VINNY APPICE On RONNIE JAMES DIO - "I Really Miss Being Around Him; It Feels Like We Are Going To Start Rehearsing Soon And He Will Be There"
November 27, 2010, 14 years ago
Drummer Vinny Appice (HEAVEN & HELL) is featured in a new interview with Sea Of Tranquility discussing the new live HEAVEN & HELL DVD, Neon Nights, released as a tribute to the late, great RONNIE JAMES DIO. An excerpt is available below.
SoT: If there was ever a fitting tribute for Ronnie, Neon Nights seems to be it. Seeing as it was the last filmed performance of Ronnie, not only was the band on fire that night, but the Wacken crowd was huge, and the production elements of the show, both audio and video, is superb. What was it like for you that night, and how does it feel to look back on the Wacken gig now and know that it was the last time Ronnie appeared live on stage in front of cameras?
Vinny: "Well, it was such a huge festival with so many people that you could feel the energy of the all the fans onstage. Looking back I am glad since its RJD's last video performance that it was a night that was without any technical problems in addition to the band being on fire. I thought it was one of Ronnie's best nights. He sang so amazing and he enjoyed that night!
SoT: Ronnie's passing has been hard on the entire hard rock and metal community, probably more so than any other artist in recent memory. He seemed like one of those figures that never aged, beloved by fans, friends, and family alike, and the 'heavy metal' embassador that would live forever, which I think is what has made his death so hard on us all. You were very close to Ronnie for many years-can you give us some thoughts on your relationship with him, and how you are coping with the loss of your friend & bandmate?
Vinny: "I met Ron when I was 23 years old. He became my band mate but also more importantly a brother, leader and a best friend. We had many things in common, most of all the desire to play on 11 each night and kick each others butt onstage. I really miss being around him and it feels like we are going to start rehearsing soon and he will be there."
SoT: Before the announcement of Ronnie's illness, the band had planned another world tour. In addition, was there any writing going on for a possible follow-up album to The Devil You Know?
Vinny: "No there was nothing in the can but Ronnie had a few songs he demoed in his studio. Tony and Geezer may have been working on some ideas and riffs too. But no official band writing session took place."
Go to this location for the complete interview.
Heaven & Hell’s live version of the BLACK SABBATH song 'Children Of The Sea' off their Neon Nights: Live In Europe DVD has just been released in full below. The performance was filmed in Wacken, Germany on July 30, 2009 as part of the tour in support of their The Devil You Know studio album. Although nobody knew it at the time, it was to be Ronnie James Dio’s last filmed concert performance before his sad death in May 2010. Heaven & Hell were in fantastic form and played a blistering set that included tracks from the newly released album along with classics from their Black Sabbath days.
Check out the new e-card and listen to samples of the tracks 'The Mob Rules', 'Heaven And Hell' and 'Die Young' at this location.
The DVD also boasts 30th anniversary interviews with all four band members as a bonus feature. Personal one-on-one’s are conducted with Ronnie, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice as they reflect on the making of their Heaven And Hell album. Additionally, the Neon Nights DVD has newly recorded personal tributes from Iommi, Appice, and Butler in memory of Dio.
Tracklisting:
DVD:
'E5150'
'The Mob Rules'
'Children Of The Sea'
'I'
'Bible Black'
'Time Machine'
'Fear'
'Falling Off The Edge Of The World'
'Follow The Tears'
'Die Young'
'Heaven And Hell'
Encore:
'Country Girl'
'Neon Knights'
CD:
'The Mob Rules'
'Children Of The Sea'
'I'
'Bible Black'
'Time Machine'
'Fear'
'Falling Off The Edge Of The World'
'Follow The Tears'
'Die Young'
'Heaven And Hell'
'Neon Knights'