For the next two nights, German metal queen DORO PESCH will be filling in for singer Tim "Ripper" Owens (HAIL!, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, BEYOND FEAR, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) on the following DIO DISCIPLES dates:

July

2 - Heineken - Madrid, Spain
3 - Bikini - Barcelona, Spain

Doro's first show with the band was on July 1st at Rockstar Live in Bilbao, Spain. Watch for pictures and video footage from the set, coming soon.

Commented Pesch: "I'm so excited to be a part of this tour. I listened day and night to Ronnie James Dio's amazingly wonderful song and I will try me very best to do a good job with them. I feel so honored and blessed to be a part of this and to keep Dio's music and magic alive. He was truly the greatest rock and metal singer of all time. We love you, Ronnie. I will sing my heart out for you and the fans."

Dio Disciples the new project featuring RONNIE JAMES DIO alumni Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) along with bassist James Lomenzo (MEGADETH, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, WHITE LION) and vocalists Tim "Ripper" Owens and Toby Jepson (LITTLE ANGELS, GUN). Owens was unable to make the Spanish shows to celebrate his daughter's wedding.

Back in March, Doro revealed she has written a new song as a tribute to RONNIE JAMES DIO entitled 'Hero'. She discussed the track with Rocksalt.mx in a recent interview:

"I was always such a big fan, like so many other people, just adored him and loved him. But there’s one song, we will be working on that and I think it will be wonderful. But I first want to show it to Wendy Dio and let her listen to it, so that’s one thing. I kind of want to make many versions of that song, I think it’s beautiful and I like it a lot. And we have some other songs but I don’t know which ones will make the record. Definitely the one for Ronnie; but everything else, we usually write as much as we can and pick and choose the nicest ones."
"It’s called ‘Hero’ and it has a beautiful melody and I would like to make many versions of it, like an acoustic version and a full-blown band version and maybe an orchestral version , and we are just working on it. I definitely want to take care of that one – that song’s nice. But first I want to let Wendy listen to it. I’m really hoping, but I’m sure she will like it a lot, ja. Every time everybody is listening to it in the studio everybody is crying and so – wow – so touching."

Go to this location for the in-depth interview.

As previously reported, Doro's complete 45 minute set from Hellfest 2011, which took place in Clisson, France on June 19th, is now streaming in its entirety on YouTube. Check it out below: