LegendaryRockInterviews.com's John Parks has issued an interview with DIO DISCIPLES drummer Simon Wright (ex-DIO, AC/DC). An excerpt follows:

Q: What are you up to currently Simon? Are Dio Disciples still out?

A: "Yes, we are still concentrating on Dio Disciples and just organising dates for 2012."

Q: How did it feel the very first time you stepped onstage without Ronnie (James Dio) and how do you explain the band to people who are critical of you guys for carrying on?

A: "The first Dio Disciples show was Moscow, Russia, June 8th, 2011. We rehearsed for about a week before we left and it was weird at times, we tried to keep working/playing and stay productive to take our minds off the fact that Ronnie wasn’t there, but there were moments when I thought, 'I wish I wasn’t doing this, ya know, we should be rehearsing for a new Dio tour'. The show in Moscow went well, it was hard to concentrate at times, especially playing 'Catch The Rainbow', many, many in the front row were crying. That’s a heavy thing and it was very emotional for everyone, but you have to keep going for Ronnie and the fans. That is what Dio Disciples is all about, we want to keep Ronnie’s songs alive for the fans, I was in his band for 14 years, I was around Ronnie during the horrible chemo when he got sick and I’ll be damned if I’m just gonna walk away and not keep his name and his music alive for him and the fans. Call me crazy, but there you have it."

Read the full interview at this location.

Video footage of Dio Disciples, taking part in the Living Legends Jam at the 2012 NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) convention, which took place January 19th - 22nd at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, can be seen below:

Dio Disciples recently announced that they will be headlining the first day of the three-day Kavarna Rock Festival, taking place July 13th - 15th in Kavarna, Bulgaria. July 13th has been renamed RONNIE JAMES DIO Day at the festival.

Compete festival details can be found at this location.