History & Biography Apparently, in order to avoid litigation or pressure from the Ozzy Osbourne camp the Dio-era line-up of Black Sabbath reunited for a series of shows in 2006. The project had gotten off the ground when the members had assembled to compile a sampler of the band’s material called Black Sabbath: The Dio Years and possibly write a couple of new songs for it. Drummer Bill Ward was initially part of the plans but replaced by Vinny Appice, his successor in Black Sabbath.
Kicking off in Canada before heading over to the USA and then Europe the band issued a live DVD and CD in 2007 called Live At Radio City Music Hall. Lamb Of God and Iced Earth supported the European shows.
There were conflicting responses from the members regarding new music and recording of a new album. While the members insisted there are no such plans or that individual schedules bar them from recording the end of 2007 brought news that a new album is planned for 2008. A summer tour with Judas Priest, Testament and Motörhead was announced in 2008. The band picked The Devil You Know as the title for its debut album, due on April 28th through Rhino Records. Several song titles were Rock & Roll Angel, Bible Black and Eating the Cannibals. The band signed with Roadrunner Records for territories outside North America in the spring. The band was touring South America before hitting Europe in the summer. The band cancelled its show Sunday June 21st, 2009 at the Metalway Festival in Zaragoza, Spain due to some back pain suffered by guitarist Tony Iommi. Ronnie James Dio was abruptly hospitalized in November of 2009 and diagnosed with “early stages” of stomach cancer. The Dio tour of Europe was cancelled. Dio was 67 years old. Moreover, Heaven & Hell and Dio drummer Vinny Appice underwent surgery on his right shoulder on Monday, November 30th following an injury that occurred during the last Heaven & Hell tour. In a 2010 UK radio interview drummer Bill Ward let it be known that he had left the project because he was uncomfortable with the music, including how he was asked to drum, as well as the touring requirements. Despite singer Ronnie James Dio being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2009 Heaven And Hell announced three summer shows in the summer of 2010 in Italy. Additionally, drummer Vinny Appice had underwent shoulder surgery recently. Poland's Metal Mind Productions released the recording of Deep Purple's show in Katowice, Poland in 1996 as a live album called, Live Encounters. Deep Purple/former Black Sabbath singer Ian Gillan and Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell guitarist player Tony Iommi initiated a project band named Who Cares in 2010 for raising funds for reestablishment of music schools in Armenia. In 1989, within the framework of Rock Aid Armenia, the British rock stars recorded Deep Purple's classic Smoke On The Water and also released a disc called Rock Aid Armenia.
Ronnie James Dio died on Sunday the 16th of May at 7:45 a.m. PST due to stomach cancer. He was hospitalized for the last time on the 14th of May. At the time of his death he was the singer for Dio and Heaven And Hell. He was formerly with Elf, Rainbow and Black Sabbath among others. Following singer Ronnie James Dio's diagnosis of stomach cancer in November of 2009 Heaven & Hell had cancelled all its summer shows including an appearance at 2010's Bloodstock. His death was first rumoured the night before and subsequently denied by his wife and manager Wendy Dio. Ronnie James Dio was 67. There was a public memorial service for Dio on Sunday, May 30th at 2:00 p.m. at The Hall Of Liberty at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles. Eagle Rock would release Heaven & Hell’s Neon Nights DVD and CD, featuring the band at the Wacken Open Air festival on July 30, 2009. The DVD featured interviews with the four members.
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