Ronnie James Dio's Dungeon Opens Again On Magical New Releases
Dio
Niji Entertainment Dio on the "Magica" tour with Jimmy Bain (left) and Craig Goldy
Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986
Eagle Vision, 143 mins., $14.98 DVD/$19.98 Blu-ray
Though he passed away from stomach cancer in 2010 (right here in Houston, according to several reports), fans of Ronnie James Dio have had a steady stream of newly-released music and projects to feast on, setting the stage for the release of the autobiography he was finishing at the time of his death.
Live in Philly 1986 is a high-energy show from the 1985/86 tour in support of the Sacred Heart LP. Arguably showcasing Dio at the height of his vocal and performing powers, this tour was also famous (or, in a Spinal Tap way, infamous) for one of its stage sets.
It included a medieval dungeon, pyro, lights, costumes of satin, silver, and wristbands and, for the finale, Dio slaying an actual animatronic fire-breathing dragon with a laser sword onstage. It might seem corny and primitive to 2013 eyes, but at the time, I'm sure it was pretty fucking cool to see.































