The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, the charity founded in memory of the late rock singer, was one of the designated charities of last week's Monsters of Rock Caribbean Cruise on the MSC Divina from Miami to Nassau in the Bahamas. The five-day trip included daily activities to raise money for the Dio Cancer Fund's important work in cancer research and prevention.

SUAS Cancer Fund President Wendy Dio, as well as several members of the SUAS Board of Directors, joined some 40 recording artists and the 3500 passengers on the SRO cruise for specific DIO events like Rock 'N Roll Bingo and Dine and Donate for Dio. For the latter, participants paid for a private cooking demonstration with rockers, including Lita Ford, Billy Sheehan, Tom Kiefer, Rowan Robertson (Dio) and members of Night Ranger, Black & Blue and Lillian Axe. In addition, guitars signed by the Black Star Riders and Europe were auctioned live following the bands' respective performances.

 

 

(Rocker Lita Ford (right) demonstrates the Dio horns for Wendy Dio during Monsters of Rock cruise)

 

 

A special live auction featured signed Ronnie James Dio photos, rare memorabilia and three unique guitars, including a signed Motorhead guitar and a Monsters of Rock guitar, which had been signed by many of the bands on the cruise. The third guitar was built from the ground up by George Bisceglia, who builds guitars for Dave Meniketti, the singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for hard rock/heavy metal band Y&T.; Meniketti was on hand for the auction, which was won by passenger Richard Wesson.

"I cannot thank Larry Morand, Mike London and the fantastic Monsters Of Rock Cruise Production Staff, as well as the very generous passengers, who dug deep into their pockets during our wonderful five days at sea," says Wendy Dio. "I want them all to know that every penny raised will go to cancer research so that one day we will find a cure for this terrible disease that takes so many of our loved one's lives. Ronnie would be so proud."

 

 

(Ricky Warwick, lead singer for Black Star Riders, signs guitar for winning bidder)

 

 

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund is a privately funded 501(c)(3) charity organization dedicated to cancer prevention, research and education and is committed to raising money and awareness in hope of one day finding a cure for this dreaded disease. Ronnie James Dio, the world-renowned voice of Dio, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell, died on May 16th, 2010 of gastric cancer.

 

 

(from left - SUAS Board member Sheila Melody, Wendy Dio, Dave Meniketti and SUAS Board members Dean Schachtel and Adam Parsons with auctioned Monsters of Rock guitar)

 

 

Next up for the Dio Cancer Fund is a series of events in Los Angeles to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Dio's passing, May 15th - 17th, 2015.  The Memorial Weekend will commence with Bowl For Ronnie celebrity bowling at Pinz Bowling Center in Studio City on Friday, May 15th. A public memorial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills will take place on Saturday, May 16th, followed on Sunday, May 17th by the inaugural Ride For Ronnie Motorcycle Ride from Harley-Davidson of Glendale to a BBQ with live entertainment at Los Encinos Park in Encino.

Massacre Records will release the 2 CD tribute album, A Light In The Black - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio, on May 22nd.

Says the label: “Ronnie James Dio was a hero and inspiration to many musicians, such as Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Doro Pesch and Axel Rudi Pell, and rumour has it that he‘s the main reason why every metal head worldwide is familiar with the sign of the horns. Now it‘s time for us to pay tribute to him as well: 12 of our bands covered Ronnie James Dio songs to honor this exceptional musician!”

A Light In The Black - A Tribute To Ronnie James Dio comes on 2 CDs with 20 songs by 12 different bands. Crystal Ball, Messenger, Gun Barrel, Gloryful, The Order, Metal Inquisitor, Circle Of Silence, Burden Of Grief, Love.Might.Kill, Rebellion, Iron Fate and Wizard are all part of this project. Crystal Ball’s cover of Dio’s "Sacred Heart" can be heard below.

 

 

The stunning artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (Darkgrove.net), who is also a huge Dio fan himself: "I decided to go for an old school type of hand-painted look, like the classic Dio covers, but I still wanted to keep it original. You'll find many hints and details that refer to well-known Dio themes: The mountain has two peaks as if they were devil's horns, and of course the Dio mascot Murray is featured too, merging from the fire."

Watch out for the complete tracklisting, to be revealed soon.

“Sacred Heart”: