Fans gather to remember Ronnie James Dio
LOS ANGELES - The mammoth service for the singer Ronnie James Dio fire was more of a rock concert than a fiery burial mound. With chants of "Dio, Dio, Dio," Headbangers were strong and proud on Sunday as they paid tribute to the fine metal legend, who died of stomach cancer on 16 May to 67 years. More than 1,200 fans celebrated Dio Internal Lawn Memorial Park's Hall of Liberty Forest. Hundreds more gathered in a stuffy auditorium to Riot, the monitors from the proceedings, which featured performances of some rocker friends Dio, including Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple View, Geoff Tate of Queensryche and Paul Shortino of Quiet. "He has touched us all with his music and his message and his magic," said David Feinstein, a cousin and bandmate of Dio, Elf. "I know Ronnie really loved you all. He had a great appreciation for your loyalty. I mean, you all there, all the fans." Those who gathered feisty singer recalls bands such as Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio, the auto- title as a passionate musician, who was gracious and behind the stage. Many recalled the ongoing support of Dio over the years the children of the night, teen prostitution rehabilitation organization, where his wife, Wendy, serves as president. Dio revealed that last summer he was suffering from cancer of the stomach shortly after completing a tour in Atlantic City, NJ, with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath under the name Heaven and Hell. Dio's son, Dan Padavona warned the crowd to make a memory by regular screening, a doctor and take care of himself, something he did not tell his father. "Please do not make the same mistake my father," said Padavona. "For Father, the show has ever further. He ignored the warning signs for years, and while the cancer was growing and changing something that was probably easy to take off in a monster, Dio could not die." Some members of the Westboro Baptist Church demonstrated in front of the gates of the park, when hundreds of fans came to Dio, who the devil horns gesture was said "it will be remembered by his Italian grandmother a signature of heavy metals. The Fundamentalist Church told members to reject it because they believed that Satan worship Dio. Many friends of Dio musicians celebrated by rocking tunes from the scene that the signature Howl's featured Dio. Scott Warren of heaven and hell of the memorial began with an arrangement of Dio's "This Is Your Life" on the piano. John Payne Asia sang Black Sabbath Heaven and Hell. "Joey Belladonna of Anthrax groaned Rainbow Man On The Silver Mountain." He had the magic, "recalls Willie Fyfe, Dio personal long." He always called magic. Once he has a lot in his hands, that's where it was until it was time to go, so he had to deliver and to go and do their thing. Bless. It is done now, and the guy is in a coffin. "___ Online: http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/