How do you feel about the event in general? Seeing all these people come out to watch these performances for Ronnie’s legacy and support the fight against cancer…?
“Well, being in the band “Dio” was like being in a family and so I was a part of that family…”
“I was a big fan of Ronnie‘s music back then and so I was busy looking for a singer that sounded like Ronnie… and that was very hard to do.”
“And I also came from a very abusive family. I was always getting beaten and yelled at, verbally and physically abused so I left the house to live in my car on the streets when I was 14. I had a wind-up clock, I had a job and I would go to people’s houses and give them lessons until my demo tape wound up in the hands of Ronnie James Dio. And he said, “We gotta get this kid out here. We have to get him out of his car” and so they tried. I was like a rescue dog and that’s what the organization does, they do rescue dogs and all sorts of charities by helping other charities too.”
“Some people come to Los Angeles to become a star and they end up as a prostitute, so there’s a lady they knew that goes into the streets and rescues them and we built them a shelter. So what we’re doing is building this legacy. So now we get a chance to do it in his name and keep his name alive since he was our family member. When a family member dies, those left behind often try to do things to help keep their memory alive, right?”
Right
“So that’s what we’re doing. So every time we do this it’s, in my heart, a memorial service in the form of a rock concert. So it’s a very very emotional thing, because I still miss him. I still love him, but his family is all over the world so they get a chance to tour. These events are special, because bigger fans come including the bikers. He loved the bikers, he loved everybody.”
“Everybody loved Ronnie and Ronnie loved everybody. He was perceived as a rock star, but he was a musician and a good man first and foremost. Everybody has been touched by him in some way and we’re all here with that same heart and that same purpose. Things like this, that’s why I’m in this, because I didn’t have that person when I was on the street. Ronnie gave me guidance, so I want to be that for somebody else someday. So that’s why I do what I do. Circle of life!”
You talk about Ronnie as a musician and a person…What was it like to have the opportunity to share a stage with him?
“Well that was a real dream come true. I believe in God and I think if you have a pure heart and you believe and you have good morals, dreams can come true. I left no stone upturned. I worked my ass off! There’s a saying it says, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” That kind of thing. So when you mix a pure heart and a pure motive, but I also did a lot of work. I was given a gift. I can draw like a photograph which also helps me when I record. It’s like painting with my guitar when I’m recording. So when I play guitar, the way I pick is the way I used to draw.”
“So as I was learning the songs that he was the singer on to suddenly becoming the guitar player on stage with him…”
“I mean every night was a 20,000 seat arena with an 18-foot-high fire-breathing dragon and explosions… So you tell me, what do you think that felt like?”
Amazing!
“Yep!”
So are you looking forward to the Dio Hologram officially going on tour starting in September?
“Yeah, we’re working on some news now. We’re working on an original material album now to go along with it. So there’s a lot of great things on the horizon.”
Thank you to the wonderful PR Staff behind the scenes of The 3rd Annual Ride For Ronnie Event for giving me the opportunity to interview ex- Dio and current Dio’s Disciples guitarist: Craig Goldy!
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