AfterRising the band released a live album entitled On Stage,which highlighted a band that respected each others own talents. One of the best live albums of the era,this was a true live recording, but sadly to say this was the beginning of the end for Ronnie's involvement in Rainbow. The year to follow saw the release of Rainbow's third studio release Long Live Rock-N-Roll. Coming from this LP was their first single Kill The King. Another great album but Ritchie was starting to loose the vision he and Ronnie once shared. Wanting to write songs that would get more commercial appeal and to stay away from the fantasy image. Ritchie was wanting a more pop sound for the band, one that would target a wider fan base including the female listener. Ronnie not wanting to write love songs, but to continue his own style, left Rainbow in 1979 with no plans for the future. About the same time Ronnie was asked to guest on yet another solo album, this time being that of Kansas guitar player Kerry Livgren.The album being called Seeds Of Change was a somewhat religious album. Ronnie contributed two semi-inspirational tracks to the set list including To Live For The King and Mask Of The Great Deceiver. A chance meeting with Tony Iommi of 70's metal gods Black Sabbath led to Ronnie being invited down to meet with the rest of the band, minus frontman Ozzy Osbourne. The last couple albums with Osbourne on vocals had lost their appeal to the very demanding Sabbath fan. Iommi was looking for a pick me up, something to revive the popularity of a waning band. That pick me up would be in the form of American born Ronnie James Dio. Ronnie had big expectations to live up to replacing former frontman Ozzy Osbourne,and also becoming the only American member in a previously all English band. Heaven & Hell was released in 1980 with fans very eager to hear the new revitalized sound from the Sabb 4, but at the same time were also skeptical with thought of Sabbath without Ozzy. The first single to be released from the LP was the fist pumping,high energy Neon Knights . The song left fans wanting to hear more form this redefined version of their favorite band. Sabbath and metal fans alike stood up and took notice. Could this be true Sabbath without Ozzy? The melodies combined with the heavy riffs proved that Black Sabbath were back with a vengeance. Ronnie combining his visions of fantasy with the occult was just what Tony Iommi was looking for. After a highly succesful tour and album could the next album do equally as well? 1981 was the release date for Mob Rules and also the departure of Bill Ward from behind the drum kit. Filling in for the departed Ward was another American Vinnie Appice , he and Ronnie would become friends and bandmates for many years to come. The album was as good or better than its predescessor but never got the attention that it so rightfully deserved. After the completion of the Mob Rules album the band would record their first ever live album entitled Live Evil . Offering classic Ozzy/Sabbath tunes with Ronnie's touch of magic as well as cuts from both Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules . During the tour egos began to collide. Founding members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler felt to much attention was being put on their new frontman and that they werent getting the recognition they deserved. Accusations were coming from both sides of the Sabbath camp,complaints of someone tampering with the sound levels of Ronnie's mimicrophone and Tony's guitar arose. Not happy with the current situation Ronnie along with Appice quit Sabbath in late 1982. Wanting to form a new group the two recruited ex-Sweet Savage,Irish born guitar palyer Vivian Campbell . Also coming aboard was long time mate and former Rainbow bass player Jimmy Bain . Both hailing from the Brtitish Isles the four would give Ronnie the English sound he had been looking for. Bearing the name of its electrifying frontman, the band would be simply known as DIO . This band would for the first time in Ronnie's career give him full controll of the musical direction he chooses. Handling all the lyrics and songwriting himself allowed Ronnie to continue his songs of magic,fantasy,and gave him the opportunity to continue in the pursuit of catching his Rainbow.
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