According to Wendy Dio a remix of the DIO album “The Last In LIne” is in the works for a release sometime next year
During a new appearance on the “Seize The Moment” podcast, Ronnie James Dio‘s widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio spoke about her efforts to keep the legacy of her late husband alive. Regarding what new Dio-related releases are in the works, Wendy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): ”[The ‘Dio: Dreamers Never Die‘ DVD and Blu-ray] comes out on [September] 22nd. [The release date has now been updated to September 29.] I’m very excited about that because the [career-spanning Ronnie James Dio documentary] came out.
We premiered in L.A., we premiered in London, and it was in theaters all over the world, but only for a couple of days. And then it went to Showtime; it’s on Showtime, so the Americans can actually watch it, but no one else in the world can see it. So now that this is coming out worldwide on Blu-ray and on DVD, the rest of world is gonna get to see it, and you know Ronnie‘s got a lot of fans all over the world and I’m really, really happy about that.”
She continued: “What else do I got coming up? On the 22nd of September, we have on BMG, Ronnie’s last four albums that he made [with DIO], it’s coming out on vinyl in all different colors and it’s a really lovely, lovely package. Rhino is working on, I think, [DIO‘s] ‘The Last In Line‘ [album] next year, doing a remix with somebody; I don’t know who yet.
We did one, ‘Holy Diver‘, [last] year with Joe Barresi, and it was a remix and it was bringing the songs up to modern sound. And I think Joe did a fantastic job. So we’re looking at that. I’m with Ronnie‘s engineer, Wyn Davis. We’re in the vault looking and we’re finding all kinds of gems. But I don’t wanna flood the market. I like to put things out just like Ronnie would want, here and there, and just pick out gems. I think that there’s some unreleased material we found. There’s a lot of stuff going on.”
Wendy added: “I will continue. Then the fans have more and more things of Ronnie’s because I wanna keep his music and his memory alive for as long as I live. And then my daughter will carry on.”
In July 2022, the iconic debut album by DIO, “Holy Diver,” received a well-deserved reissue under the title “Holy Diver: Super Deluxe Edition” via Rhino Records. This four-CD boxed set brings fans a comprehensive musical experience. It includes two versions of the classic “Holy Diver” album. The first is a fresh mix of the album crafted by the renowned Joe Barresi (known for his work with TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, SLIPKNOT), who meticulously remixed all nine tracks using the original analog tapes. The second version offers a newly remastered rendition of the original 1983 mix.
In addition to these exciting album editions, the Super Deluxe Edition also treats listeners to unreleased live performances, rare outtakes, and a selection of treasures from that era.
After the resounding success of “Holy Diver,” Ronnie James Dio wisely stuck to the winning formula when he delivered the follow-up masterpiece, “The Last In Line.” This 1984 release is brimming with heavy, hard-hitting tracks that seamlessly blend the band’s signature fantasy-inspired lyrics, electrifying guitar solos, and, of course, the unmistakable, powerful vocals of Ronnie James Dio himself. Notably, “The Last In Line” became DIO‘s first album to achieve platinum certification. The album lineup mirrors that of “Holy Diver,” featuring Dio, Vivian Campbell, Jimmy Bain, Vinny Appice, and the addition of keyboardist Claude Schnell.
On the very same day as the release of Barresi‘s fresh mix of “Holy Diver,” fans had the opportunity to acquire a special two-LP set pressed on high-quality 180-gram vinyl, priced at $34.98. This vinyl edition boasts the original nine tracks from the album, along with a coveted bonus: the 1983 B-side version of “Evil Eyes.” To add an extra touch of allure, side four of the vinyl features an intricate etching showcasing the iconic demon Murry, a nod to the album’s legendary cover art.
The vinyl is elegantly housed within a gatefold sleeve, which proudly displays newly commissioned artwork created by the longstanding DIO artist, Marc Sasso. This same striking artwork graces the cover of the four-CD Super Deluxe Edition, providing a visually captivating experience for fans across different formats.