It's like, since I started blogging again routinely, I actually want to. I find myself sitting at work, during the downtime, coming up with ideas, and composing in my head. I'm thinking like a blogger, again. It was so prevalent in my life, at one time, I found myself carrying a notebook throughout the day, and jotting notes to blog about later, so I didn't forget. I wished I had my notebook this morning.
I'm really fucked up about Ronnie James Dio's death. More than I thought I would be. Here's what's weird. He was only 67, and he got sick right off a huge tour with Heaven and Hell. He was blazing, he was touring huge arenas. He was ever the showman, ever giving of himself. I got the news yesterday, when my mom and Earl were over, and had to go outside, half sick with it, back out to where everyone was sitting, and tell Irv, who got me into Dio so long ago. There's Earl. Alive. Dio's dead, and Earl is alive. Alive and suffering, but still with us, all the same, just going on and on, being Earl, making everyone miserable... when someone like Dio who spent his whole life doing good, putting it out there, giving himself to us through his music...not alive. Hate that.
I didn't grow up liking Dio, his music wasn't much in my radar, in my teens. About three weeks after Irv and I met, there was a Dio show at Birch Hill, and he was like "we HAVE GOT to go" I shrugged, I mean, I'd heard of the guy, but not much of his music. I mean, I was a real metal head, Slayer, Pantera, Megadeth, stuff like that. So, on that day, he made me listen to all his Dio tapes(!) solo, Black Sabbath, just filled me full of Dio's music, and I liked it. When we first got there, I even said to Irv "fucking great, look at all these old farts, I feel like I'm on some aging metalhead cruise, where's the shuffleboard!?". But when that tiny man walked...no strode, when he strode out on stage, the intensity, the absolute amazing energy, the voice...the...I don't even know how to say this without sounding cheesy, but the star quality. He had it. He had all of it. I literally fell in love. Right there on the spot, I became his number one fan. We were in the front row, and about a third of the way through the set, Metal Mike, his guitarist and a local awesome dude grabbed my hand and was talking to me about my rings, and stuff. Dio saw it, and walked over, mid song, and clasped my hand with both of his, and kissed my fingertips. Mike shouted "You're the YOUNGEST ONE HERE!!!" Tears. That's my Dio moment.
I braved a Dio concert late in my pregnancy. Alden got to go "see" Dio when he was about 7 and a half months along. We saw him live countless times, and every time, his presence and voice filled up every bit of the venue, and every corner of my psyche.
I fucking loved Dio. I really loved him, as much as any person can love someone they never met. Not for his looks, or his fame, or anything, but for his sheer energy and the power he transmits. His demeanor. His way.
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