RIP Ronnie James Dio - Top 20 Dio Songs

Today marks the 10 year anniversary of the sad day on which the metal world lost a true legend: Ronnie James Dio. His trademark voice and fantasy lyrics have left a lasting impression on the Metal community and have influenced countless metal musicians. To pay tribute to a true icon, Ben and Matt have come up with a list of the Top 20 Dio Classics: 

20. The Last in Line

Dio goes into epic territory for The Last in Line, an incredibly well-executed semi-ballad. The title track from his sophomore album, it curiously won a Grammy for Best Metal Performance 31 years later when Tenacious D covered it. MN




19. Starstruck

If you’re aware of the performance of this song from Dio’s 1983 set at Donnington, you’ll know exactly why I had to include it. If you’re not aware, best you watch the video below... BP



18. Long Live Rock'n'Roll

Well said, sir! Have a place in this list.



17. Double the Pain

Is this the heaviest riff from any song that Dio has sung on, ever…? I think so and this is my list, so Double the Pain is here to stay! BP



16. Don’t Talk to Strangers

Our first song from Holy Diver, although we included most of the album, which says a lot, doesn’t it, really. From its soft intro to a next level, shredding solo, this song is home to one of Dio’s most iconic screams – so don’t dream of women, they’ll only bring you DOOOWWWWNNNN! MN



15. Wild One

Okay, this is a proper underrated one. Starting with squealing guitars, this song doesn’t let off from start to finish. Infectious, euphoric vocal melodies carry this song, which has a surprising amount of bite to it. The guitar solo rules, too. MN



14. 16th Century Greensleeves

Featuring my favourite Dio ‘it’s so cliche it’s come full circle to be incredible’ rhyming couplets: “it’s only been an hour since he locked her in the tower”. As the second heaviest moment on the first Rainbow album, I couldn’t not include this song. BP


13. Kill the King

One of my all-time favourite Rainbow tracks. Opening line ‘Danger, danger, the Queen’s about to kill’ refers to a game of chess. That’s Dio’s lyricism for you. We wouldn’t have it any other way. MN



12. The Sign of the Southern Cross

An underrated, brooding epic from Mob Rules, his trademark wisdom is scattered amongst the lyrics, as he warns us, ‘don’t live for pleasure, make life your treasure’. You can hear how bands such as Maiden and Metallica tried to emulate its grandeur through the 80s. MN




11. Caught in the Middle

Holy Diver has more accessible and radio-friendly singles on it, but I’ve always thought that this one perfectly treads the line between catchy and heavy. The vocal harmonies in the chorus are incredible. BP



10. Stand Up and Shout

What a way to open an incredible comeback album! This song has a very forward-thinking guitar part, when you consider the Thrash Metal that was about to explode in the mid-80s. BP


9. Straight Through The Heart

Put plain and simple, Straight Through the Heart rocks. With that pinch harmonic from a still-relatively unknown Mr Vivian Campbell beneath a powerful vocal performance, this is a fine start to Side B of Holy Diver. MN



8. Bible Black

It’s incredible to think that Dio recorded this the year before his passing. He had it through to the end. The standout track from The Devil You Know, the era in which it came out makes it a lesser-known, lesser-discussed track. This is simply criminal. It’s brilliant.  MN



7. Children of the Sea

A moody intro sets the scene for another colossal Heaven & Hell number. The riffs are just massive, and it marks the first epic track that Ronnie and Sabbath did together. MN



6. Children of the Sea

A bit cheesy, a bit corny, groovy in a way that Sabbath don’t usually go for… I shouldn’t like this song as much as I do, but I can’t really help it! You can’t help but bop and sing along to this track. BP






5. Stargazer

Cozy’s drum fills that start the song are recognisable a mile away. Stargazer is a journey, full of emotions, that gives the true definition of the word ‘epic’. I hear that word thrown around a lot, but things don’t come much more epic than Stargazer. MN



4. Man on the Silver Mountain

A rare moment of taut accessibility from a band that involves Ritchie Blackmore. Inventive little riff, for sure, but made by vocals from a very fresh-faced Dio. BP



3. Holy Diver

Is this maybe the most iconic Dio track? Ronnie takes us to a magic, far off land, with a riff that sticks in your head like glue. Few songs sum up what it is to be heavy metal better than this one. MN



2. Neon Knights

Pure energy, pure adventure, pure excitement. This song announces the miraculous rebirth of Sabbath with an earth-shattering bang. Unfairly overlooked due to some other massive rock band (can’t think who, though…) pulling off a Lazarus-style resurrection in 1980 as well. BP



1. Heaven and Hell

Black Sabbath’s other universal anthem. Ozzy is Ozzy and Paranoid is Paranoid, that much is undeniable. But with this track achieves levels of storytelling and grandiosity that the previous incarnation of the band couldn’t get anywhere near. This song has possibly the best lyrics of any Sabbath song, too. BP

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