RONNIE JAMES DIO's Autobiography Pushed Back To 2013

Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" conducted an interview with Ronnie James Dio's widow and manager, Wendy Dio, at a massive gathering on December 14 at the Key Club in Hollywood, California to help celebrate the life and music of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) as part of this year's Dimebash. You can now watch the chat below.

All proceeds from the concert went to Wendy Dio's charity Stand Up And Shout, which raises money for cancer research; her husband died of stomach cancer in May 2010.

When asked about what events are planned for 2012 in connection with the Stand Up And Shout charity, Wendy said, "We have a bowling event, which is gonna be going on on May 16, which is the day Ronnie passed away. Celebrity bowlers. Can't tell you names yet. But it's gonna be fun. Bands playing, celebrity bowlers and an inexpensive ticket for fans to come to. Then we have our annual gala, which we did last year at the Playboy Mansion, which is fabulous. It was our first annual thing. It was great; we had a great time. And we're also doing our auction. We have over 100 guitars. It's gona be a huge event. I wanna raise $10 million [for charity]."

Wendy was also asked about the status of "Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography Of Ronnie James Dio", the revealing memoir of the heavy metal master, which was three-quarters written before the singer's death and which will be published in the fall of 2013 via MTV Books.

"I have to deliver it by January 15," she said. "I'm writing the last few pages. I'm finding all the photos to go with it. I deliver it January 15 so it comes out a year and a half later."

On the topic of whether there is any previously unreleased BLACK SABBATH material with Ronnie available that will eventually see the light of day, Wendy said, "Yes. But that's another story, because there are three managers involved. And we have to discuss that, but I'm sure everybody's gonna be great, especially if we give it to the charity."

With nearly five decades of worldwide success and album sales in the tens of millions as the front man of ELF, RAINBOW, DIO, BLACK SABBATH, and, most recently, HEAVEN & HELL, Ronnie James Dio grabbed the mic, took the stage, and led a movement whose influence resonates to this day.

"Ronnie was a very special person," Wendy said. "Not only was he an amazing vocalist, amazing songwriter, he was an amazing person as a human being. He loved people. He loved his fans. He listened when people spoke. A lot of times people don't listen. He listened. He remembered people's names. He remembered their children's names. He was just a very, very special person. He was taken too soon from us. . . I don't think anyone's ever said a bad word about Ronnie except for [former DIO and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist] Vivian Campbell. [Laughs]"