Ronnie James Dio has been a staple of the heavy metal scene for longer than many of us have been alive. With the resurgence of interest in metal and 80s metal in particular, Dio has been riding a new wave of popularity. That popularity wave has left a new album in its wake, Master Of The Moon.
Check out the official website for Dio
Daniel Robert Epstein: What inspired the new album?
Ronnie James Dio: I dont know if it was so much inspiration as it is being pissed off about whats happening in the world. There is so much crap going on in the world like the war in Iraq and people dying in Africa of HIV so I couldnt hide behind any fantasy. My attitude was pretty well colored by all that crap so this ended up being a more realistic album that talks about the paranoia we suffer, Thats because who knows where the next terrorist is going to be.
DRE: So there is no fantasy on this album at all?
RJD: No, its not that at all. But because there was a confusing period in our musical lives I had to step back from what people expect, which is fantasy, and rock and roll. The Magica album is all fantasy and Killing the Dragon was up in your face. But like I said I didnt feel like hiding behind some fantasy.
DRE: How did you put together the lineup for the album and tour?
RJD: On the album we have a different bass player than who is going to be on tour. Jeff Pilson is on the album and on tour with us is Rudy Sarzo. Our bass player before that was Jimmy Bain for years and years. We didnt fire him but Jimmy was gone so we needed a bass player and we contacted Pilson. He did a brilliant job but since he and his wife were having their first child he couldnt come on tour. Hopefully Rudy Sarzo will be on our next album.
DRE: Why are you the master of the moon?
RJD: I wish I was master of the moon. I actually wrote the song about a friends 15 year old son. Hes going through what people that age go through and at the same time hes trying to find his own identity. Hes always being told what to do. They must think that if hes not out in the sun where they can see him then he must be hiding in the dark someplace. I told him that must make him master of the moon which really means that hes master of a piece of crap.
DRE: How has the resurgence in heavy metal helped you out?
RJD: Ive noticed there is attention being paid to it again. I think wed be silly if we thought what is happening today is going to be anything like what happened to us in the 80s. The shows that come through town now need to have two or even three big acts just to fill all those seats that any one of them used to do. Weve got to be realistic. Im happy were being looked at as viable musicians again.
DRE: Is it a mixture of young and older people that are coming to your shows now?
RJD: A mixture yeah. We know that were not going to recapture groups of screaming teenagers but we do get a variety. The most surprising thing is the amount of five to eight year olds there are because their parents are bringing them.
DRE: Are there a lot of mullets at the shows?
RJD: [laughs] Thankfully I dont see too many of those.
DRE: Did you ever wonder what attracted people with mullets to those shows?
RJD: If youre in Canada there is no question about that because everyone has a mullet there. I never really thought about it much. I just see faces, not haircuts and clothes. Its so hard to judge now because the guy thats standing out there might be an attorney and he wont be dressed the same as he did 15 years ago. No matter what inside that guy hes going YEAH!
DRE: What have you thought of metal in the 21st century?
RJD: I think metal will always be around. 50 years ago they said that rock and roll was only going to last a week and that Elvis Presley would never have on impact on anything. All these years later we now have presidents that have grown up with rock and roll. It is something that will always be there because it fills a need for expression and often a very angry expression. I think that its got a lot of staying power and I see it lasting for a long time.
DRE: I was asked by your people to not ask about a Black Sabbath reunion or anything like that, do you not like answering questions about Black Sabbath?
RJD: No its only because I just came back from South America and Ive been doing interviews for three weeks in a row. I talked to a lot of people with a lot of the same questions and I understand why people want to ask things about the past. Its only because the publicists would rather have journalists concentrate on the new album rather than older work. I dont mind talking about those subjects at all.
DRE: I would imagine that when you cut your thumb off last year it was one of the scariest things ever.
RJD: It definitely was. It shocked me so much not to see it there. One of the first things I thought about was that I wouldnt be able to do the devil horns without it. But I just dealt with it so I tried to stick it back on there and then I got it sewn back on. Everything worked out but it was my own stupidity so I probably deserved it.
DRE: Do you have 100 percent mobility back?
RJD: Yeah Ive got it back completely; the only thing is that I dont have a lot of feeling in it anymore because the bones were completely crushed so the nerves are working their way back in
DRE: Has Jack Blacks support of you helped out?
RJD: I think it definitely hasnt hurt. Im just grateful Ive gotten to know him because he is so knowledgeable about so many things especially rock music. Its wonderful to have someone who is an icon these days to go out there and say good things.
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
RJD: Not a one. Ive never wanted to write on my body.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official website for Dio
Daniel Robert Epstein: What inspired the new album?
Ronnie James Dio: I dont know if it was so much inspiration as it is being pissed off about whats happening in the world. There is so much crap going on in the world like the war in Iraq and people dying in Africa of HIV so I couldnt hide behind any fantasy. My attitude was pretty well colored by all that crap so this ended up being a more realistic album that talks about the paranoia we suffer, Thats because who knows where the next terrorist is going to be.
DRE: So there is no fantasy on this album at all?
RJD: No, its not that at all. But because there was a confusing period in our musical lives I had to step back from what people expect, which is fantasy, and rock and roll. The Magica album is all fantasy and Killing the Dragon was up in your face. But like I said I didnt feel like hiding behind some fantasy.
DRE: How did you put together the lineup for the album and tour?
RJD: On the album we have a different bass player than who is going to be on tour. Jeff Pilson is on the album and on tour with us is Rudy Sarzo. Our bass player before that was Jimmy Bain for years and years. We didnt fire him but Jimmy was gone so we needed a bass player and we contacted Pilson. He did a brilliant job but since he and his wife were having their first child he couldnt come on tour. Hopefully Rudy Sarzo will be on our next album.
DRE: Why are you the master of the moon?
RJD: I wish I was master of the moon. I actually wrote the song about a friends 15 year old son. Hes going through what people that age go through and at the same time hes trying to find his own identity. Hes always being told what to do. They must think that if hes not out in the sun where they can see him then he must be hiding in the dark someplace. I told him that must make him master of the moon which really means that hes master of a piece of crap.
DRE: How has the resurgence in heavy metal helped you out?
RJD: Ive noticed there is attention being paid to it again. I think wed be silly if we thought what is happening today is going to be anything like what happened to us in the 80s. The shows that come through town now need to have two or even three big acts just to fill all those seats that any one of them used to do. Weve got to be realistic. Im happy were being looked at as viable musicians again.
DRE: Is it a mixture of young and older people that are coming to your shows now?
RJD: A mixture yeah. We know that were not going to recapture groups of screaming teenagers but we do get a variety. The most surprising thing is the amount of five to eight year olds there are because their parents are bringing them.
DRE: Are there a lot of mullets at the shows?
RJD: [laughs] Thankfully I dont see too many of those.
DRE: Did you ever wonder what attracted people with mullets to those shows?
RJD: If youre in Canada there is no question about that because everyone has a mullet there. I never really thought about it much. I just see faces, not haircuts and clothes. Its so hard to judge now because the guy thats standing out there might be an attorney and he wont be dressed the same as he did 15 years ago. No matter what inside that guy hes going YEAH!
DRE: What have you thought of metal in the 21st century?
RJD: I think metal will always be around. 50 years ago they said that rock and roll was only going to last a week and that Elvis Presley would never have on impact on anything. All these years later we now have presidents that have grown up with rock and roll. It is something that will always be there because it fills a need for expression and often a very angry expression. I think that its got a lot of staying power and I see it lasting for a long time.
DRE: I was asked by your people to not ask about a Black Sabbath reunion or anything like that, do you not like answering questions about Black Sabbath?
RJD: No its only because I just came back from South America and Ive been doing interviews for three weeks in a row. I talked to a lot of people with a lot of the same questions and I understand why people want to ask things about the past. Its only because the publicists would rather have journalists concentrate on the new album rather than older work. I dont mind talking about those subjects at all.
DRE: I would imagine that when you cut your thumb off last year it was one of the scariest things ever.
RJD: It definitely was. It shocked me so much not to see it there. One of the first things I thought about was that I wouldnt be able to do the devil horns without it. But I just dealt with it so I tried to stick it back on there and then I got it sewn back on. Everything worked out but it was my own stupidity so I probably deserved it.
DRE: Do you have 100 percent mobility back?
RJD: Yeah Ive got it back completely; the only thing is that I dont have a lot of feeling in it anymore because the bones were completely crushed so the nerves are working their way back in
DRE: Has Jack Blacks support of you helped out?
RJD: I think it definitely hasnt hurt. Im just grateful Ive gotten to know him because he is so knowledgeable about so many things especially rock music. Its wonderful to have someone who is an icon these days to go out there and say good things.
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
RJD: Not a one. Ive never wanted to write on my body.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck