The grand wizard of classic rock. A poet of hope for the downtrodden. The single most important vocal technician in the history of heavy metal. All of these accolades have been garlanded upon the royal roar known as Ronnie James Dio.

Born in New Hampshire, USA, Ronnie first achieved recognition singing with his own band Elf. Deep Purple's Roger Glover and Ian Paice spotted him in 1972, and Elf then supported the British band on several US tours. Ronnie later sang on Roger's famed solo project "The Butterfly Ball" in 1974 and then joined Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. With his pioneering classical metal work in Rainbow, as well as his vocal pyrotechnics on two Black Sabbath monoliths (Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules), Ronnie used word and rhythm to seduce his way into the center ring during metal's thriving heyday.

His first solo offering, Holy Diver, was a brilliant display of melody and might that married Ronnie's immense vocal, lyrical and compositional acumen with the talents of a band chosen with almost Machiavellian insight.

Holy Diver quickly established the singer's hypnotizing skill for delivering messages that pierced the wild heart of the metal generation. Due to a wellspring of strength built from childhood struggles, Ronnie learned to soar with words, writing anthems to overcoming, paeans to personal power, and overtures to outcasts, all with a verve that stressed independence in the face of dark forces.

By the release of record #2, The Last in Line, Dio was firing on all cylinders, packing stadiums with a visual and aural symphony: a pyramid stage set complete with a three-headed cobra and fighting sphinxes, and songs that spoke to an all too prevalent middle American reality. Good versus evil was Dio's unrelenting theme, and the band's muscle bound devil mascot, amusingly known as Murray, seemed to be winning. Next up for Ronnie was his reunion with Black Sabbath for 1992's Dehumanizer. The remainder of the 90's saw Dio releasing Strange Highways (1994), Angry Machines (1996), and a live offering in Inferno/Last in Live (1998).

The year 2000 saw guitarist Craig Goldy returning to the fold as the Dio clan released Magica, a concept album. Magica was hailed as the band's "comeback" album and received glowing reviews. Following a hugely successful tour of Europe, USA and Japan, Ronnie found himself teaming up with his old mates from Deep Purple to perform songs from the "Butterfly Ball" and his new - masterpiece, in conjunction with a 79 piece orchestra…an unforgettable experience! Shortly thereafter, Goldy once again retreated, and former Hurricane/Lion axeman Doug Aldrich joined the band for 2002's Killing the Dragon, a classic Dio masterpiece, and the Evil or Divine DVD filmed live at New York's Roseland Theater. A tour with Deep Purple and the Scorpions followed. After Aldrich's defection to Whitesnake, Goldy returned once again and set to working on a whirlwind year of touring with Iron Maiden & Motorhead, followed by the writing and recording of the latest Dio gem, Master of the Moon, due to be released August 30, 2004, coinciding with a world tour. So there you have it, twenty years of Dio domination, much of it a commercial smash, all of it thoughtful and painstakingly creative. Ronnie reminds us that an album is forever - that each one is a document carved in time, to be studied and enjoyed by generations of listeners. Dio is indeed a vital artist, still making records with new collaborators and new sounds. The Dio canon is now regarded as above and beyond trend, one of the few hallowed metal collections composing the very definition of "classic rock". May the man preach, pontificate and power-chord for many years to come.

Simon Wright was born June 19, 1963 in Oldham Manchester, England. After getting his first drum set at the age of 13, Simon, a self taught drummer, spent hours with his head set on playing while listening to such legends as Cozy Powell, John Bonham and Tommy Aldridge.

His first professional gig was on tour with Girl School at the age of 16 when he was with A II Z on the British leg of the "Screaming Blue Murder" tour. He had his first taste of the road. It would only be about a year later when he would be playing for one of the biggest bands in the world, AC/DC. Simon's career with AC/DC would last through three of their albums: Fly On The Wall, Who Made Who and Blow Up Your Video.

After leaving AC/DC in 1989, he met Ronnie James Dio. Hired as the backbone for DIO entering the 90's, their first effort together would produce the critically acclaimed album, 1990's Lock Up The Wolves. While on hiatus from DIO, he kept himself busy as a hired gun for bands such as Rhino Bucket, John Norum, Mogg/Way and even UFO with Michael Schenker in 1995.

Simon is currently working on the new DIO album as well as promoting his new DVD " On The Road with Simon Wright".

Prior to joining Dio, Scott Warren was a member of the groups Warrant, Keel and Berlin among others. He is a self taught keysman who began playing at age 6. Later he trained professionally at Dick Grove School of Music.

Scott joined Dio to play keyboards on the Strange Highways release in 1994. He has been a member of Dio ever since.

His most notable work with the band would have to include his keyboard solo on the recent Killing The Dragon album on a track titled Before The Fall.

Rudy Sarzo has been a professional recording and performing artist worldwide for over 20 years. As a member of Ozzy Osbourne's band, from March 1981 to September 1982, Rudy toured the world in support of the "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary Of a Madman" records. His bass playing can be heard on Ozzy's multimillion selling CD "Tribute" and "Speak of the Devil" CD and DVD.

As a member of Quiet Riot, from September 1982 to January 1985, Rudy recorded the multi-platinum albums "Metal Health", the first Heavy Metal debut to reach #1 on the Billboard charts and "Condition Critical". During this period Rudy headlined worldwide tours, appeared on numerous MTV videos and was voted #1 Bassist in Circus Magazine for 1983.

As a member of Whitesnake, from April 1987 to September 1994, Rudy recorded the multi-platinum album "Slip of the Tongue". During this period Rudy also performed worldwide on headline tours in support of the multiplatinum "1987" and "Slip of the Tongue" albums and appeared on 6 MTV videos.

As a member of the reunited Quiet Riot, from May 1997 to August 2003, Rudy performed worldwide on headlining tours and as special guests in support of the Quiet Riot CDs "Alive and Well" and "Guilty Pleasure. Rudy also appeared on VH1's Quiet Riot, Behind the Music. In November of 2003, "Quiet Riot Live in The 21st Century" DVD was released after the group disbanded.

His recordings with all of these artists combined have sold over 30 million copies.

In February of 2004, Rudy joined Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force for the U.S. 30 city "Attack Tour" and in April 2004 became the newest member of Dio.

Craig Goldy was guitarist for ROUGH CUTT, GIUFFRIA, PROJECT DRIVER before joining DIO. Giuffria was a melodic rock band that was formed in the early 1980s by former Angel keyboardist Gregg Giuffria. After Angel disbanded in 1981, Giuffria quickly put together a band that looked and sounded like Angel. The original lineup included David Glen Eiesley on vocals, Craig Goldy on guitar, Chuck Wright on bass, and Alan Krigger on drums. Giuffria then named his new band after himself and signed a record deal with MCA Records.

When original Dio axeman Vivian Campbell left, Ronnie James Dio turned to former Giuffria and Roughcutt guitarist Craig Goldy. Goldy proved to be a shred-master of the highest caliber, but unfortunately, his stint with Dio was short lived. Craig left to do solo work, re-emerging in 1991 touting his CRAIG GOLDY'S RITUAL project, a group that involved Mike Stone on lead vocals, bassist Tom Rucci, keyboard player Doug Allen and drummer Carl Marelli in the recording of his 'Hidden In Plain Sight' album. Shortly after the record was released, in North America through Grand Slamm, Mike Stone was succeeded by Goldy's former GIUFFRIA colleague DAVID GLEN EISLEY after his DIRTY WHITE BOY outfit had split up.

While in his own band, Craig Goldy also co-wrote song 'Lady Luck' with David Lee Roth for Roth's album and he at least planned to release an instructional guitar video in 1991, too.

He would also figure on DAVID GLEN EISLEY's 2000 outing 'Stranger From The Past'. The year 2000 also saw Goldy returning to the Dio fold to help create Magica, but shortly thereafter, he left again due to family commitments. Doug Aldrich stepped in for the Killing the Dragon record and the Evil or Divine DVD, but soon joined Whitesnake, facitating Goldy's final return to the band.