The prolific Martin Popoff's latest book takes on one of the greatest vocalists in metal, Ronnie James Dio. The book is not meant to be a biography of Dio, the person. Instead it is a biography of the band Dio and their music. Popoff has already written a book about Rainbow, another band Dio was a member of, and there are many books out there about Black Sabbath.
Dio's Longevity
I knew that Ronnie James Dio has been around a long time, but I didn't realize he was born in 1940. His first recording was actually released in 1958! So by the time he formed Dio he was already in his forties. The fact that he has been around so long and continues to sound great and tour and record new music well into his sixties is simply astounding.
Dio - Album By Album
The strength of the book is in the in-depth coverage of each Dio album. All the principals were interviewed, and you get a fascinating insiders look at how songs were written, the dynamics and tension that occured, and a lot of detail on how the albums came together.
In addition to Ronnie James Dio himself, there is a lot of information from and about the other band members and others close to Dio. Everything from touring to personnel changes is talked about in addition to the music itself.
Should I Buy This Book?
If you are a Dio fan, this book is invaluable. I guarantee after reading this book or even during it, you will be motivated to pop in a Dio CD. You will hear it in a different light because of all the behind the scenes knowledge you will garner from the book. A book like this has limited mass appeal since it covers a single artist, but for serious Dio fans it is a must own. And even casual Dio fans or metalheads in general will find a lot of interesting things in this book.
