Ronnie James Dio
Posted on May.20, 2010 under Black Sabbath
My wife and I have sent our condolences and have felt very sad with the news of Ronnie’s passing.
We wish to extend our positive thoughts and love to all those who loved Ronnie, and we salute him as a singer, performer, songwriter and arranger.
We plan to make no further statements and prefer to remain private at this time.
–Bill Ward
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Hi Everybody.
It’s Bill here. First off, I want to thank you all for the support you’ve given me throughout the years. I love to play– whether it’s playing drums in Black Sabbath, making music with my own band or working with other musicians, period. Being able to do what I love for my whole life, pretty much, has been an honour and privilege.
When I started playing in Sabbath, there was an energy of truth about us. We believed in what we were saying, the music we were making and the lives we were living. As time has moved on, I’ve nurtured and tried to save a lot of what I learnt playing in Sabbath. During the more recent years at the Ozzfest concerts, I’ve found myself immersed in the musical rewards of playing in such a unique and devastatingly, powerfully effective Metal band. Sabbath have been, and are, my greatest teachers, and I am forever grateful for the musical journey so far.
Today, I love what’s happening in music. I’ve been given the rare opportunity to play bands I like – Classic and newer Metal – on our Rock 50 radio show. These bands energize me.
I am humbled to know many of you. Music lives and brings and maintains life. Music has always brought me through.
Stay strong, safe and live. Enjoy the site.
Long Live Metal.
--Bill Ward
May 20th, 2010 on 6:27 pm
I am sad I never got the chance to see you play with Dio. I have been watching the video to ‘Die young’ many times since Dio’s death and it shows both you and Dio on top of your game. Brilliant video and beautiful song. I have been headbanging and crying at the same time listening to it this week.
May 21st, 2010 on 12:59 pm
“… salute him … as an … arranger”? Why did Bill make a public statement at all? I have always been such a big Bill Ward/Sabbath fan, but this empty statement just deeply dissapoints me …
Long live Black Sabbath, long live Ronnie James Dio!
Steve
May 21st, 2010 on 4:48 pm
hi bill, i never saw ronnie with sabbath but listened to everything you did & loved his writing/imagination aswell as his powerful voice. i did see him perform with rainbow at preston guild hall so i experienced the magic he had over the audience, nothing pretentious just a down to earth great guy who loved his music, long live rock n roll!
May 23rd, 2010 on 6:34 pm
Very well said, Mr. Ward. I greatly loved Ronnie and all the music he has done. I’ve been a fan of him for over 25 years and also Black Sabbath in it’s many incarnations. Too bad you were not able to play more with Ronnie. I think you are THE Sabbath drummer! When I think of my favorite drummer for Sabbath, it’s you. The original band stands alone. Even apart from the Dio era which also was one of a kind. In my eyes, there used to be 2 Black Sabbaths’. And now…there is only one.
May 28th, 2010 on 5:54 am
Bill,
Well said. i’m sure that those who are on the journey will appreciate your comments. I understand your creative experiences with Ronnie were not what you would have wished, but I can say quite honestly, I have loved Heaven and Hell from the moment I heard it in late ’79. Its only in recent years, with internet access, that I’ve been able to understand that this period was very difficult for you. For me, it was finding a beat and bass on H&H that stretched my understanding of music. I return to H&H so often and your drumming, its pace and its deep, late swing is a foundation of that sound.
June 2nd, 2010 on 8:37 pm
I can’t speak for Mr. Ward but I believe that when Dio came to Sabbath he already had Vinny Appice in mind. Dio has a reputation for being the nicest, sweetest saint of a man this world has ever seen but I think that’s only due to years of maturing and self-reflection because by all old accounts, Dio was an ego-maniac in the 70’s and early 80’s. It is quite possible that Mr. Ward was not too impressed with RJD and never had a chance to get to know the great man he came to be later in life. How much can you say about a guy you didn’t care for that you knew 30 years ago? Any grandiose text would probably just come off as insincere.
June 8th, 2010 on 2:49 pm
A Dieux mon ami Ronnie !!
Rip
Vive le Sabbath !!!!!
July 13th, 2010 on 8:53 pm
TO Greg Boycott: Have now idea how Ronnie Dio had Appice in mind when he was invited to join Sabbath? That is just flat wrong. You can believe it, but it makes no logical sense.