Vinny Appice Reflects on Working with Ronnie James Dio in BLACK SABBATH, DIO, and ‘……HELL
In a recent interview with Metal Swap Meet, legendary drummer Vinny Appice shared his experiences working with the iconic heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio in BLACK SABBATH, DIO, and HEAVEN & HELL. The 66-year-old musician recounted the awe-inspiring moments he had with Dio, both in the studio and with fans.
“It was amazing. He’d be sitting there in the rehearsal room, writing lyrics. We’d be jamming on something, both with SABBATH and DIO, and then he’d go up to the mic and sing a couple of lines. I’d go, ‘Holy shit. This sounds like the record’s finished.’ It was so spot-on and strong, I was like, ‘Oh, man,'” Appice said. He highlighted Dio’s remarkable ability to instantly deliver powerful and precise vocals, making every rehearsal feel like a final recording.
Appice also praised Dio’s dedication to his fans, recalling a memorable incident: “One of the first things I remember, we pulled out of an arena with SABBATH. We had two limos, Ronnie and I in one, and Tony [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist] and Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] would leave early. We would stay and hang out. We pull up, go out of the arena, go up the hill and go to the gates and let us out and there’s a whole bunch of fans there. And it’s freezing cold out. It’s January in upstate New York. Ronnie says, ‘Stop,’ gets out of the limo, walks over to the fans, starts signing stuff for them. [I thought] ‘Wow, that’s cool.’ So I did the same thing. I wasn’t that known back then, but now that’s somebody who cares.”
He further admired Dio’s remarkable memory and personal connection with fans, noting, “He remembers your name. And it’s just amazing. The next year or tour, you’d go see Ronnie, he’d go, ‘Hey, Brian. How are you doing, man?’ He remembers your name. And I’d be going, ‘Hey, Bob, it’s really good to see you.’ He remembered everybody’s name. It was incredible. He loved his fans. He loved the music.”
Vinny Appice’s illustrious career includes recording and co-writing songs on several dozen albums and CDs, many of which have achieved multi-platinum status. His drumming has also featured on numerous movie soundtracks, including “Wayne’s World 2,” “Heavy Metal,” “Iron Eagle,” and “Bedazzled.” Additionally, Appice is the author of the drum instruction book “Rock Steady” and the DVD “Hard Rock Drumming Techniques,” and he has performed powerhouse drum clinics worldwide. His unique drumming style has influenced countless artists over the years.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Appice continues to produce new music and is currently recording and touring with LAST IN LINE. He endorses Sawtooth drums, Evans drumheads, Istanbul Mehmet cymbals, and Chromacast drumsticks, continuing to leave a lasting impact on the world of drumming.
