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We at Vents are proud and honored to welcome to our pages Wendy Dio, the wife and longtime manager of heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio and the caretaker of his legacy. We’re so pleased to have your ear for a short while, Wendy! Before we get started, how has the second-half of 2021 been treating you thus far?
Things have been very busy this entire year. Besides working on the book, we’ve had the virtual birthday event for the Dio Cancer Fund on July 10, and I’m working on the documentary on Ronnie, which will come out in 2022. So it’s been rather hectic.
We want to extend congratulations on the upcoming autobiography of your husband Rainbow in the Dark: The Autobiography which is hitting bookshelves this July 27. This book has been in the works a long time; it was a project Ronnie was working on prior to his passing. How does it feel knowing that the FINISH line is now in sight for Ronnie’s autobiography?
It feels fantastic. It’s been a long, hard few years, and I’m very happy to see it finally coming out.
Rainbow in the Dark was a work in progress prior to Ronnie’s passing. Was there any hesitancy on picking up the reins of the book along with rock journalist Mick Wall, or do you feel this is something that Ronnie would have ultimately wanted to see the light of day?
Of course Ronnie wanted the book to be published for all of his fans to read.
What made Mick Wall – one of the best music journalists to ever come down the pike – the right person to collaborate with in finishing Ronnie’s autobiography? What made him the go-to person and not someone along the lines of Philip Norman?
Mick Wall was a long time friend and journalist who had interviewed Ronnie many, many times over the years. That made him the right person for me to collaborate with on completing the book.
How much of the heavy lifting on the book had Ronnie himself completed before becoming too ill to complete the task?
Ronnie wrote more than half the book, up until the end of his tenure with Rainbow, plus there were lots of notes left and lists of topics he wanted to write about in later chapters.
As you immersed yourself in Ronnie’s writings, did it feel as if you had the gift of a little extra time with him? Was it a cathartic experience working on it?
It was a bittersweet road revisiting the memories again.
Ronnie had pretty humble beginnings before charging into the world of heavy metal; at heart, was he always a hometown boy who made good?
Ronnie never forgot where he came from. He always loved his fans because they were the ones who always supported him throughout his career.
Was there anything in Rainbow in the Dark that had to be left out for space reasons or because it may have been of a sensitive nature?
His life spanned so many different projects, and highs and lows, that he had always planned to write a continuation. Part two.
This intrepid reporter is more than guilty of flashing Ronnie’s famous Devil Horns in moments of celebration (or in abject moments of just being a music geek). For the uninitiated, can you briefly talk about the birth of this iconic gesture and what it specifically meant to Ronnie?
Ronnie used to see his grandmother, from the time he was five years old, giving people the maloik sign to ward off evil, which is something that goes back thousands of years. Because Ozzy always did the peace sign, Ronnie wanted to do something different so he chose something from his Italian heritage, and popularized it. The “Devil Horns” definitely became associated with him.
Was there a moment while working on Rainbow in the Dark where Ronnie opted not to delve too deeply into a subject, or did he take an all bets are off approach to chronicling his life?
No, Ronnie did not hold anything back. He always told it like is whether you liked it or not.
What do you hope readers take away from their reading of Rainbow in the Dark?
I hope that they get to know Ronnie a little better as a person.
Permuted Press is the home for Rainbow in the Dark. What made them the right publishing house for Ronnie’s story?
The publisher Jacob Hoye believed in the book in 2010, and again in 2020, so it’s definitely the right place for Ronnie’s story.
A very important part to Ronnie’s and your story is the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Can you talk with us about the importance of this to others and what it means to you personally?
The Dio Cancer Fund has raised over $2 million in Ronnie’s memory since it was founded shortly after he died with a mission of furthering cancer research and education. Among other things, it has been involved in funding research by Dr. David Wong and his team at UCLA for a simple non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer.
Does Ronnie have any unissued tracks that fans might one day look forward to on a cd or cd box set release?
Yes, we are talking with the record label about issuing new releases in 2022, which will include some previously unreleased material.
Finally, what do you feel Ronnie’s legacy is?
Ronnie influenced so many artists and young bands with his music and touched so many people with his kindness and humanity. My mission is to keep Ronnie’s music and his memory alive.
Also head over to https://premierecollectibles.com/dio to find out where books will be signed. Anyone who pre-orders a book through the event can submit a question to Wendy.
