For Canada’s The Metal Voice former Anthrax singer Neil Turbin spoke with Simon Wright Ex-AC/DC and current DIO DISCIPLES drummer as well as Faster Pussycat and LA Guns guitarist Ace Von Johnson at the annual Bowl for Ronnie James Dio celebrity charity that was held on October 25 2018.
Watch the interview here:
When asked Simon Wright about the upcoming Dio Disciples album
“The new album got pulled back a little bit, we are still writing the songs, tossing around ideas but it looks like it’s going to be, not confirmed but towards the end of 2019”
When asked Simon Wright if the Dio Disciples will continue to tour with the Dio Hologram
“There are plan to tour with Dio Hologram next year and it will be different, it’s going to be a lot better as far as the way it looks. it’s the same hologram but they took it to the shop, worked on it and it looks really really good, it looks almost real. The team is in the process of deciding what the tour will look like. There are so many people who didn’t get a chance to see Ronnie Dio live so, now they will get to see him as live as is possible, it’s going to be a big show, big production.”
“Bowl For Ronnie” celebrity bowling party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, which was held on Thursday, October 25 at PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City, California. The event was hosted by television and radio personality Eddie Trunk.
For The Metal Voice former Anthrax singer Neil Turbin spoke to DIO DISCIPLES singer Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth) and drummer Simon Wright (Ex AC/DC) at the 4th Annual Ride for Ronnie on May 6 2018 at Encino Park California.
The two spoke about the new DIO DISCIPLES album, their relationship with Ronnie and their thoughts on Axl Rose singing and recording with AC/DC.
Watch the interview here:
When asked about the upcoming first Dio Disciple Studio album
Ripper -“When started doing the Dio Disciples we did it to celebrate Ronnie James Dio that was the main idea and it kind of spawned off onto try and do a record. Craig Goldy’s Wheels are always turning to write material. Wendy said it was a great idea, then Wendy started to shop the idea to people. We have already worked on 4-5 songs. It’s exciting for us to do it cause people wanted us to do our own music.”
Simon- “Ronnie will always be with us in spirit and we will see what comes out so far the music is sounding really good. We all have different influences hopefully it’s going to be this big mish-mash of everything (Judas Priest, Dio , AC/DC). The songs that we have done also have a bit of originality in them.”
Ripper- “We are not making a Dio record. ”
When asked about their relationship with Ronnie James Dio over the years
Ripper- “When Jugulator came out when I was in Judas Priest, Ronnie went out of his way to have me come back stage to meet him and to talk to him and he gave me his number. We became friends. Most people would treat me like shit back in the day because I came out of nowhere and was the singer of Judas Priest. Ronnie became my friend, he took me in and listened to me.”
When asked about their thoughts about Axl Rose possible singing on a new AC/DC studio album
Simon- “A lot happened in a short period of time, knowing Angus I’m sure he wants to keep going. Angus has got Chris Slade, Stevie Young he might need to find a bass player. As far as singers it will probably be Axl, I really don’t know.”
Ripper- I wasn’t a fan of that at first but when I watch AC/DC with Axl Rose signing, I think that Axl looks like he is really enjoying it and that’s the key. AC/DC has got a star who looks like he is a kid enjoying it and I think it’s kind of cool. I would rather see Brian Johnson.”
Frontiers Music Srl have announced the formation of a brand new band featuring legends of the hard rock/heavy metal scene, DREAM CHILD! Check out the amazing group’s lineup:
Craig Goldy: Guitars (ex-Dio, Giuffria) Wayne Findlay: Guitars and Keyboards (ex- MSG) Simon Wright: Drums (ex-AC/DC, Dio, Operation: Mindcrime) Rudy Sarzo: Bass (ex-Quiet Riot, Ozzy, Whitesnake, Dio)
Diego Valdez: Vocals (Helker)
Craig Goldy says, “[t]he band Dream Child was conceived during a brainstorming session with Serafino (President of Frontiers) and I one day while discussing other matters. I had been listening to my favorite bands a lot recently, Deep Purple andRainbow‘s “Rising” album, among others in that style and had noticed that many people who also love those bands often have the very same comments as one another: “They don’t make music like that anymore!” Even though I said that in passing, Serafino asked me a question that would forever shape my future. He simply asked, “Well, can you?” and I said…..”YES!!!”
During the very first public memorial for our most beloved Ronnie James Dio, I had mentioned that whenever I do start writing original material again that I would utilize everything that I had learned from working side by side with the Master for so many years in such a way that I would hope to make him proud….and here it is! The name is inspired by one of his lyrics on the “Dream Evil” album and the nickname he gave me at the time, Dream Child!
We are so very fortunate to have bassist Rudy Sarzo as a featured guest, Simon Wright on drums, Wayne Findlay on guitars and keyboards, and a surprise vocal discovery from Argentina, Diego Valdez, whose voice will send shivers up your spine!!
This album will bring back memories of the days most people have thought were long gone and never to return, yet it is also new and fresh enough to be unique with some unexpected twists and turns!! No more “same old, same old” here, no fillers. Every song is an oasis in the desert and a rare gem in the coal mines of life in this new world that thinks the past greatness of rock would remain in the past. We’ve brought it back to life once again!!
I am very proud of this album and all who have made this become a reality. There are some big names who’ve lent a hand in the writing and I am amazed at the new and aggressive sound that producer Alessandro Del Vecchio has brought to these songs!!! I hope you all agree….”
More details about the album release to be revealed later…stay tuned!”
A four-minute video clip in which drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, QUEENSRŸCHE, DIO, DIO DISCIPLES) talks to Reality Check TV about recording new music with Los Angeles-based female-fronted metallers HELLION can be seen below.
The first set of HELLION‘s new tracks was produced by legendary British studio icon Ken Scott, who has helmed iconic albums, including DAVID BOWIE‘s “Hunky Dory”, “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars”, “Aladdin Sane” and “Pinups”.
A top producer at Abbey Road Studios, Scott is also acknowledged as one of the five principal engineers for THE BEATLES. He has engineered countless classic works, including GEORGE HARRISON‘s “All Things Must Pass”, ELTON JOHN‘s “Madman Across The Water”, “Honky Chateau” and “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player”. Other credits include gold and platinum albums by SUPERTRAMP, DAVID BOWIE, MISSING PERSONS and KANSAS.
In 2012, Scott released his autobiography, entitled “Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust”, co-written with Bobby Owsinski. Promotion for the book included a high-profile event at the Los Angeles Grammy Museum.
The musicians enlisted by powerhouse vocalist Ann Boleyn for the new HELLION include drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, QUEENSRŸCHE, DIO, DIO DISCIPLES), Swedish import bassist Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DIO DISCIPLES), and up-and-coming lead guitarist Maxxxwell Carlisle. Keyboard player Scott Warren (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, DIO DISCIPLES) has also been enlisted.
Scott recently said of the comparison between working with David Bowie and Ann Boleyn: “Working with Bowie or working with Ann of HELLION, you’ve got sheer talent.”
Acknowledging Boleyn as the driving force propelling the band, Scott noted: “HELLION was a group of musicians, and over the years, the musicians have changed. The one musician that has always been the same is Ann. So once again, it’s new musicians. The one constant thing about HELLION is Ann, and her incredible voice.”
Said Wright of working with Boleyn and HELLION: “She’s tried to stay true to that heaviness and a certain darkness. She’s sticking to the same formula, just different musicians though.”
HELLION‘s new tracks are being recorded and mixed at Total Access studios in Redondo Beach, California. Engineer Wyn Davis (HEAVEN & HELL, FOREIGNER, DIO) is mixing.
HELLION is set to release a two-disc anthology entitled “To Hellion And Back” in March 2014. Earlier this year the band held a contest to name the album. In addition to music that HELLION has put out throughout their 30-year history, the anthology will also include one new song with the band’s current lineup. A mini-LP of new HELLION music is also to be released in the spring.
HELLION will tour in North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom in 2014 and is expected to appear at a number of major festivals.
Legendary drummer Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL) played his first show with DIO DISCIPLES this past Thursday, July 18 at The Rockpile in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.
Vinny is filling in for DIO DISCIPLES‘ regular drummer, Simon Wright (DIO, AC/DC, UFO), who was unable to make several of the band’s gigs this month due to scheduling conflicts.
DIO DISCIPLES, which pays tribute to legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL) and is fully supported by Dio‘s widow/manager, Wendy, currently consists of the following musicians:
During an April 2011 appearance on the “All Hail Hair” show on Fightin’ Words Radio, Vinny Appice was asked what he thought of DIO DISCIPLES going out on the road and paying tribute to Ronnie James Dio. “I think it’s disgusting,” he said. “I mean, why are they even doing it? Plus, [Ronnie has] not even been passed away for a year. And, you know… It’s kind of… I don’t know. It’s kind of weird, man. It’s weird.”
Vinny last year teamed up with fellow original DIO members Vivian Campbell (guitar), Jimmy Bain (bass) and Claude Schnell (keyboards), along with singer Andrew Freeman, in a brand new DIO tribute band called LAST IN LINE.
In a recent interview with BackstageAxxess.com, Vinny stated about his involvement with DIO DISCIPLES: “Just because I said it was disgusting at one point, now it’s all over Blabbermouth. ‘To Vinny Appice, it’s not disgusting anymore.’ The problem was they did it a couple of months after Ronnie passed, and then I thought it was awful; it wasn’t the right time. Now they can do whatever they want; it’s cool. I mean, we’re playing DIO songs [with the ‘Drum Wars’ project] tonight, so I was a big part of it. It was just that, at the moment, it didn’t seem like the best time to do it. I’m just doing a few dates with them because they needed a drummer.”
Original DIO drummer Vinny Appice will be filling in for Simon Wright at the following upcoming DIO DISCIPLES shows:
July
18 – Toronto, ON – The Rockpile
19 – London, ON – Eastside Bar & Grill
20 – Silver Creek, NY – Willow Creek Winery
21 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
22 – Teaneck, NJ – Mexicali Live!
Dio Disciples
Dio Disciples vocalist Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) was recently interviewed by Kris Engelhart of BackstageAxxess.com; an excerpt follows:
Since Dio Disciples tours with two vocalists, both you and Tim “Ripper” Owens (formerly of JUDAS PRIEST and ICED EARTH), how are you sharing vocal duties for the tour?
Oni: “Well, there are specific songs that work better and lend themselves vocally to each of our voices better than others. Well let me rephrase that, basically what happens is that our tonalities, our quality of voices, whatever suits us as far as what the catalog that Ronnie (James Dio) has being there in front of us, we pick and choose. And we also, when we’re onstage, we share a couple of songs together, some of the classic songs from RAINBOW, from BLACK SABBATH and also we sing a few on our own. And they’re all designed for our voices.”
Ronnie was known for putting on such elaborate shows, very theatrical. What can fans expect to see at a Dio Disciples show?
Oni: “Well as far as production, there is not the production that Ronnie took out on the road with the dragons and everything.That you won’t see, but you will see a quality show with regards to the lighting as well as the participation and how the band delivers onstage and how we perform the songs. It’s quality, it’s the best (I would say) band out there portraying Ronnie’s legacy. With respect.”
To read the interview in its entirety, click here.
