40 Years Ago Yesterday (January 3rd 1986)

 Wow, it is truly hard to believe that it was 40 years ago already that my buddy Nerraw and I saw Dio live at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton on the Sacred Heart Tour. Opening the show was Swedish/American guitar wanker Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force.

 The day of the show Yngwie did an autograph session at A&A Records and Tapes in West Edmonton Mall. Of course my buddy and I and my brother made our way to the mall to meet him. Yngwie got called a guitar wanker in a lot of magazines at the time for his neoclassical guitar playing putting a spin on heavy metal. After meeting him in person, he is a wanker! It felt like he would rather be anywhere but there for the autograph session. He was ignorant and had no time for anyone, still got his autograph but certainly turned me off on being a fan of his.

 This show was a few months before my 16th birthday and only my sixth concert ever, and the first time having floor seats at a coliseum show (row 8). Other firsts for me at this show was experiencing a laser show, a fire and smoke breathing dragon and being close enough that I could look the musicians in the eye, see their facial expressions, the sweat running down their faces and the beat of the music running through my body. It really was life changing, from this show on, all I ever wanted was floor seats and of course the closer the better. And for a lot of years, that's just what I got. Ya, we had to line up overnight for concert tickets in order to get good seats, but that was part of the concert experience back then. And most times then line ups were a hell of a lot of fun. This was before bands had screens on the side of the stage to watch the show, you really did need good seats to see the band up and close.

 When Ronnie James Dio and his band hit the stage, I remember being blown away by the elaborate stage set up. Castles on each side of the stage, the drums on a big riser that looked like rocks, the biggest light show I had seen at the time and then of course the fire and smoke breathing dragon with bright red eyes. Dio were on the road promoting there third album Sacred Heart, which I thought was an amazing album. I also recall being surprised by how small Ronnie was, especially when he had the sword in his hand and battling the dragon. And being that close to the stage I also remember how hot it was when the dragon breather fire, this was so fucking cool to my teenage eyes, and to this day, still is.

 Ronnie and his band played a very mixed set, I believe they opened with "King Of Rock N' Roll" the opening track from the Sacred Heart album. Great way to start a show. They even played a couple of  Rainbow songs "Long Live Rock N' Roll" and "Man On The Silver Mountain", which of course is the band Ronnie fronted in the 70's before his stint in Black Sabbath and going solo. I think they only did one Sabbath song, that being "Heaven And Hell", I know they did that one for sure. And then of course lots of Dio songs from their two previous albums Holy Diver and The Last In Line. Of course during the show their were the obligatory solos, guitar, drums, keyboards, it was the 80's every show had these. I'll always remember how strong and unique Ronnie's vocals were and his band was stellar as well. Rounding out the band was Ronnie's former Sabbath mate Vinnie Appice on drums, Jimmy Bain on bass, Claude Schnell on keyboards and Vivian Campbell on guitar.

 Dio released a live album and video from this tour called Intermission which was recorded in Philadelphia on December 6th, 1985 and released in June 1986. I wish I still had my VHS copy of this but sadly I don't. I do however still have my vinyl copy. The cover is a little worse for wear but the vinyl still plays nice.

 My t-shirt from this show. Even though the show was in early 1986, the back of the t-shirt still has the Sacred Heart Tour 1985.

 I've also still got the tour program from that show.

 It was right after seeing this show that I joined the Dio Fan Club. I wish I still had the membership card and some of the newsletters I got in the mail, but sadly I don't. What I still do have are the autographed pictures I received. These I will always cherish!

 And this one. If this framed picture could tell stories, oh my, the stories it could tell. My friends will know what I'm talking about.

 I only ever got to see Ronnie James Dio one other time and that was on March 13th, 2007 when he came through town with Heaven And Hell which was Black Sabbath under a different name.

Rest In Peace Ronnie!