Search - Manowar & Friends :: MAGIC - A Tribute to Ronnie James Dio

Dio's contributions to heavy metal are profound and indisputable. He participated in no fewer than six of the most critically important hard rock and heavy metal albums of all time, including Rising, Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, Holy Diver, and The Last in Line. Ronnie James Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer on May 16th 2010. It is one of the greatest losses ever suffered by the heavy metal community.
Manowar and Magic Circle Entertainment have decided to honor one of metal's greatest legends with 'Magic- A Tribute to Ronnie James Dio,' a new cd featuring Magic Circle Music artists and friends performing some of Dio's most inspired work.
'Magic- A Tribute to Ronny James Dio' is especially poignant because Dio hails from the same fertile upstate soil as Manowar. 'Heavy metal has lost a great artist and true gentleman,' says Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio. 'I had the privilege of being his friend and, along with other friends and admirers, we wish to honor him.'
Manowar contributes a powerful rendition of Dio's signature song 'Heaven and Hell.' Jack Starr's Burning Starr and the Magic Circle All Star Band ( with Shmoulik Avigal and Joe Stump) contribute to the classics 'Catch the Rainbow' and 'Long Live Rock 'n' Roll' and his cousin and former Elf guitarist David 'Rock' Feinstein delivers a song inspired and written for Dio titled 'Far Beyond.' The album is rounded out by several tenacious, up-and-coming bands, such as female-fronted HolyHell, featuring the voice of Maria Breon (called by many 'The Female Dio') as well as Metalforce, Awaken, and Crosswind, all of whom embrace Dio's legacy in their own inspired interpretations of his songs on 'Magic.'
In tribute to Dio's legacy, famous fantasy painter and illustrator Ken Kelly, the man behind many of heavy metal's most classic album covers (including some by Manowar) has reworked his iconic Rainbow 'Rising' artwork for 'Magic.'
'Magic-A Tribute to Ronny James Dio' is from the hearts of these musicians.
It is not only their privilege, but also their duty, to honor Ronnie by singing his praises while singing his songs.