My Statement on Ronald
IN RESPONSE TO THE MANY REQUESTS FOR A STATEMENT HERE GOES:
It’s impossible to express in mere words the relationship Ronnie and I, Wendy and my wife Gloria had. He was much more than a friend, fellow musician, band mate. If I have a soul, then he is part of it. I truly believe God, fate, destiny, whatever it’s called, brought us together again in 2006, after not seeing each other for 14 years, to do one final tour, which turned into 3 major tours and an album. We were having a blast together, enjoying each other’s company more than we had ever done before, talking about maybe doing one more album, when fate intervened again. We were planning on doing a 2 or 3 part North American tour, after having toured South America and Europe in Spring /Summer 2009, but on the first leg of the North American tour, Tony’s hand ligaments were in a bad way, Vinny’s shoulder became dislocated, and Ronnie was having terrible stomach pains. We decided to cut the tour, get healthy, and carry on the following year. Tony and Vinny had successful procedures to fix their ailments, but Ronnie’s stomach pains were worsening. I saw him at the Dio Halloween party, but he wasn’t drinking, unusual for Ronnie who liked his tipple. He was telling me he had made an appointment with a specialist, to see what it was…..
Wednesday, 12th May 2010.
Wendy invited Gloria and I to lunch in Santa Barbara. A few close friends of Ronnie and Wendy, Omar, Simon, Paul, Tim, and Diana, had dropped by. Ronnie had no appetite whatsoever- the disease and the chemotherapy were taking an immense toll. As usual, we talked sports and had a laugh together- it would be the last time. That night, I had a beautiful email from him, that I will treasure forever. I sent him an email saying I’d see him during the following week.
Friday, 14th May 2010.
Wendy called to say she had taken Ronnie to hospital. The pain had become unbearable. We got to the hospital around 2 p.m. The doctor eventually sedated him. More and more friends were coming to visit- we took it in turns to hold Ronnie’s hand, and whisper our thoughts to him. Wendy wouldn’t leave his side- she stayed curled up on his bed the whole night. Gloria’s assistant, Debi, kept her company. I emailed Tony to prepare him for bad news.
Saturday, 15th May 2010.
There was no mistaking Ronnie’s room. There were around 25 to 30 friends outside his room. We knew the end was imminent. We all wanted to say our goodbyes. It was a day filled with tears and reflection. In the evening, the chaplain came, and we all gathered around Ronnie’s bed and prayed. Ronnie wasn’t going easily. At 11 p.m., most of us left, leaving Wendy her privacy to say her last farewell. The devastation was palpable.
Sunday, 16th May 2010.
7.46 a.m. As we were preparing to leave for the hospital, Gloria called Wendy to see if she wanted a coffee or any breakfast- she broke the sad news. Ronnie had just passed away.
Wendy Dio has been a true saint through all this. She has been with Ronnie every step of the way. Her courage has amazed us all. Even as I write, she is ensuring Ronnie has the finest send off possible. God bless you, Wendel.
Most people who were there for those last days chose to keep their thoughts private. I wanted to keep my thoughts private, too, but I’ve been overwhelmed by emails, and requests from the media and fans for comments.
I can truly say I’ve never known anyone to have such loyal, loving friends, fans, and family as Ronnie. He really was a special person, blessed with a unique voice and presence. He loved his fans- he would stay meeting and talking to them until the early hours of the morning. One of my fondest memories of him comes from last year, at the Sonisphere Festival,Knebworth. He noticed my sister and her husband at the side of the stage. During our opening song, he took the time to go over and hug them. Just a little thing like that made him special to me. Of course his music will live on forever, as will his influence. I have never seen so many tributes from so many musicians and fans, so many good wishes, no cynicism, just pure love and appreciation for a great man.
God bless you Ronald – thank you so much for the wonderful memories.
Love ya,
Geez
Thank you Geezer – that was obviously hard for you.
Unlike you I did not know the great man but I truly believe that he was as good as you say and I feel like I did know him. I have tears in my eyes, again.
Ronnie, you may be gone but never forgotten. Love you, you are a legend.
GOD BLESS YOU gEEZER FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND FOR SHARING YOUR DEEPEST MEMORIES OF RONNIES FINAL FEW DAYS.
MY HEART IS BROKEN AT HIS DEATH BUT I KNOW THAT ONE DAY WE WILL MEET AGAIN IN A BETTER PLACE WHERE I WILL HEAR HIS VOICE AGAIN AND I BET HE IS WRITING A NEW ALBUM ALREADY FOR HIS NEW FANS IN THIS NEW PLACE. GOD BLESS YOU RONNIE FOR YOUR MUSIC, WORDS AND HUMILITY. MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY WENDY I KNOW HE IS LOOKING DOWN AT YOU SMILING AND WITH THE THOUGHTS THAT YOU WILL BE JOINED AGAIN IN THE NEXT LIFE.
Thankyou Geezer for sharing your memories with the great man with us, it was so touching.
Was blown away by his voice after listening to the Rising LP the voice with an amazing semioperatic style what a talent!
we the fans will treasure his songs and the memories of the concerts through our life time.
R.I.P
R.J.D
Mr. Butler,
I will mourn our loss until the end of my days, and I am at his side. Thank you very much for sharing your private thoughts with us.
Much love to everyone.
”We Rock!”
Dear Geezer,
Your words touch my heart very deeply. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
My deepest condolences for you, Wendy, Tony, Vinny and all Ronnie’s family and friends.
Be strong and don’t forget: Dio was a blessed man because, among other things, he had a friend like you by his side. True friendship like that is a blessing… A rare and enriching one.
God bless you all. Always.
With all my heart, from Brazil,
D.
Hi Geezer,
I saw you in Mexico city 20 years ago with Dio and I had so much fun.
My fav album is heaven and hell…and Paranoid
Alfonso Real
Thanks so much Geezer……..
Knowing that Dio passed away amongst friends and loved ones brings tears to my eye but also a smile. If things had to happen, I am glad they hapenned the way they did.
Dio was a truly blessed man and touched lives of many……..
He will never be forgotten, NEVER!
God Bless you Geezer for sharing all those kind words with us.
Gracias Geezer por compartir tus experiencias con todos nosotros, tuve la oportunidad de verte aqui en Chile el año 2009 con Heaven & Hell, el mejor concierto al que eh asistido
Saludos desde Chile
hey geezer man so touching i remembered the day my dad died when reading that wow ronnie will deafinitly be missed ive been listening to bible black and man what a testament and a final bow for all you guys! rip rjd love you and well all see eachother in that other place horns at half staff!
love you guys ill keep you in my prayers love ya ray mitchell
Thank you for your beautiful statement on RJD’s passing. My condolences to you, Gloria, and your Heaven and Hell bandmates. I read RJD interviews in which he described what a close relationship he and Wendy had with you and Gloria back in the early 80s.
Professionally, Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules and Dehumanizer were great albums. Thus I always thought what a shame, both personally and professionally, were the breakups after Live Evil and after Dehumanizer. For years I was hoping for a reunion and thus I was so happy when you reunited for Dehumanizer, only to be disappointed when that ended.
This most recent incarnation as Heaven and Hell seemed to erase all the wrongs of the past. I was very happy to have the opportunity to see the band in concert, for the first and last time in Hamilton, Ontario. Personally and professionally, it seemed like Heaven and Hell couldn’t be stronger. I am sorry it had to end so soon, but on the other hand, I’m glad that all the past bad feelings following Live Evil and Dehumanizer seemed to have been erased by the wonderful chemistry in the band. On a personal note, I’m glad that the great bond which existed between Ronnie and you, and Wendy and Gloria, was reestablished. It’s unfortunate it had to end this way, with so much pain for RJD, but it seemed like all the bad things which had previously happened, had been righted..
Dear Geezer,
Thank you for this beautiful statement. I know it comes from your heart and also know how hard it must have been to put these feelings into words…
I have attended your concert in Athens during your last tour and it will be the greatest musical memory in my life. I mean, I feel blessed I was able to listen to Ronnie’s heavenly voice along with your exquisite music. I know he went to a better place. I have just lost a dear friend from the same disease and I can share some of your sadness. There will be no one like him…but his memory and voice (an angel’s voice indeed) will stay with us forever.
God bless you all for expressing with your music what we want to say with mere words…
R.I.P. Ronnie
No doubt your friendship was extremely important to Ronnie, and a great comfort in his final weeks and days. In the 30-year span in which you two worked together, there were highs and lows but the proof is in the pudding. Dio, Iommi, Butler, and Appice/Ward were a uniquely powerful combination. I can only hope there might be unreleased material that one day will see the light. May you and your mates, and especially Wendy, be comforted in the memories of his love and respect for you.
Thanks for sharing such personal memories of a dearly loved person. Although I never met Ronnie I never heard a bad word said about him and his wife has demonstrated through her dignity why they were together for so long
You’re a “diamond” Geezer.
Dear Geezer,
Thanks for your warm words on Ronnie. Sabbath has been with me now for some 40 years. And Ronnie was with me since 1980, when he joined Sabbath. And he always will be.
Regards,
Nick
Dear Terry,
What wonderful heart felt word. Thanks so much for sharing that with us. Ronnie will always be with us in spirit and one day I hope to see him again performing as the Rock’n'Roll Angel that he truly is.
I wish you and your family well in this most difficult of times.
Love and Peace
Jon
Ronnie James Dio: I’m sure, we all met him again, as well all our loving people who left this world. Time for you to rest in peace. Thanks Geezer for your shares. Ivan from Argentina.
Dear Terry and Gloria,
Thank you so much for your words and sharing your thoughts!!!!!!!
Kindest regards,
Oliver
Geezer:
Sadly words, but they’re full of feelings…it’s really hard to acept the fact that Ronnie is no more between us; but we only can believe that we’ll meet again in the end.
I saw you last year with Heaven & Hell, Ronnie looked so full of life, I believed that he would rock for many, many years more…
All my feelings with his family and friends.
Regards from Argentina.
Matias
Hello Geezer
Your statement really has touched me… you have leave me with no words but tears in my eyes. We all will miss Ronnie. I am 46 and have had him beside me, singing his powerful songs, all my life.
Hey Terry
Your kind words regarding Ronnie shows just what type of person you are man, thanks for sharing what had to be a very hard time for you and everyone close to him.
I was honored to see you guys perform several times, I never had the chance to meet you, but I know that you are very good people!
One day you guys will meet again in a much more peaceful place, take care of yourself Mr. Geezer Butler!
Rest in Peace Ronnie, and may God bless the both of you and all your love ones!
Thanks for all the good music you have given us all throughout the years!
PEACE & LOVE!
Terry H
I hope that Ozzy Osbourne NOT return with Black Sabbath.
Would not it be nice for the memory of Tony and Ronnie (given the legal action).
If,in future you would like to honor Ronnie it be correct to choose Ian Gillan.
Thank you Geezer.
Thank you Geezer for sharing these personal thoughts. I think back to all the times I saw Ronnie perform – from my first concert on the Mob Rules tour to Heaven And Hell on Metal Masters Tour. I also remember fondly the few times I spent hanging out with Ronnie. The memorial service was beautiful, but also made it so real to me that he was gone. The music you, Tony, Vinny and Bill made with Ronnie in Sabbath will live forever. Peace to you Geezer.
dear geezer i am not a man of many words (kind of like you) but taking your hero to his final resting place shows your love and how much you will miss him, i put on we rock, crank it up, drink tipple i love all you guys, your music is timeless, bless you ronnie we will always rock because of you!!!! ps geezer i dont know what your feeling but talk to wendy lots
Hey Geezer,
Your kind words and memories brought tears to my eyes. Also, brought back fond memories of when a friend and i met all of you during the Black and Blue tour when it came to Cleveland Ohio. You were all staying at Swingos downtown and we waited in the rain for you guys to come down to go to soundcheck. When you guys came out, we all shook hands and i told Ronnie we are your biggest fans and asked for backstage passes ! He said “well then, you deserve passes”. Told us to wait till he came back and he would bring us both back some passes. Sure enough he did and shook our hands and told us to enjoy the show! Still have the pictures you guys posed for with each of us ! Rest in peace Ronnie! You will be greatly missed ! And thank you Geezer and the rest of the guys for giving two guys from Cleveland a night we will never forget ! Love and magic, Gene.
Thank you Geezer for sharing your memories and thoughts with us. I never had the chance to meet Dio, but felt I knew him thru his music and the thoughts of those that were closest to him. Dio and his music were part of my childhood, I will never forget those nights growing up, sitting in my bedroom while I was supposed to be sleeping but instead playing air guitar and mouthing the words to “We Rock” or “Last in line”. Much of my childhood metal was the one thing that made me feel I belonged to something bigger then my everyday life, and Dio was a huge part of that. Even now as an adult, I am proud to say I am a metal head, and Dio’s music spoke to me in so many ways, Thank you Dio, we love you man.
Gracias Sr. Butler por compartir con nosotros los últimos momentos de ese gran hombre que ha sido Ronnie James Dio. Siempre vivirá en nuestra memoria.
Geezer–we are all still reeling from his loss….At 67 Ronnie was still burning up arenas and had many good years left…. We have to face some sad facts–for Ronnie the show allways had to go on…..I wonder how long he ignored pain and if he had the check-ups as needed..I doubt it because this disease proved fatal 6 months after being diagnosed..Like myself and most aging lovers of metal—I ignore my medical needs and most instances am forced by threat of divorce to see a Doctor….His death has brought myself and hopefully all of us to think of our families and how much we all hope to stick around…. Cancer is a big dragon to fight—but had Ronnie seen a Dr. prior on a regular basis they would have found this thing when it was treatable…This man had the best medical staff in the world availible to him but he simply waited to long… Am I mad ? Yes-his loss is unspeakable-but I have to look ay myself–I ignored a bad appendix for two months till it burst an nearly killed me-and how many times have I needed fingers stiched only to avoid the Doctor and get major infections and end up with loss of feeling in fingers..Nothing in comparison to the big C but it all has the same result….I am looking forward to My Stand -Up and Shout package…That shirt will proudly represent and remind me of what Ronnies mistake was–no early detection—no time for Drs…His loss will not be futile–not only do we have his music forever— those of us that call ourselves old-school metal heads will look at the cause established in his name and take better care of ourselves…STAND UP AND SHOUT……SD
Thanks for posting this Geezer. Ronnie was a humble, warm man and the greatest metal vocalist I’ve ever seen. Such a sad loss.
Dear Geezer,
As a fan of yours during the last 25 years, it is hard to believe that we do not have Ronnie with us anymore. Saw you three times in Brazil (1993 (2), 2009) and the songs that you’ve wrote together still as truly hymns for a legion of fans all over the world. Hope that your magnificent story and career will continue to inspire the new generation who appreciate genuine talent, honesty and determination.
Regards,
Daniel
“Long live rock ‘n’ roll!”
What a beautiful statement.
I saw Sabbath with RJD in Brussels on the Mob Rules tour (1982?) and my life changed. The sound and power blew me away and I decided music was the only thing for me.
The entire band were awesome. I feel extremely sad that I had planned to see Heaven & Hell this year but honored that I saw you all those years ago.
RIP Ronnie and thank you Geezer for opening up to us.
David