Rainbow in the Dark

Ronnie Dio (1942-2010) was the legendary frontman of three of the best-selling, rock bands in history: Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio.Mick Wall worked as Ronnie's London-based publicity agent after he joined Black Sabbath in 1980. And again, in the mid-90s, when Ronnie was fronting his own band, Dio. Mick also wrote about and interviewed Ronnie extensively as a journalist, TV and radio presenter from 1980 for 30 years. He is the author of Black Sabbath: Symptom of the Universe.

'Remarkable life story . . . this magical metal memoir is a must have for fans of the legend' Hot PressThe long-awaited autobiography by one of heavy metal's most revered icons, treasured vocalists, and front man for three legendary bands-Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Dio.As Ronnie contemplates the achievement of a dream, he reflects on the key aspects that coalesced into this moment - the close gang of friends that gave him his start in music, playing parties, bars, frats, and clubs; the sudden transition that moved him to the microphone and changed his life forever; the luck that led to the birth of Rainbow and a productive but difficult collaboration with Ritchie Blackmore; the chance meeting that made him the second singer of Black Sabbath, taking them to new levels of success; the surprisingly tender story behind the birth of the Devil Horns, the lasting symbol of heavy metal; his marriage to Wendy, which stabilised his life, and the huge bet they placed together to launch the most successful endeavour of his career . . . his own band, Dio. Written with longtime friend of thirty years and esteemed music writer, Mick Wall, who took up the mantle after Ronnie's death, Rainbow in the Dark is a frank, startling, often hilarious, sometimes sad testament to dedication and ambition, filled with moving coming-of-age tales, glorious stories of excess, and candid recollections of what really happened backstage at the hotel, in the studio, and back home behind closed doors far away from the road.