Recovering from the previous show on 06/11/2002, we were now driving up to Cincinnati, Ohio. This was a place we had been several times, Riverbend Music Center. This time we went to the will call window to pick up our after show passes without any problems. Four passes awaited us courtesy of Ronnie himself. We went into the venue without the heavy security at the gate, no frisking, patting down or emptying your pockets. Cameras were allowed, I even saw one guy walk in with a video camera in his bag without a glance. Hope he recorded this show, would be great addition to the DVT. We had a little exra time to waste before Ronnie entrance at 6:30. We were handed a program at the gate with a page of history of Scorpions, Deep Purple & Dio. They referred to Ronnie as easily the most identifiable voice in heavy metal. having been in such bands as Rainbow, Black Sabbath & Dio, and of the success of the Holy Diver & Last In Line albums going platinum. Most everyone were throying their program in the garbage can as soon as they walked in. We went to get us a beer & look at the over priced shirts for sell. Dio had two designs one short sleeve for $30 & one long sleeve for $55. Both had the Killing The Dragon artwork on the front, the short sleeve had a pic of the miser with the coins inside the CD cover on the back. The long sleeve had tour dates on back. I couldnt bring myself to buy either of the shirts, although several were being sold. We went to get another over priced beer & went to the front row again, almost directly in front of the mic. This was as I had expected a large turnout early to witness Ronnie perform his magic, unlike the night before in Indy. Out of the three bands playing we saw twice as many DIO shirts being worn than Scorpions & Purple shirts combined. Saw TeRRy for the first time since the Magica tour. He was not at his usual location of front row center, he was a few rows back. Went out to talk to him, he was explaining his situation to me & was worried if Ronnie had believed what he had heard. He wasnt for sure how Ronnie was going to react to him being there. DIO were about to come on so we parted company & went to the front row we went, Ronnie comes on at exactly 6:30 pm. Backdrop was of the Killing The Dragon album as the show before. The intro to the title track starts to play & the band rips into Killing The Dragon. Ronnie was suprised to the crowd turnout at this show compared to the previous night in Indy. Seems like the band thrives on energy from a good size crowd. He then starts the second track & mentions it is from the Last In Line album, people immediately think its The Last In Line but he starts into Egypt instead. The band seems to really enjoy the fan participation. After Egypt Ronnie starts the intro to Black Sabbath classic Children Of The Sea, the crowd reacts. After a good start he returns to the new album, choosing to play the song Push, which will be the first video from the new LP. Then what the crowd was waiting for Holy Diver carries along the river. During this song I handed Ronnie up another one of my DIO flags for him to show the audience. It seems to really get the crowd pumped when I do this. Another new song is played next Rock & Roll, which I didnt care to much for on the album, but is much better live. From there a treat for the Rainbow fans, the usual set staple Man On The Silver Mountain & into Long Live Rock & Roll & back to Man On The Silver Mountain. After a heated moment & when you think the show was at its peak Ronnie plays the ultimate Sabbath classic Heaven & Hell. This is always the highlight of any show DIO performs, regardless of the location. During this song I again handed Ronnie up another flag, this time its a Black Sabbath flag from the Live Evil period. When Ronnie hands the flag back other fans give me thumbs up everywhere. Now for the set closer which I thought would have been Rainbow In The Dark turns out to be Last In Line. Its hard to beleive Ronnie did not play Rainbow In The Dark, even though he doesnt enjoy playing it much himself it is a crowd staple just like Holy Diver, Heaven Hell, Man On The Silver Mountain that shouldnt be left out of any show. Show is now over & we immediately go backstage for some more pics that you can see in Joe & Hope's pics section. Also check out the fan pics section of Vinny Shortino, brother of Paul Shortino of Rough Cut. He had driven up from LA to see Ronnie in Cincinnati. We took several pics of this show about 40, you can see all those in the Live Tour Pics section. Before returning to the front I took TeRRy out an after show pass to get him back to see Ronnie, which seemed to relieve some of his worries about the night. We returned to the front this time to see Deep Purple headline the show. I was really wanting to see Purple, had waited a long time. They put on an excellent show, got some pics of them also. Steve Morse is a great player contrary to what I have heard from others. He did a solo in front of me & posed for some pics, reached me out his guitar to hold & handed me the pic he was using. My wife Hope even liked their show & she thought she wouldnt enjoy it she's more into the Scorpions type music. After the show we drove back to Kentucky and our adventure was over until the next show in Nashville, Tennessee the following week.
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