May 16, 2010
Wendy Dio, wife / manager of RONNIE JAMES DIO has just released the following statement to Blabbermouth.net: "Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. (on Sunday) 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all. We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us. Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss. Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever." Rest in peace, Ronnie! You will always be remembered!
Blabbermouth.net also reported that DEBBIE ABONO, well-respected and much-loved manager and promotional machine behind some of San Francisco Bay Area’s strongest Metal bands (POSSESSED, FORBIDDEN, EXODUS, VIO-LENCE, SKINLAB), passed away today (Sunday, May 16) as well at appoximately 9:59 a.m. PST after a battle with cancer. Rest in peace, Debbie!
According to Modern Drummer, ex – TWISTED SISTER drummer JOE MARKOWSKI (aka "Fast" Joey Brighton) died on April 14. He was 57 years old. Markowski was well known in the New York area as a drum teacher in the ’70s, working out of VANILLA FUDGE drummer Carmine Appice’s Oceanside drum studio. Top drummers – including Bobby Rondinelli (BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) and Joe Franco (GOOD RATS, TWISTED SISTER) – studied with Markowski, who himself had played with the GOOD RATS and TWISTED SISTER.
Blabbermouth.net has published the following news regarding the rumors that RONNIE JAMES DIO has passed away: Contrary to published reports, Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) has not died after a six-month battle with stomach cancer. After rumors started circulating via the Internet late Saturday that Dio had lost his cancer fight, Blabbermouth.net reached out to Ronnie’s wife / manager Wendy Dio, who sent back the following message at approximately 11:35 p.m. PST on Saturday, May 15 / 2:35 a.m. EST on Sunday, May 16: "I am at the hospital and Ronnie has NOT passed away!!!! He is not doing good, but he is not dead. I will let you know if anything changes. Thank you for your concern." Wendy Dio posted the following message on Ronnie’s official Twitter profile at approximately 3:45 a.m. EST on Sunday, May 16: "Don’t believe the rumors, Ronnie is still hanging in there!!! Hugs, Wendy Dio."
‘Venomous Habitations’, a track from Florida Death Metal masters DIABOLIC‘s upcoming new full-length album "Excisions Of Exorcisms", has been uploaded to the Deathgasm myspace player at www.myspace.com/deathgasmrecords