DIO – Dreamers Never Die

Giant Voice – Giant Heart

Few musical artists have touched more hearts through their music, and shared more kindness through their generous actions than one of our lost icons and heroes: Ronnie James Dio. When Dio passed away from stomach cancer in 2010, the world lost one of the most influential figures in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. While working with Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio co-created a genre that combined heavy music with fantasy themes, and classical music as it’s foundation as opposed to the blues. Dio may be gone, but he is far from forgotten, and with the release of DIO – Dreamers Never Die we are given a chance to look through the eyes of friends, family and colleagues to get to know him a little bit better.

About the Film

The film was shown in theaters for 2 days only on on Wed., Sept. 28th and Sun., Oct. 2nd . Hopefully it will come out on Blu-ray for those of us who might have missed it, or those of us like this reviewer that wants to see it again and own it.

The film was executive produced by Dio’s widow and longtime manager, Wendy Dio, and fully authorized by the artist’s estate. DIO: Dreamers Never Die delves deep into the singer’s incredible rise from a ‘50s doo-wop crooner to his early rock days in Elf and Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, to replacing Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and finally cementing his rock star status with his own band, DIO.

The film incorporates never-before-seen footage and personal photos, as well as offering intimate scenes with his closest peers, family, and friends. Among the people interviewed are Wendy Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Glenn Hughes, Vinny Appice, Lita Ford, Rob Halford, Sebastian Bach, Eddie Trunk, and Jack Black. Through their stories, they bring viewers inside the life of one of rock and roll’s true heroes.

Final Notes

The directors have woven all of these bits and pieces into a heart rending story that by film’s end had the audience in tears. For this reviewer, a film telling Ronnie James Dio’s story was long overdue, and they did it right. Tough the movie might have been improved with a few more interviews with Dio, overall it worked well in telling his story in a very personal way. After seeing the movie, the viewer is left a little sadder, but at the same time more inspired.

Ronnie James Dio always believed in being a positive influence to those around him, and he was the kind of person who spent a lot of time talking to, and sharing with his fans. This film reminds us of what we have gained by his example, and what we have lost by his absence. The world is a richer place because of Dio, and while he’s no longer with us in body, his spirit and music will always live on.