2004Ronnie James Dio – vocals, bass Simon Wright – drums Scott Warren – keyboards Craig Goldy – guitar, bass, keyboards Jeff Pilson – bass Master of the Moon (2004)July 2004 – May 2010Ronnie James Dio – vocals Simon Wright – drums Scott Warren – keyboards Craig Goldy – guitar Rudy Sarzo – bassHoly Diver – Live (2006)

References

External links Ronnie James Dio official website