On May 18, Dio Disciples – the Ronnie James Dio tribute band consisting of Simon Wright (drums), Scott Warren (keyboards), Ira Black (guitar), Björn Englén (bass) and singers Gabriel Colon and Patrick Stone – performed at the Rock For Ronnie: A Concert In The Park fundraiser. The event was organized in support of the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, bringing in over $100,000 this year. It was headlined by former Skid Row frontman, Sebastian Bach.
Dio Disciples played a set consisting of Dio, Black Sabbath and Rainbow classics. Fan-filmed video can be viewed below.
The annual Rock For Ronnie Concert In The Park has found a new home at the lawn adjacent to the Autry Museum of the West in Griffith Park, where it held this year’s event on Sunday, May 18, 2025 and brought in over $100,000 for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund (diocancerfund.org). Veteran singer Sebastian Bach headlined the lineup, which also included Dio Disciples, Count’s 77, Kill Devil Hill, southern rock band Jason Charles Miller, Anita Squeeze and an All-Star Jam. Entrepreneur, author and producer Ahmet Zappa hosted the event.
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Dr. David Wong of the UCLA School of Dentistry accepted a check for $25,000 to advance his team’s research to develop a simple, non-invasive saliva swab test for early cancer detection. Because cancer fingerprints are seven times more prevalent in saliva than in blood, this research is crucial to early cancer diagnoses.
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Kicking off the afternoon was popular local band Anita Squeeze with their signature brand of rock.
Returning to Rock For Ronnie by popular demand for the third consecutive year was southern rocker Jason Charles Miller with his band, comprising Allie Kay and Gary Joseph Potter Jr. on guitars; Zach Andrews on bass and drummer Nick Mason.
Las Vegas-based Count’s 77 followed, led by vocalist Danny “Count” Koker from the Las Vegas-based show Counting Cars, which features his Count’s Kustoms auto shop where he builds hot rods.
Next up, veteran band Kill Devil Hill delivered their brand of heavy metal following a lengthy introduction from emcee Ahmet Zappa and Mia Tyler, wife of the band’s vocalist Dewey Bragg and daughter of Steven Tyler, who talked about growing up as children of rock musicians.
Budderside vocalist Patrick Stone and recent Lynch Mob vocalist Gabriel Colon alternated lead vocals for Dio Disciples at this year’s Rock For Ronnie with a set comprising Dio classics such as “Rainbow in the Dark” and “Long Live Rock n Roll.”
Photo by Alex Kluft
Sebastian Bach took the stage backed by Matthew Galeos, Fede Delfino and Bach’s son Paris on drums, and later in his set welcomed his 12-year-old stepson Trace to join him for his iconic “Youth Gone Wild.”
Photo by Alex Kluft
Photo by Alex Kluft
Closing out the afternoon of music was the traditional All-Star Jam, this year featuring local favorites Led Zepagain for a special appearance in addition to Doug Aldrich (Dead Daisies, Dio, Whitesnake); Marten Andersson (Lita Ford); Ira Black (Dio Disciples, Vio-Lence); John Bush (Armored Saint); Jeremy Colson (Steve Vai, Billy Idol); Robbie Crane (Warrant); Phil Demmel (Kerry King, Category 7); Marc Ferrari (Keel); Julia Lage and Brit Lightning of Vixen; Mandy Lion; Tommy London (Sirius XM); Bill McBride (sponsor); Mike Mangin (The Cult); Sean McNabb (Dokken, Rhino Bucket); Keith Nelson (BuckCherry); Dug Pinnick (Kings X); Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Dio); Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big); Jeff Tortora (Blue Man Group); Neil Turbin (Death Riders, Anthrax); Ricky Warwick (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders); Chas West (Bonham, Moby Dicks); and Carlos Zema (Immortal Guardian), among others.
Vocalist Ricky Warwick kicked off the All-Star Jam with Thin Lizzy classics “Are You Ready” and “Jailbreak.” The jam continued with tributes to Rainbow, Jimi Hendrix and, of course, Dio.
Rock For Ronnie’s new location at the park adjacent to the Autry Museum offered a beautiful setting for an afternoon of exciting live music and fun for the whole family. Also, there were a raffle, silent and live auctions, merchandise sales, food trucks, assorted vendor booths selling unusual crafts and other items and artist meet and greets.
The specially-created “Garden of Hope” provided the opportunity to make an “I Rock For” dedication to someone who has battled, survived or succumbed to cancer. It was filled with tributes by the end of the afternoon.
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Sponsors lending their invaluable support to the 2025 Rock For Ronnie include marquee sponsors Motӧrhead Whiskey and White Hag Beer in addition to Archie’s Ice Cream (Shant Keuilian); Liquid Death Mountain Water (Blasko); HOP WTR (Ryan Haggerty); Marquis Sugar Free Mate Beverages (Nicole Like); Celsius (Marissa Rossi); Total Wine and More; Smart & Final; In ‘N Out Burger; Street Food Cinema (www.streetfoodcinema.com); Adam Parsons Entertainment; The Ivy in Ojai; Christine Cardoso-Moore/Keller Williams Realty; McBride Wealth Management (Bill McBride); Mates Studios (Bobby and Jenny Brunner); Chipster PR; BMG; DW Drums; Valley Relics Museum; Skateboard Marketing; Get On the Bus video channel (https://getonthebus.com/); Randy Rhoads family (Kathy, Kelle and Richard); Road Radios (Jeremy Schilling, Rebecca Meick); and Cleopatra Records.
Rock For Ronnie also wishes to thank the following companies and their staff members for their support and services: Guardian Distributors of Los Angeles (Jaie Neubauer); BevNomad (Steve Kwapil, Tara Moreland, John Giarrante and John Graham); All Valley Rentals (Rob and Amanda Dickey); Clair Global (Paul Newman and Jesse Grace); Kapoor Medical Group (Sandy Kapoor and David Saviola); Diamond Environmental Services (Lorena Parada); North Hollywood Ice (Bobby Benedetto); Salt N’ Pepper Food Truck (Armando Melendez); Screamer Magazine (Dave Castagno, Laura DeGaetano, Don Duree, Noah Ferguson and Kurt Nelson); Licorice Pizza Records (Deanna Khachikian, Grant Parsons, Kerry Brown); MetalBabe Mayhem (Alison Cohen); A&G Rock (Monte Christo); Howard Teman; Jason Charles Miller; Foot Buddys (Karlon Dawson); Hollywood Book and Poster (Scott Tisch); Coffee Bean Truck (Peter B); Mr. Charlie’s (Taylor McKinnon); Birrieria Lamera Del Valle (Gabby Valentin); Potato Square LA, and EMTs: Becky Rossiter-Moon, Paul Uhl, Steve Jackson, Kimi Bond and Lyle Weiser.
“A BIG HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES WHO SO GENEROUSLY GAVE OF THEIR TIME AND SERVICES–WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!!”
The Dio Cancer Fund wants to recognize the members of its dedicated Board of Directors – Wendy Dio, Diana DeVille, John Doran, Andy Gould, Nick Jackson, Dr. Sandy Kapoor, Sean McNabb, Sheila Melody, Sabrina Ment, Tim Murch, Paul Newman, Adam Parsons, Rick Sales, Scott Sentinella, Robin Shaw, Sharon Weisz and Danny Zelisko—plus a special thank you to Deme Bermudez, Delilah Dio-Gimenez, Omar Gimenez, Marty O’Brien, Paula Newman, Ahmet Zappa, Brendan Smith and Michael Schreibman for their hard work and commitment in bringing this event to fruition.
Additionally, the Dio Cancer Fund acknowledge and extends its appreciation to the 2025 Rock For Ronnie volunteers: Jennifer Aloy, Lauren Aloy, Jeff Baker, Bella Beuder, Kaley Block, Sophia Cabacungan, Trina Campbell, Jessica Chase, Karlon Dawson, Zachariah Dodge, Linda Harris, Mike Harris, Jennifer Hernandez, Lee Raymond Hollister, Naomi Jawasoki, Scot Kaufman, Ann Kirkland, Mary Kusnier, Julieann Lazaro, Nicky Lovell, Marina Mann, Sheila Melody, Sabrina Ment, Bryan Moore, Chuck Moss, Jenn Nelson, Paul Newman, Paula Newman, Tyler Newman, Johnny Nieto, Brian O’Callahan, Michelle Parisi, Michelle Prentiss, Teresa Schachtel, Zander Schachtel, Scott Sentinella, Taylor Sentinella, Nicole Slatin, Carmelina Rosa Sotelo, Katie Strayhorn, William Strayhorn, Stephanie Taylor, Amber Trillo, Lyle Weiser, Sharon Weisz…and anyone else we may have accidentally forgotten to name.
Ronnie James Dio is the subject of an acclaimed documentary film, Dio: Dreamers Never Die, which is currently streaming and available on DVD and Blu-Ray+4K. For more information, visit diocancerfund.org.
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund was founded in memory of the late singer. A privately funded 501(c)(3) public charity, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund has already raised over $2 million since its inception. Monies raised have been committed to the cancer research work of the T. J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research, the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life, and other cancer research projects. Since 2016, the Dio Cancer Fund has committed funds to support the research of Dr. David Wong and his team at the UCLA School of Dentistry in developing a simple, non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer.
100% of the net proceeds from the Rock For Ronnie will go to the Dio Cancer Fund, which is now in its 15th year of raising awareness and much-needed funding for cancer prevention, education and research for a cure.
The organization also hosts the annual Bowl for Ronnie Celebrity Bowling Party, which will be held on November 13, 2025.
For further information, please contact:
For The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up & Shout Cancer Fund,
Sharon Weisz, W3 Public Relations
323-934-2700 w3pr@yahoo.com
For more information, visit diocancerfund.org.
"Prophets Of Addiction is a modern day Hanoi Rocks meets The 69 Eyes with plenty of Pop hooks and Whisky drenched vocals." - Metal Sludge.
Listen at https://smarturl.it/prophetsofaddiction
The post Watch DIO DISCIPLES Perform At Rock For Ronnie: A Concert In The Park Fundraiser; Fan-Filmed Video appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Dio Disciples played a set consisting of Dio, Black Sabbath and Rainbow classics. Fan-filmed video can be viewed below.
The annual Rock For Ronnie Concert In The Park has found a new home at the lawn adjacent to the Autry Museum of the West in Griffith Park, where it held this year’s event on Sunday, May 18, 2025 and brought in over $100,000 for the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund (diocancerfund.org). Veteran singer Sebastian Bach headlined the lineup, which also included Dio Disciples, Count’s 77, Kill Devil Hill, southern rock band Jason Charles Miller, Anita Squeeze and an All-Star Jam. Entrepreneur, author and producer Ahmet Zappa hosted the event.
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Dr. David Wong of the UCLA School of Dentistry accepted a check for $25,000 to advance his team’s research to develop a simple, non-invasive saliva swab test for early cancer detection. Because cancer fingerprints are seven times more prevalent in saliva than in blood, this research is crucial to early cancer diagnoses.
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Kicking off the afternoon was popular local band Anita Squeeze with their signature brand of rock.
Returning to Rock For Ronnie by popular demand for the third consecutive year was southern rocker Jason Charles Miller with his band, comprising Allie Kay and Gary Joseph Potter Jr. on guitars; Zach Andrews on bass and drummer Nick Mason.
Las Vegas-based Count’s 77 followed, led by vocalist Danny “Count” Koker from the Las Vegas-based show Counting Cars, which features his Count’s Kustoms auto shop where he builds hot rods.
Next up, veteran band Kill Devil Hill delivered their brand of heavy metal following a lengthy introduction from emcee Ahmet Zappa and Mia Tyler, wife of the band’s vocalist Dewey Bragg and daughter of Steven Tyler, who talked about growing up as children of rock musicians.
Budderside vocalist Patrick Stone and recent Lynch Mob vocalist Gabriel Colon alternated lead vocals for Dio Disciples at this year’s Rock For Ronnie with a set comprising Dio classics such as “Rainbow in the Dark” and “Long Live Rock n Roll.”
Photo by Alex Kluft
Sebastian Bach took the stage backed by Matthew Galeos, Fede Delfino and Bach’s son Paris on drums, and later in his set welcomed his 12-year-old stepson Trace to join him for his iconic “Youth Gone Wild.”
Photo by Alex Kluft
Photo by Alex Kluft
Closing out the afternoon of music was the traditional All-Star Jam, this year featuring local favorites Led Zepagain for a special appearance in addition to Doug Aldrich (Dead Daisies, Dio, Whitesnake); Marten Andersson (Lita Ford); Ira Black (Dio Disciples, Vio-Lence); John Bush (Armored Saint); Jeremy Colson (Steve Vai, Billy Idol); Robbie Crane (Warrant); Phil Demmel (Kerry King, Category 7); Marc Ferrari (Keel); Julia Lage and Brit Lightning of Vixen; Mandy Lion; Tommy London (Sirius XM); Bill McBride (sponsor); Mike Mangin (The Cult); Sean McNabb (Dokken, Rhino Bucket); Keith Nelson (BuckCherry); Dug Pinnick (Kings X); Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Dio); Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big); Jeff Tortora (Blue Man Group); Neil Turbin (Death Riders, Anthrax); Ricky Warwick (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders); Chas West (Bonham, Moby Dicks); and Carlos Zema (Immortal Guardian), among others.
Vocalist Ricky Warwick kicked off the All-Star Jam with Thin Lizzy classics “Are You Ready” and “Jailbreak.” The jam continued with tributes to Rainbow, Jimi Hendrix and, of course, Dio.
Rock For Ronnie’s new location at the park adjacent to the Autry Museum offered a beautiful setting for an afternoon of exciting live music and fun for the whole family. Also, there were a raffle, silent and live auctions, merchandise sales, food trucks, assorted vendor booths selling unusual crafts and other items and artist meet and greets.
The specially-created “Garden of Hope” provided the opportunity to make an “I Rock For” dedication to someone who has battled, survived or succumbed to cancer. It was filled with tributes by the end of the afternoon.
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Photo by Gene Kirkland
Sponsors lending their invaluable support to the 2025 Rock For Ronnie include marquee sponsors Motӧrhead Whiskey and White Hag Beer in addition to Archie’s Ice Cream (Shant Keuilian); Liquid Death Mountain Water (Blasko); HOP WTR (Ryan Haggerty); Marquis Sugar Free Mate Beverages (Nicole Like); Celsius (Marissa Rossi); Total Wine and More; Smart & Final; In ‘N Out Burger; Street Food Cinema (www.streetfoodcinema.com); Adam Parsons Entertainment; The Ivy in Ojai; Christine Cardoso-Moore/Keller Williams Realty; McBride Wealth Management (Bill McBride); Mates Studios (Bobby and Jenny Brunner); Chipster PR; BMG; DW Drums; Valley Relics Museum; Skateboard Marketing; Get On the Bus video channel (https://getonthebus.com/); Randy Rhoads family (Kathy, Kelle and Richard); Road Radios (Jeremy Schilling, Rebecca Meick); and Cleopatra Records.
Rock For Ronnie also wishes to thank the following companies and their staff members for their support and services: Guardian Distributors of Los Angeles (Jaie Neubauer); BevNomad (Steve Kwapil, Tara Moreland, John Giarrante and John Graham); All Valley Rentals (Rob and Amanda Dickey); Clair Global (Paul Newman and Jesse Grace); Kapoor Medical Group (Sandy Kapoor and David Saviola); Diamond Environmental Services (Lorena Parada); North Hollywood Ice (Bobby Benedetto); Salt N’ Pepper Food Truck (Armando Melendez); Screamer Magazine (Dave Castagno, Laura DeGaetano, Don Duree, Noah Ferguson and Kurt Nelson); Licorice Pizza Records (Deanna Khachikian, Grant Parsons, Kerry Brown); MetalBabe Mayhem (Alison Cohen); A&G Rock (Monte Christo); Howard Teman; Jason Charles Miller; Foot Buddys (Karlon Dawson); Hollywood Book and Poster (Scott Tisch); Coffee Bean Truck (Peter B); Mr. Charlie’s (Taylor McKinnon); Birrieria Lamera Del Valle (Gabby Valentin); Potato Square LA, and EMTs: Becky Rossiter-Moon, Paul Uhl, Steve Jackson, Kimi Bond and Lyle Weiser.
“A BIG HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES WHO SO GENEROUSLY GAVE OF THEIR TIME AND SERVICES–WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!!”
The Dio Cancer Fund wants to recognize the members of its dedicated Board of Directors – Wendy Dio, Diana DeVille, John Doran, Andy Gould, Nick Jackson, Dr. Sandy Kapoor, Sean McNabb, Sheila Melody, Sabrina Ment, Tim Murch, Paul Newman, Adam Parsons, Rick Sales, Scott Sentinella, Robin Shaw, Sharon Weisz and Danny Zelisko—plus a special thank you to Deme Bermudez, Delilah Dio-Gimenez, Omar Gimenez, Marty O’Brien, Paula Newman, Ahmet Zappa, Brendan Smith and Michael Schreibman for their hard work and commitment in bringing this event to fruition.
Additionally, the Dio Cancer Fund acknowledge and extends its appreciation to the 2025 Rock For Ronnie volunteers: Jennifer Aloy, Lauren Aloy, Jeff Baker, Bella Beuder, Kaley Block, Sophia Cabacungan, Trina Campbell, Jessica Chase, Karlon Dawson, Zachariah Dodge, Linda Harris, Mike Harris, Jennifer Hernandez, Lee Raymond Hollister, Naomi Jawasoki, Scot Kaufman, Ann Kirkland, Mary Kusnier, Julieann Lazaro, Nicky Lovell, Marina Mann, Sheila Melody, Sabrina Ment, Bryan Moore, Chuck Moss, Jenn Nelson, Paul Newman, Paula Newman, Tyler Newman, Johnny Nieto, Brian O’Callahan, Michelle Parisi, Michelle Prentiss, Teresa Schachtel, Zander Schachtel, Scott Sentinella, Taylor Sentinella, Nicole Slatin, Carmelina Rosa Sotelo, Katie Strayhorn, William Strayhorn, Stephanie Taylor, Amber Trillo, Lyle Weiser, Sharon Weisz…and anyone else we may have accidentally forgotten to name.
Ronnie James Dio is the subject of an acclaimed documentary film, Dio: Dreamers Never Die, which is currently streaming and available on DVD and Blu-Ray+4K. For more information, visit diocancerfund.org.
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund was founded in memory of the late singer. A privately funded 501(c)(3) public charity, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund has already raised over $2 million since its inception. Monies raised have been committed to the cancer research work of the T. J. Martell Foundation for Cancer, AIDS and Leukemia Research, the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life, and other cancer research projects. Since 2016, the Dio Cancer Fund has committed funds to support the research of Dr. David Wong and his team at the UCLA School of Dentistry in developing a simple, non-invasive saliva test for the early detection of cancer.
100% of the net proceeds from the Rock For Ronnie will go to the Dio Cancer Fund, which is now in its 15th year of raising awareness and much-needed funding for cancer prevention, education and research for a cure.
The organization also hosts the annual Bowl for Ronnie Celebrity Bowling Party, which will be held on November 13, 2025.
For further information, please contact:
For The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up & Shout Cancer Fund,
Sharon Weisz, W3 Public Relations
323-934-2700 w3pr@yahoo.com
For more information, visit diocancerfund.org.
"Prophets Of Addiction is a modern day Hanoi Rocks meets The 69 Eyes with plenty of Pop hooks and Whisky drenched vocals." - Metal Sludge.
Listen at https://smarturl.it/prophetsofaddiction
The post Watch DIO DISCIPLES Perform At Rock For Ronnie: A Concert In The Park Fundraiser; Fan-Filmed Video appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...