Interesting new interview...

[labrekk]

...where Dio talks about

-the fact that he could sing until he's 150
-that if Tony Benett still sings at 80, he can also do it
-finally confirms his age (67)
-says that there will never be a reunion with Blackmore and Rainbow cause at his age he doesn't need the pain to work with Ritchie again even if Blackmore is a genius
-talks about his era of Rainbow being the only important one
-says why he prefers to write slower songs instead of faster-paced ones

etc...

Very opiniated and with a high opinion of himself, as usual...I don't agree with everything he says, but it's an interesting read anyway.

Check it out: http://www.rockpages.gr/detailspage.aspx?id=3041&type=1&lang=EN

Guillaume

 

[desert_demon]

Thank you for posting that link! That has got to be one of the best interviews with RJD that I've read, and he always gives good interviews since he's very articulate.
Reading his explanations for the slower songs on The Devil You Know, has made me want to revisit the album and give it a more serious listen. I must admit that when I first heard it I was dissapointed that there was no Neon Nights-type fast songs on it and it was mostly very doomy.
Yes, he has a high opinion of himself, but it's for the most part justified since his track record as a singer and songwriter has gained him the respect of fans and peers alike.
Also, it was good to hear from the man himself just how old is he, since it's been the topic of much debate over the years and we can finally put the rumors to rest.

 

[Wyvern]

Nice interview, thanks for the link. I may not feel confortable with all his political issues, but like he said: you always get touched by your surroundings, you cannot write always out of fantasy, if your life has trouble then it will reflect on your writing.

Some nice quotes:

Ronnie James Dio: Not to me, they don’t. For me, passion is on songs that have a lot of space and many chances to have explanation. Fast songs are so hard to write because the go by so quickly. They just don’t give me enough time to develop the idea.

Ronnie James Dio: And it’s the same with everywhere we go and everyone we talk to. Everyone says (whispering) Bible Black. Great song. I just saw the Testament guys who I know for years and years and years. I just went in to say hello and Chuck said “I bet you’re doing Bible Black first, right?” Nah, I think it’s fourth… “Ah…”. I say, you are going to be here for that song… “Ah, yeah… I love that song”.

Ronnie James Dio: Well… yeah… but he called me 68, the son of a bitch… Now, [smiling] go ahead.

Picky, isn't it?

I’m happy for Ritchie that he’s happy doing what he’s doing. I wish he were not doing it and I wish he was still making rock ‘n’ roll music. But maybe he’s too old… He’s pretty close too.

Hmm, intereting point of view.

You know, that’s what happened with Vivian Campbell, as well. I didn’t know we had a cell phone and someone asked me after a show, while I was getting on the bus, “What do you think about Vivian Campbell?” and I wasn’t happy at the time and I do have my opinions about him and I said something that wasn’t… that I shouldn’t have said, and certainly I wouldn’t have said if I knew we had a cell phone stuck in my face somewhere. And it created this controversy as well. I don’t normally do that, but I said what I said and I stand by what I said, I obviously meant it, otherwise I wouldn’t have said it, but I would never have said it had I known that it was going to be aired publicly. Never.

So much for off the record...