I have been feeling this hole in my heart since Sunday May 16^th. That is the day we lost one of the most powerful voices on music. Ronnie James Dio passed away after a rather short battle with stomach cancer. Even more powerful than his voice was his personality. He was a true gentleman and a gentle man. Ronnie always made time for fans and friends. I interviewed him several times through the years and I would always get excited in anticipation because of who he was and how he presented himself. Always up for anything fun and different like the time we played this Heavy Metal board game with listeners over the air. Ronnie gave his all in writing, performing and helping others. He and his wife Wendy started "Children of the Night" to help wayward kids off the streets. I feel I have lost a friend because that's how he treated me. Rest in peace my brother...

Below you will find thoughts and tributes to Ronnie starting with his wife Wendy's statement...

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private good-byes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."

RAINBOW BANDMATE RITCHIE BLACKMORE:
"Ronnie had a unique and wonderful voice. He will be sadly missed in the rock and roll world.

BLACK SABBATH/HEAVEN & HELL BANDMATE TONY IOMMI:
"Yesterday, 16th May, my dear, dear friend Ronnie James Dio passed away at 7.45am L.A. time. I've been in total shock; I just can't believe he's gone. Ronnie was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. We had some fantastic times together. Ronnie loved what he did, making music and performing on stage. He loved his fans so much. He was a kind man and would put himself out to help others.  I can honestly say it's truly been an honor to play at his side for all these years. His music will live on forever.  Our thoughts are with Wendy Dio [Ronnie's wife/manager] who stood by Ronnie until the end. He loved her very much. The man with the magic voice is a star amongst stars, a true professional. I'll miss you so much, my dear friend."

SEBASTIAN BACH:
"Crying right now in remembrance of my hero and friend, Ronnie James Dio.  Dio died this morning and he was a major, major part of my life. I got to do shows with him and work with him and I loved Dio my whole life. Thanks so much.  The world has lost one of the best.  Your last album was your best. Of course."

IRON MAIDEN:
"It is with huge sadness we hear that Ronnie has lost his battle against stomach cancer, and our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Wendy and family at this terrible time.  From his earlier years in Elf, Black Sabbath and Dio, right through to his most recent days fronting Heaven & Hell, Ronnie, time and again, proved his genius as a frontman, always giving his all to his fans and his music. Ronnie was not only an incredibly gifted singer but also a wonderfully warm, intelligent and generous person and this shone through both on and off stage leaving a positive mark on everyone he came into contact with. A longstanding friend of Maiden, we played many shows together over the years and we will all miss him greatly. The world has lost an irreplaceable talent and, first and foremost, one of the finest human beings you could ever wish to meet."

FORMER DEEP PURPLE/BLACK SABBATH SINGER GLENN HUGHES:
"It is a very sad day today... I have lost a very dear friend. Ronnie was a true leader of heavy metal... an icon and a visionary... There will never be another like him.  Ronnie gave me wisdom, and showed me great compassion when he was in Elf, all those years ago, when we were on tour together in my time in Deep Purple. He was a beautiful soul, kind, considerate and a wonderful teacher.   Some day I'll be bringing your microphone up there with me, and we'll sing a song, and share a Vindaloo together... I''ll miss, you mate."

KISS:
"We mourn the tragic passing of the great Ronnie James Dio. In addition to his powerhouse vocal ability, Ronnie was a true gentleman who always emanated great warmth and friendship to us and everyone around him. We will miss him."

JUDAS PRIEST:
"We are filled with great sadness at the terrible news about our friend Ronnie James Dio.  Our condolences and love go to Wendy [Dio, Ronnie's wife/manager] and Ronnie's family. Ronnie was a wonderful man and will be sorely missed."

SLASH:
"One of the best heavy metal singers of all time...His music will live on for eternity."

DREAM THEATER DRUMMER MIKE PORTNOY:
"Rest in peace, Ronnie James Dio... one of the greatest of all time.  Looks like Dime [late Pantera guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott],Randy [Rhoads; late Ozzy Osbourne guitarist], Cliff [Burton; late Metallica bassist] and Bonzo [late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham] just scored the ultimate singer.  This is one of the saddest days in metal ever."

ANTHRAX GUITARIST SCOTT IAN:
"Rest in peace, Ronnie James Dio. Horns at half mast. Such a huge loss...
So many memories of Ronnie. Toured together many times. He always had a kind word and a smile and he LOVED the Yankees.  In 2004 on the Dio/Anthrax tour I would get the Yankee score every inning for Ronnie while he was on stage. He was so into it.   Saw Black Sabbath on the Black & Blue tour [featuring Black Sabbath and Blue Öyster Cult] at Madison Square Garden [in New York City] in 1980. First row center.   Ronnie was king of the world. Top 3 shows of all time."

WHITESNAKE SINGER DAVID COVERDALE:
"[I was] so very sad to hear of Ronnie's passing... My thoughts, prayers and condolence to his family and friends."

TWISTED SISTER:
"The members of Twisted Sister, along with millions of metal fans around the world, mourn the death of our friend Ronnie James Dio. Ronnie not only was a giant in the worldwide metal scene, but he was also one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Beginning in 1983 when we first toured with Ronnie in Canada, and continuing over the last seven years when we played dozens of festivals around the world, Ronnie was one of the most supportive and gracious members of the music community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy and Ronnie's family."

QUEENSRYCHE:
"Ronnie James Dio was undoubtedly one of heavy metal's greatest performers and will continue to influence the world of heavy metal forever. He was certainly a very big influence on Queensrÿche and along the way became a cherished friend too. We will all miss him greatly, but Ronnie will live on every time we raise our metal horns high! The man on the silver mountain will always be our rainbow in the dark."

QUEEN GUITARIST BRIAN MAY:
"It's a shock to hear that Ronnie has gone. Even though we had all known he was battling with cancer for some time, he was such a wiry fighter, and of such an amazingly optimistic nature, I think I assumed he would go on forever. Well, he fought to the very end... was gearing up to go back out on tour.  I know this will be a very hard blow for my friend Tony Iommi. When I last saw Ronnie in Los Angeles, he was as full of life and positivity as anybody I've ever known... and sang up a storm with Heaven & Hell in the Universal Amphitheatre.

In my opinion, Ronnie was one of the creators of the genre of heavy metal. I'm not an expert on his work -- there are many people much more knowledgeable than me... but our paths crossed many times over the years, and I had clear glimpses of his unique spirit and personality. He was in many ways the antithesis of the current mould of TV-bred singers. He had no apparent desire for fame, in the sense that so many X-Factor contestants seem to. He was not a TV face, a 'celebrity.' He just loved doing what he did. So, to his millions of fans, there was an unquestionable feeling of reality to his persona, his songwriting, and his performances. His lyric-writing was very distinctive, and set a style in heavy metal which has influenced many bands over the years. To me, it was as if his mind operated in layers -- on the surface, a hard-working honest singer, with a great humanity and strong sense of humour -- and underneath, in the world of his songs, his subconscious seemed to be populated by hobgoblins of all kinds, and palpable evil forever on the march. His lyrics, dark and mysterious, in tune with the metal ethos, always represented the sword of goodness in triumph over evil.

I don't know if he invented the devil-horn salute, but he was certainly the man who, more than ever, made it a universal symbol, a worldwide salute of metal. He was universally loved in the community of rock music, and will be sorely missed."

METALLICA DRUMMER LARS ULRICH (AN OPEN LETTER):
"Dear Ronnie,
I just got off stage in Zagreb. I was met with the news that you've passed on. I'm kind of in shock, but I wanted you to know that you were one of the main reasons I made it onto that stage to begin with.

When I first saw you in Elf, opening for Deep Purple in 1975, I was completely blown away by the power in your voice, your presence on stage, your confidence, and the ease with which you seemed to connect to 6,000 Danish people and one starry-eyed 11-year-old, most of whom were not familiar with Elf's music. The following year, I was so psyched when I heard the results of you joining forces with my favorite guitar player. You guys sounded so right for each other and I instantly became Rainbow's #1 fan in Denmark.

In the fall of 1976, when you played your first show in Copenhagen, I was literally in the front row and the couple of times we made eye contact you made me feel like the most important person in the world. The news that you guys were staying in town on your day off somehow embedded itself in my brain and I made the pilgrimage to the Plaza Hotel to see if I could somehow grab a picture, an autograph, a moment, anything. A few hours later you came out and were so kind and caring... pictures, autographs and a couple minutes of casual banter. I was on top of the world, inspired and ready for anything. Rainbow came to Copenhagen a couple more times over the next few years and each time you guys blew my mind, and for a good three years were my absolute favorite band on this planet.

Over the years I've been fortunate enough to run into you a half dozen times or so and each time you were as kind, caring and gracious as you were in 1976 outside the hotel.

When we finally got a chance to play together in Austria in 2007, even though I may not have let on, I was literally transformed back to that little snot-nosed kid who you met and inspired 31 years earlier and it was such a fucking honor and a dream come true to share a stage with you and the rest of the legends in Heaven & Hell.

A couple of weeks ago when I heard that you were not going to be able to make it to the Sonisphere shows that we would be sharing this June, I wanted to call you and let you know that I was thinking of you and wish you well, but I kind of pussied out, thinking the last thing you needed in your recovery was feeling obligated to take a phone call from a Danish drummer/fan boy. I wish I'd made that call.

We will miss you immensely on the dates, and we will be thinking of you with great admiration and affection during that run. It seemed so right to have you out on tour with the so-called 'Big Four' since you obviously were one of the main reasons that the four bands even exist.

Your ears will definitely be burning during those two weeks because all of us will be talking, reminiscing and sharing stories about how knowing you has made our lives that much better.

Ronnie, your voice impacted and empowered me, your music inspired and influenced me, and your kindness touched and moved me. Thank you. Much love."

MOTLEY CRUE BASSIST NIKKI SIXX:
"Ronnie was one of the kindest souls I have ever met and his talent was beyond inspirational to so many of us. I still have this image of him standing on stage in front of 100-thousand belting out 'Man on the Silver Mountain' and remember the shivers it sent up my spine. He will be missed by all of us."

MEGADETH BASSIST DAVE ELLEFSON:
"He was truly one of the 'good guys' in this business and a consummate pro, someone we can all take a cue and learn from. We are all fans of his and he did many great things for Megadeth and its members. . . I'm very thankful to have gotten to know and tour with him... We got to have many good moments with Ronnie during that tour. He is missed by us all. Our prayers go out to him and his family at this time."

SMASHING PUMPKINS SINGER BILLY CORGAN:
"R.I.P. Ronnie James Dio. I only got to meet him once and I can honestly say he was the nicest person I have ever met in music.  Ronnie was a true gentleman, and obviously one of the best rock singers there will ever be. What a sad loss today."

 
DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO DIO
With the passing of Ronnie James Dio, organizers of England's Download Festival have decided to pay tribute to the heavy metal great.  The second stage at the event will now official be called the Ronnie James Dio stage.  The festival takes place June 11th to the 13th in Donington Park, England and will feature acts like AC/DC, Aerosmith, Megadeth, Motorhead and many others.  Learn more at DownloadFestival.co.uk.

OZZY OSBOURNE:
"I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Ronnie James Dio. Metal has truly lost one of its greatest voices. My heart goes out to his family and to his many fans.  Love and respect."

DIO GUITARIST DOUG ALDRICH:
"I'm going to miss him so much.   We lost a giant [on Sunday]...Just broken today.  I was blessed to share some music with him, but mostly, I am thankful his friendship.  Ronnie was a good-hearted, caring man. He brought so much happiness through his music.  Thank you, Ronnie, for the gifts you shared with us. Ronnie made magic and Ronnie was and will always be golden. Goodbye, Ronnie. Love you forever."

MOTORHEAD SINGER LEMMY KILMISTER:
"I'm truly upset, especially since he seemed to be rallying at the [Revolver] Golden Gods show [on April 8th, 2010 in Los Angeles, California].  Bon voyage, Ronnie. Rest in peace. I'm devastated."

BASSIST JEFF PILSON (WORKED WITH DIO):
"Saying a few words about Ronnie Dio is like being asked to describe an epic movie in one sentence. It just so barely even scratches the surface.  I still can't believe he's gone. And as the reality becomes more apparent, I get sadder and sadder. But then something will happen like getting in my car and 'Stand Up and Shout' will come on the radio and it almost feels like the first time I've heard it. I mean, I've played the song hundreds of times and heard it thousands, but it all suddenly becomes so clear and Ronnie's message comes barreling out of the speakers. The empowerment, the voice that says, 'Yes, you can do it-- anyone can.'  That was Ronnie. The common man who was anything but common. A big voice and an even bigger heart. That was my friend.  I'm gonna miss him in ways I've never missed anyone else. But thank God, I'll always have his body of work-- all that wonderful music-- to fall back on. Memories and music.  I'm so privileged to have known, much less worked, with him. And I honestly believe the world is a better place for all he achieved, for all the joy he brought so many people-- myself included.  Rest in peace, Ron. You truly will never be forgotten!"

STEVE VAI:
"Dio was a shining light of rock/metal authenticity. He was a completely dedicated artist with massive talent. It's likely that his vital contributions will continue to inspire well into the future. He is now legend. But more than all this, Ronnie was a really cool guy. I mean reeeally cool. God bless you, brutha."

ANTHRAX SINGER JOEY BELLADONNA:
"Ronnie was a big inspiration, influence and dear friend of mine. He was a true gentleman and kind hearted individual. He always would go out of his way to make you feel welcome and important. Without a doubt he was one of the best, top notch and a class act. I will truly miss him."

 VELVET REVOLVER/EX-GUNS N ROSES GUITARIST DUFF McKAGAN:
"My part in this 'summer music playlist' is going to be a touch bittersweet as it turns out. Last weekend, Ronnie James Dio succumbed to his battle with stomach cancer. From what I understand, Ronnie fought like a warrior to the end.  I was supposed to pick a new-ish song for this list, but when it comes to rocking out in the summertime, sometimes you just got to go a little bit old-damn-school. 'Last In Line' is an ass-kicker right up there with anything, punk, rock, and/or metal, and us rockers owe a bit of reverence to this great man. R.I.P., RJD!"

RAINBOW SINGER DOOGIE WHITE:
"A very great man lost his life [on Sunday].  Ronnie James Dio was one of, if not the greatest singer I ever heard.  I remember trembling when I heard 'Rainbow Rising', such was the passion and energy not only from the band and Ritchie's [Blackmore] guitar but from that voice that shone above all else. He was also a jolly decent chap who had time for all fans come rain, wind or shine.  I first met Ronnie 10 years or so ago and he said, 'Ah! So you are Doogie, I know who you are, but never knew what you looked like. Come in, son and have a glass of wine. Is red okay?' This was backstage at the Wembley Arena. He dedicated 'Man On The Silver Mountain' to me that night, saying 'To my new friend, Doogie. You may have sung it, but I sang it first.'  We met a few times after that and discussed his excitement at doing the Tenacious D movie and the loss of his thumb in the bizzare gardening accident. We agreed gardening was the new RnR.  I had a tremendous affection for the man. He was kind, considerate and wonderful fun. My thoughts at this time go out to Wendy [Ronnie's wife/manager] and to the extended Dio family. You do know how much he was and is loved, for his music, his singing, his humanity.  Catch the rainbow... Ronnie... Catch the rainbow."

 SLAYER GUITARIST KERRY KING:
"Few people have had the ability to carry a song like Dio, literally demanding your attention as he effortlessly recreated live the amazing things he did on record.  It's odd how things get taken from you quickly...I just saw him a month ago. I know I was lucky to have known Ronnie. One of the nicest guys in the business, without a doubt. He will be hugely missed."

FORMER KISS GUITARIST BRUCE KULICK:
(Cut #1) "I thought he was always an incredible singer.  I was a big fan of Ronnie's.  I just thought he had a great voice from Rainbow stuff.  He left behind an incredible amount of amazing music and it was great that he got to do so many things/.  Everybody always respected the guy and he was one of the most personable famous rock stars that you could meet.  It's horrible.  I just hope he didn't have to suffer long and he's probably jamming with some great people, right?

DRUMMER GIL MOORE OF TRIUMPH:
(Cut #2) "He's a great guy, a phenomenal singer.  One of the greatest voices in hard rock for sure.  I first was paying attention to Ronnie when he was in Rainbow, that's when I first heard his voice.  He met with us several times. He seemed to show up at our gigs from time to time and come back stage and say hi.  Just a wonderful guy and he'll be sorely missed by a lot of folks.  Our lighting director was also his lighting director, a gentleman named Paul Dexter, so we're very sad.  Very sad news."

VAN HALEN'S DIO COVER
As a tribute to late Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell singer Ronnie James Dio, the Van Halen News Desk website found an old archived recording of the band performing the early Rainbow classic "Man on the Silver Mountain."  It's from Van Halen's club days in 1976 and has never before been heard.  Ever.  Hear it now by heading to VHND.com.

PEARL JAM PAY HOMAGE TO RONNIE JAMES DIO
Pearl Jam performed in Boston Monday night and the band paid tribute to late Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell singer Ronnie James Dio before and during the show.  Before the concert got underway, while the audience came in, music from Dio's various bands played on the house speakers.  Then, as Pearl Jam finished up their hit "Alive," they played some of the riffs from the Black Sabbath classic "Heaven And Hell."  Check out fan-filmed footage by searching YouTube for "Pearl Jam Alive 5.17.2010."