Metallica recorded “Ronnie Rising Medley”, a 4-song, 9-minute track for the forthcoming Ronnie James Dio tribute album, “This Is Your Life”, and the song is now available for streaming.
"Ronnie's music, and what he was, was part of my life," drummer Lars Ulrich tells Rolling Stone. "[Dio's] music is so much a part of what's in Metallica's DNA, the harder, edgier, blues-based hard rock from the Seventies. It was fairly effortless to put this together, because it's something that we were all reared on. I don't recall sitting there in a band meeting or anything deciding what to play. Somebody starts playing 'Stargazer' – which is sort of just like something that's in our arsenal to jam – and then that whole period there, 'Tarot Woman,' 'Kill the King,' 'A Light in the Black ' – that's just really effortless to jump into."
In addition to Metallica, “This Is Your Life” features newly-recorded covers of the singer’s work with Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio by Motorhead, the Scorpions, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Tenacious D, Anthrax, Halestorm, Corey Taylor and others.
Dio himself is featured on the album’s final song, “This Is Your Life.” Originally released on 1986’s “Angry Machines”, the singer is accompanied only by his longtime keyboardist Scott Warren on piano.
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.
Check out the tracklisting for “This Is Your Life” here.
See also:
Ronnie James Dio to be honored by Syracuse Area Music Hall Of Fame
Dio to release 1993 London concert
Ronnie James Dio tribute album announced
Scorpions recording Rainbow classic for Ronnie James Dio tribute album
Search Ronnie James Dio at hennemusic