Biography
Dio is an American heavy metal band led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Dio was formed in 1982 after Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice left Black Sabbath. The band has been through frequent personnel changes—as of 2008, the line-up was Dio (vocals), Craig Goldy (guitars), Rudy Sarzo (bass), Simon Wright (drums) and Scott Warren (keyboards). The band has released ten studio albums, one extended play (EP), five video albums and twelve singles.
Dio’s debut album “Holy Diver” (1983) peaked at number 61 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in the United States. The first single "Holy Diver" charted at seventy-two in the United Kingdom, followed by "Rainbow in the Dark" which reached 46.
Their follow-up album “The Last in Line” (1984) charted higher, reaching number twenty-four in the US, and went platinum in the US. "Mystery" was the only single that charted.
In 1984, the band released its first video “A Special From The Spectrum,” their only video to be certified. “Sacred Heart” (1985) reached gold status in the US, and was the last Dio album to achieve any sales certifications. The single "Rock 'N' Roll Children" charted at 26 in the UK, the bands best performing single.
In 1987, the band released “Dream Evil.” The single "I Could Have Been a Dreamer" was the bands last to chart in the US, reaching 33.
“Lock up the Wolves” continued the bands decline in chart performance—it was the last Dio album to chart in the UK and Switzerland. The band released their last chart single "Hey Angel", which reached 94 in the UK.
“Angry Machines” (1996), and “Magica” (2000), both failed to chart in the US. In 2002, the band released “Killing the Dragon.” It reached 199, and was the last to chart in the US. Dio's tenth album “Master of the Moon” only charted in Finland and Sweden, reaching 16 and 35 respectively.