Opening the show tonight at Brick by Brick is ElectroMagnetic, Deliverance Machine and Symbolic.  All three bands did formidable jobs getting the crowd synced up for DIO Disciples.  DIO Disciples consist of Ronnie James Dio’s band mates and friends which for this show includes Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest) on Vocals, Craig Goldy (DIO, Giuffria, Rough Cutt) on Guitar, Simon Wright (DIO, AC/DC, UFO, Geoff Tate’s Queensryche) on Drums, Scott Warren (DIO, Heaven and Hell, Warrant) on Keyboards, and Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen, Quiet Riot) on Bass.  This band was formed to celebrate the life of Ronnie James DIO; to bring honor to Ronnie and his legacy of unequaled music and to keep his music and memory alive.  What better way to do this than through…. Live Concerts!  The band creates an atmosphere for those fans that loved Ronnie as much as the band members love Ronnie and gives them a place they can all gather together and share DIO’s majestic music catalog.

The set list tonight includes songs by DIO, Rainbow and Black Sabbath.  This is far more that a tribute band, it is Ronnie himself reincarnated in the music played by his former friends and bandmates.  The atmosphere at San Diego’s Brick by Brick was electrifying as the crowd just stood thru an onslaught of great music by a San Diego based band named Symbolic. Symbolic just released their fifth album titled “5ive” on EMP Label Group and is a must have if you love metal music.  After a short wait the lights went dim and DIO Disciples entered the stage and took their respective positions.  Then immediately the chords of “Holy Diver” pound out of the PA system and the crowd’s fist start pounding and heads start banging to the beat that ensues, and once Ripper starts the vocals you know you are in for a magical evening.  The whole night was a nonstop celebration of Ronnie’s music and nonstop energy from the stage and the crowd.  The musicianship that makes up DIO Disciples is phenomenal and demands your attentiveness and respect.  Craig Goldy is an amazing guitarist and human being, I love everything about the way he handles himself and the way he treats people around him.  The band continued playing songs from Ronnie’s lustrous career including “Stand up and Shout (DIO)”, “Egypt (DIO)”, “Tarot Woman (Rainbow)”, “Last in Line (DIO)”, “Catch the Rainbow (Rainbow)”,  “Stargazer (Rainbow)”, “Falling off the Edge of the World (Black Sabbath)”,  “Long live Rock n Roll (Rainbow)”,  “Man on the Silver Mountain (Rainbow)”, “Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath)”,  “Rainbow in the Dark (DIO)”, and ended the night with “We Rock (DIO).”

After attending this show I can honestly say that Ronnie James DIO is not dead, but is alive and well and lives on in the souls of his fans and in his band-mates.

DIO Disciples:

Tim “Ripper” Owens – Vocals

Simon Wright  – Drums

Craig Goldy – Guitar

Scott Warren – Keys

Bjorn Englen – Bass

DIO Disciples Set List:

1. Holy Diver
2. Stand up and Shout
3. Egypt
4. Tarot Woman
5. Guitar Solo
6. Last in Line
7. Catch the Rainbow
8. Stargazer
9. Falling off the Edge of the World
10. Long Live Rock n Roll
11. Man on the silver Mountain
12. Heaven and hell

Encore:

13. Rainbow in the Dark
14. We Rock

Show: DIO Disciples

Reviewed by Storm@backstage360.com