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The Ronnie James Dio 5th Year Remembrance Weekend kicked off last night (May 15th) at Pinz Bowling Center in Studio City, CA for the Rock & Bowl Celebrity Charity event benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund and to celebrate the life and music of the hardrock and heavy metal legend, who lost his life due to stomach cancer - five years ago today (May 16th). 

Some of the rock star guests included:

Christian Martucci and Roy Majorga (Stone Sour)

David "Rock" Feinstein (ELF, The Rods)

Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Axel Rudi Pell, Talisman)

Joey Vera (Armoured Saint)

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

Marq Torien (Bulletboys)

Jack Black and Kyle Gass (Tenacious D)

Dave Alford (Rough Cutt)

Bob Kulick

Bjorn Englen (Uli Jon Roth, Quiet Riot, Dio Disciples)

The festivities began around 7PM with a red carpet event located just inside the main lobby doors of the bowling center. Then one by one, most, if not all of the who's who in hard rock and heavy metal, took to the lanes and bowled at least a ten-frame game. The prize? One of three trophies that were handed out to the Top 3 bowlers (Michael Lardie from Great White won the top award) of the name with one "horse's ass" trophy for one lucky celeb bowler of the night. And then located just behind the red carpet's photographers pit and in the main part of the bowling center was the merch table. One item of special interest, includes a "limited edition" (only 500 made) Ride For Ronnie Tees that will be sold at both the memorial later today. A silent auction was also held. Items from bands like Van Halen, Megadeth, Metallica, Armored Saint, Rough Cutt and more were put up for auction.

At the end of the night, which was around 11 pm, a guitar and cloth case (with all the signatures of those who came to the evening's festivities, bowling or not), was auctioned off to the tune of $1600 - benefiting the SUAS foundation which "is dedicated to support research and education that furthers early detection, prevention, and treatment of prostate, colon, and stomach cancer from the notion that Knowledge Equals Power.  

A public memorial and a Ride For Ronnie Motorcycle Ride And BBQ are also part of this weekend’s remembrance festivities.

BraveWords spoke with Wendy Dio about a number of related topics recently. Check it out here.

For more details about the Ronnie James Dio 5th Year Memorial Service and Celebration of Ronnie's Music visit this location. Visit Diocancerfund.org to donate to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.