Wendy Dio and Tenacious D comment on Grammy Award win

Wendy Dio and Tenacious D have issued statements celebrating the band’s Grammy Award win for Best Metal Performance Sunday at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

The group were honored for their remake of Dio’s “The Last in Line” as featured on the 2014 Ronnie James Dio tribute album, “This Is Your Life.”

Tenacious D took home the prize ahead of fellow nominees Anthrax, Motorhead, Slipknot and Mastodon.

"We are so excited to see one of Ronnie's songs be awarded with a Grammy,” says wife/manager Wendy Dio. “As soon as Tenacious D were announced as winners, Jack Black called me in excitement to tell me that we won the award. My only regret is to not have Ronnie here in body to see this happen."

“This Grammy is all about Ronnie James Dio,” added Black and Kyle Gass. “We are so proud to have known Ronnie and this is just another testament to his greatness.”

Proceeds from “This Is Your Life” benefit The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio. The charity is dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.

Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.




See also:

Tenacious D win Grammy for Best Metal Performance
Tenacious D cover The Last In Line for Ronnie James Dio tribute album
AUDIO: Corey Taylor covers Rainbow In The Dark for Ronnie James Dio tribute album
AUDIO: Hear Metallica’s tribute to Ronnie James Dio
Search Ronnie James Dio at hennemusic

Tenacious D win Grammy for Best Metal Performance

Tenacious D picked up the Grammy for Best Metal Performance Sunday at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

The band were honored for their remake of Dio’s “The Last in Line” as featured on the 2014 Ronnie James Dio tribute album, “This Is Your Life.”

Tenacious D took home the prize ahead of fellow nominees Anthrax, Motorhead, Slipknot and Mastodon.

The band posted: “We dedicate our Grammy win to the great Ronnie James Dio!”

Tenacious D’s Jack Black and Kyle Gass are longtime fans of the legendary singer: the pair recorded the track, “Dio”, on their 2001 self-titled debut – Ronnie countered by including the guys to the video for his 2002 single, “Push.”

Dio himself also appeared in the D’s 2006 film, “The Pick Of Destiny”, and guested on the song, “Kickapoo”, from the companion soundtrack album.

“Dio was the master,” says Black. “The Pavarotti of heavy metal vocalists. Soaring melodies and a lion’s roar to match. He was also one of the coolest guys I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. No one could touch his brilliance, on or off the stage.”

“It’s hard not to pick a great Dio track, but this one appealed to us,” adds Gass. “Recording the track was a blast. Our electric guitarist John Konesky shredded a solo. I said, ‘That’s pretty good, but let’s try out my recorder.’ Lo and behold it shredded even more and added a unique element to the track. Dio obviously has been a major influence and inspiration for the D. His performance in The Pick of Destiny was a magical moment for us, and we’ll always miss him. Rock on, Dio.”

Proceeds from “This Is Your Life” benefit The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio. The charity is dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.

Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.




See also:

Tenacious D cover The Last In Line for Ronnie James Dio tribute album
AUDIO: Corey Taylor covers Rainbow In The Dark for Ronnie James Dio tribute album
AUDIO: Hear Metallica’s tribute to Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio to be honored by Syracuse Area Music Hall Of Fame
Search Ronnie James Dio at hennemusic

Tenacious D cover The Last In Line for Ronnie James Dio tribute album

Tenacious D recorded “The Last In Line” for the new Ronnie James Dio tribute album, “This Is Your Life” (due April 1), and the song is now available for streaming.

Tenacious D’s Jack Black and Kyle Gass are longtime fans of the legendary singer: the pair recorded the track, “Dio”, on their 2001 self-titled debut – Ronnie countered by including the guys to the video for his 2002 single, “Push.” Dio himself also appeared in the D’s 2006 film, “The Pick Of Destiny”, and guested on the song, “Kickapoo”, from the companion soundtrack album.

“Dio was the master,” says Black. “The Pavarotti of heavy metal vocalists. Soaring melodies and a lion’s roar to match. He was also one of the coolest guys I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. No one could touch his brilliance, on or off the stage.”

“It’s hard not to pick a great Dio track, but this one appealed to us,” adds Gass. “Recording the track was a blast. Our electric guitarist John Konesky shredded a solo. I said, ‘That’s pretty good, but let’s try out my recorder.’ Lo and behold it shredded even more and added a unique element to the track. Dio obviously has been a

major influence and inspiration for the D. His performance in The Pick of Destiny was a magical moment for us, and we’ll always miss him. Rock on, Dio.”

In addition to Tenacious D, “This Is Your Life” features newly-recorded covers of the singer’s work with Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio by Metallica, Motorhead, the Scorpions, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Corey Taylor Anthrax, Halestorm and others.

Proceeds from “This Is Your Life” will benefit The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, co-founded by Wendy Dio. The charity is dedicated to supporting cancer-prevention research, raising awareness and educating the public about the vital importance of early detection and prevention when dealing with this deadly disease.

Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.




See also:
AUDIO: Corey Taylor covers Rainbow In The Dark for Ronnie James Dio tribute album
AUDIO: Hear Metallica’s tribute to Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio to be honored by Syracuse Area Music Hall Of Fame
Dio to release 1993 London concert
Search Ronnie James Dio at hennemusic

VIDEO: Tenacious D – Watch complete Rock Am Ring concert

Tenacious D are on the road promoting their newly-released album, “The Rize Of The Fenix.”

It’s the band’s first new album since 2006’s “The Pick Of Destiny.”

The duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass performed at the Rock Am Ring festival in Nurburgring, Germany on Saturday on a bill headlined by Metallica.

The D start a week-long UK tour on Tuesday when they play the first of three dates in London.


Tenacious D
Rock Am Ring – Nurburgring, Germany – June 2, 2012

01 - Rize of the Fenix
02 - Low Hangin' Fruit
03 - Senorita
04 - Deth Starr
05 - Roadie
06 - Throw Down
07 - Saxaboom
08 - Kielbasa
09 - Kickapoo
10 - The Metal
11 - Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown)
12 - Pinball Wizard / There's a Doctor / Listening to You (The Who cover)
13 - F*** Her Gently
14 - Tribute
15 - Double Team


Tenacious D



See also:

VIDEO: Tenacious D rock Letterman
VIDEO: The return of Tenacious D

VIDEO: Tenacious D rock Letterman

Tenacious D are back today with the release of “The Rize Of The Fenix.”

It’s the band’s first new album since 2006’s “The Pick Of Destiny.”

The duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass stopped by the Letterman show Monday night to give fans a taste of new music as they performed a tribute to roadies everywhere with a song called “Roadie.”

The D hit the road for live shows starting May 23 in Santa Barbara, CA, with dates announced through the end of July.


Tenacious D

Tenacious D – Roadie
Late Show with David Letterman – May 14, 2012



See also:

VIDEO: The return of Tenacious D

VIDEO: The return of Tenacious D

Tenacious D return May 15 with “The Rize Of The Fenix.”

The magical duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass are gearing up to release their first new album in years, following 2006’s “The Pick Of Destiny.”

“We recorded down and dirty in a friend’s garage with a shoestring budget of 600 dollars, much like Nirvana's first album “Bleach”- or the Beatles first album “Help,” says the D. “Rough and yet a masterpiece.”

From their concentrated effort emerged thirteen profoundly evocative tracks, the making of which the band describes as a “journey similar to that of Gandolph in The Lord of the Rings.”

When the ill received Pick of Destiny movie failed to strike box office gold, it virtually stripped away the duos rock god stature overnight. “There we no more bouncers waving us through the velvet ropes, we were persona non gratta” said Black.

Kyle added, “There we were - just like Gandolph the grey, down in the muck - but we never gave up, We defeated our own personal demons and began chipping away, slowly climbing back to the land of the living- when we emerged we were no longer the old Tenacious D, we were Gandolph the white, with new powers and wisdom and bravery and skills.”

The D hit the road for live shows starting May 23 in Santa Barbara, CA, with dates announced through the end of July.

Tickets for many dates go on sale beginning Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31; check the band's site for details here.

To help introduce the D’s return, the guys are featured in a new video entitled “To Be The Best.”

Look for several familiar faces in the clip!




Tenacious D

Tenacious D – Rize Of The Fenix (preview)

Ronnie James Dio’s L.A. mansion up for sale

Wanna live like a true rock n roll king?

You can, if you have about $3.5 million kicking around; that’s about the asking price for the Los Angeles mansion previously owned by the late Ronnie James Dio.

Here’s the listing courtesy of L.A. Weekly's article listing the "Top Ten L.A. Musician Mansions For Sale.” Dio's humble abode was ranked #1 on the list.

Price: $3,333,000
Address 4634 Encino Avenue
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 5
Square Ft: 5057

Listing: "Full of Grace and Old World charm this 5 BD/5BA 5,000 plus sqft English mansion was built w/custom original pieces taken from Europe. Features include 200 year old wood flrs from France, pub bar from the Kings Arms in Chiqwell Essex, England c. 1820 & custom stained antique windows from the 18th & 19th centuries. Spacious cooks kitchen w/all Viking & Meile products. Master BD w/ antique cathedral windows imported from England c. 1790, hand-painted Griffin wall paper as seen in Greystone Manor, 2 walk-in closets, hardwood flrs & master BA. Downstairs level includes a custom built music studio."




Dio ft. Tenacious D – Push (2002)

Guitar Duel: Jack Black vs. Conan O'Brien

Jack Black is rockin’ the airwaves this week: first he jams with Jimmy Fallon on a performance of “Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy,” something I described visually as “Blue Man Group meets A Clockwork Orange.”

Watch that video here.

Wednesday night, Black was on Conan to talk about his new movie, “Gulliver’s Travels,” and things were going along peacefully until music entered the discussion.

At about the 6:30 mark in the following video, Jack seemed surprised to find out that Conan had a band and had done a tour this year, even after the two met up at Bonnaroo in June.

“I think of your band as more of a hobby, and less like a passion," Black told Conan, adding, "I rock way, way, way harder than you."

Before things got physical, Andy Richter jumped in and suggested the two settle things with a guitar showdown.

Jack Black – interview & guitar duel vs. Conan
Conan – December 22, 2010

Heaven & Hell: Live DVD pays tribute to Ronnie James Dio

Due November 16, “Heaven & Hell: Neon Nights” is a new live package from the second incarnation of Black Sabbath, marking the band’s 30th Anniversary while serving as a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio.

On Thursday July, 30th, 2009, Heaven & Hell took to the stage at the famous Wacken Festival in Germany as part of the tour in support of their album “The Devil You Know,” released earlier in the year. The band played a set blending tracks from the newly-released album with classics from their Sabbath days, including “Mob Rules”, “Heaven and Hell”, “Die Young” and “Neon Nights."

Although nobody knew at the time, it was to be Ronnie James Dio’s last professionally-filmed concert appearance before his death, in May, 2010 from stomach cancer.

Available in DVD and CD versions, the DVD contains bonus features:

30th Anniversary Interviews: Interviews with all four band members reflecting on 30 years from the release of Black Sabbath’s “Heaven And Hell” album.

Ronnie James Dio Tributes: Newly recorded personal tributes from Tony Iommi, Vinnie Appice and Geezer Butler in memory of their friend and colleague.

Heaven & Hell: Neon Nights
CD/DVD Track Listing:

• E5150 (DVD only)
• Mob Rules
• Children of the Sea
• I
• Bible Black
• Time Machine
• Fear
• Falling Off the Edge of the World
• Follow the Tears
• Die Young
• Heaven & Hell
• Country Girl (DVD only)
• Neon Knights

Heaven & Hell

Heaven & Hell – Children Of The Sea (preview)
Heaven & Hell: Neon Nights DVD (2010)


Black Sabbath – Neon Knights (1980)


Tenacious D – Heaven & Hell (2006)
Featuring Ronnie James Dio
The Pick Of Destiny DVD


Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell (1980)