GOODBYE RONNIE

Posted: May 18, 2010
On many occasions in my life i had the pleasure to meet and talk with quite frankly the most influential person in my life aside from my grandparents. I first met the man in 1985 on the Sacred Heart tour while Vivian was still in the band. Through the next 25 years I had the pleasure to get that same chance at many different shows. Got to share stories and just have great conversation with the man that very seldom if ever was about music. My last time talking with him was in May of 07 during the Heaven and Hell tour in Cincinnati Ohio. Craig Goldy had made it possible for me and Julie to go back stage at that show and visit with Ronnie and Vinny that night after the show. It is always odd to know how many people he would see in a given year and he walks through the door and remembers you. It was Julies only time to meet the man and she left that experience very impressed and grateful for the time she go to spend with both Ronnie and Vinny that evening as we talked for a long time. As a matter of fact they had to come in a get those two as they were all packed up and leaving for Philly for the next night. My entire musical career is based off of just learning from this monster of a musician and an absolute joy to be around. I did not have the pleasure that Geezer, Tony, Vinny,Simon and others had to play for him but every night we play Rainbow in the Dark I some how feel connected to him and pour everything in me into that song even more so than i do my own songs at times. It is an odd feeling at times but i grew up listening to this voice and this gracefulness that is RONNIE JAMES DIO. I always had my friends saying that they could not understand how or why i was such a huge fan of his; well look at all that is being said now and i think it is easy for anyone to see why I was a fan and what thousands of others are as well. There is just something about him that was more than special. He was an empowering person on so many levels through his music and when you got a chance to speak with him it was more of the same and even better. I will always remember the last conversation with him. We actually spoke about touring in Europe and he gave us some tips on the best places to eat in different countries and cities. Always the best, never anything less and that was not only in music but personally as well. I have no idea how this void will ever be filled and I really do not think there is a chance that it can be. To steal a phrase, This is to the Best there is, The Best there was and the Best there ever will be....... I along with countless others will miss you, your gift that you gave us in your music and most of all I will be looking for the next show that will always be played out in my mind because it is burned in it so deep. U ROCK RONNIE. JEFF WESTLAKE