The Metal Den has obtained an enhanced audience recording of late great vocalist Ronnie James Dio performing live with BLACK SABBATH during his smashing debut tour. The date is April 24, 1980 and according to official Black Sabbath historian Rob Dwyer the concert took place at the venue Sophiensale in Vienna, Austria. The song is “Neon Knights” off the legendary group’s classic Heaven and Hell album, which was released the very next day on April 25 via Warner Bros. Records in the US and Canada.
Heaven and Hell peaked at number 9 in the UK, and number 28 in the US, the band’s highest charting album since Sabotage (which of course featured ousted vocalist Ozzy Osbourne). Despite the risky lead singer change, loyal Sabbath fans simply loved Dio. The album eventually sold one million copies in the US and has been called one of the greatest heavy metal vocal performances ever.
Ronnie James Dio sadly passed away on May 16, 2010 from stomach cancer. His music, however, will undoubtedly live on in the hearts and minds of countless fans the world over… for the rest of time.
Listen to the extremely rare recording below!
(Top photo credit:Fin Costello/Redferns)
http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/
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