Dio

Dio was an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, born Ronald James Padavona. Before starting the band, Dio had already made his mark fronting Elf and Rainbow, then replacing Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, where he sang on the acclaimed Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules albums.

After leaving Sabbath, Dio assembled a new band bearing his name, initially featuring guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Vinny Appice. Their 1983 debut, Holy Diver, became a landmark of the genre, blending operatic, dramatic vocals with sharp, melodic riffing and fantasy-steeped lyrics, and produced enduring anthems like the title track and «Rainbow in the Dark».

The band continued through the decade with albums such as The Last in Line and Sacred Heart, sustaining a sound built around Dio's soaring voice and mythic imagery. Songs including «We Rock» and «Stand Up and Shout» became staples of 1980s heavy metal, and the band's music remains influential on the genre's power-metal and traditional-metal offshoots long after its heyday.