List of Dio members

Dio was an American heavy metal band centred around vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Formed in 1982, the group originally consisted of Dio, guitarist Jake E. Lee (replaced by Vivian Campbell for the first active lineup of the band), bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Vinny Appice. The band's final lineup, active until Dio's death on May 16, 2010, included guitarist Craig Goldy, drummer Simon Wright, keyboardist Scott Warren and bassist Rudy Sarzo.

The final lineup of Dio, from left to right: Rudy Sarzo, Craig Goldy, Ronnie James Dio, Scott Warren and Simon Wright.

History

Dio was formed in October 1982 by vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice following their departure from Black Sabbath.^[1] For the first lineup, the pair worked with Rough Cutt guitarist Jake E. Lee and former Wild Horses and Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain for around six weeks, before parting ways with Lee due to stylistic differences.^[2] Preferring to work with British musicians, Dio asked Bain for suggestions of a replacement; he recommended Sweet Savage guitarist Vivian Campbell, and Campbell joined the group.^[3] Around the release of the band's debut Holy Diver in May 1983, Claude Schnell joined as Dio's first full-time keyboardist.^[4] After two more studio albums – The Last in Line and Sacred Heart – as well as live release Intermission, Campbell left the band in March 1986.^[5] He was replaced by former Giuffria guitarist Craig Goldy.^[6]

Goldy remained for just one new album, Dream Evil, before leaving Dio due to "musical differences" in August 1988.^[7] After "hundreds" of submissions from guitarists worldwide, Rowan Robertson was chosen as Goldy's replacement in May 1989.^[8] A few months later, Bain and Schnell were replaced by Teddy Cook and Jens Johansson, respectively.^[9] In December, Appice also left Dio,^[10] with Simon Wright leaving AC/DC to take his place early the next year.^[11] The new lineup recorded and released their only album Lock Up the Wolves in 1990.^[12] The following January, Dio returned to Black Sabbath.^[13]

By November 1992, Dio and Appice had left Black Sabbath for a second time.^[14] They reformed Dio and added new guitarist Tracy G and bassist Jeff Pilson early the following year, after initially working with original member Bain.^[15] After recording Strange Highways, the group returned to a five-piece with the addition of Scott Warren on keyboards.^[16] Pilson remained until the end of the album's tour in late 1994, when he rejoined Dokken, although he contributed to the 1996 release Angry Machines.^[15] Larry "Bones" Dennison replaced him for the next tour, which spawned the live release Inferno: Last in Live.^[17] In February 1997, Appice was replaced for a run of shows by James Kottak, after being hospitalised for pneumonia.^[18] He was also next to leave Dio permanently, when he toured with Black Sabbath from June 1998.^[19]

Appice was replaced, again, by Simon Wright.^[20] The following year, former members Goldy and Bain also returned.^[21][22] Again, Goldy only lasted one album – 2000's Magica – before he was replaced by Doug Aldrich in January 2002.^[23] The new guitarist recorded Killing the Dragon, but by early 2003 had left due to "scheduling conflicts" with his other group Whitesnake.^[24] Aldrich was originally set to be replaced by Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini,^[25] however he was replaced within a month by the returning Goldy.^[26] Bain also left in early 2004.^[27] Pilson returned to perform on Master of the Moon, with former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rudy Sarzo taking over on tour from July.^[28] Aldrich would later return to fill in for Goldy on tour in 2005 due to an arm injury,^[29] and again in 2009 due to scheduling conflicts with Budgie.^[30]

On May 16, 2010, Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer, marking the end of his eponymous band.^[31] All four other members went on to form Dio Disciples with former Judas Priest frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens in 2011,^[32] while original members Appice, Campbell, Bain and Schnell formed Last in Line with former Lynch Mob vocalist Andrew Freeman in 2012.^[33]

Members

Official members

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Ronnie James Dio (Ronald James Padavona)	1982–2010 (until his death)	vocals keyboards bass	all releases
	Vinny Appice	1982–1989 1992–1998	drums percussion	all Dio releases from Holy Diver (1983) to Dream Evil (1987) Strange Highways (1993 Europe/Japan, 1994 US/Canada) Angry Machines (1996) Inferno: Last in Live (1998)
	Jimmy Bain	1982–1989 1992–1993 1999–2004 (died 2016)	bass keyboards guitar backing vocals	all Dio releases from Holy Diver (1983) to Dream Evil (1987) Magica (2000) Killing the Dragon (2002) Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003)
	Jake E. Lee	1982	guitar	none
	Vivian Campbell	1982–1986		all Dio releases from Holy Diver (1983) to Intermission (1986) At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010)
	Claude Schnell	1983–1989	keyboards piano	all Dio releases from The Last in Line (1984) to Dream Evil (1987) At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986 (2013)
	Craig Goldy	1986–1988 1999–2002 2003–2010	guitar keyboards bass	Intermission (1986) Dream Evil (1987) Magica (2000) Master of the Moon (2004) At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986 (2013)
	Rowan Robertson	1989–1991	guitar	Lock Up the Wolves (1990)
	Teddy Cook		bass backing vocals
	Jens Johansson		keyboards piano
	Simon Wright	1990–1991 1998–2010	drums percussion	Lock Up the Wolves (1990) Magica (2000) Master of the Moon (2004) Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003) Master of the Moon (2004) Holy Diver – Live (2006)
	Tracy G (Tracy Grijalva)	1993–1999	guitar	Strange Highways (1993 Europe/Japan, 1994 US/Canada) Angry Machines (1996) Inferno: Last in Live (1998) Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993 (2014)
	Jeff Pilson	1993–1994 1996–1997 2004 (session)	bass keyboards guitar backing vocals	Strange Highways (1993 Europe/Japan, 1994 US/Canada) Angry Machines (1996) Master of the Moon (2004) Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993 (2014)
	Scott Warren	1993–2010	keyboards piano	Angry Machines (1996) Inferno: Last in Live (1998) Killing the Dragon (2002) – "Before the Fall" only Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003) Master of the Moon (2004) Holy Diver – Live (2006)
	Jerry Best	1995–1996	bass	none
	Larry "Bones" Dennison	1996–1999		Inferno: Last in Live (1998)
	Chuck Garric	1999–2000[34]		none
	Doug Aldrich	2002–2003 2005 (touring) 2009 (touring)	guitar	Killing the Dragon (2002) Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003) Holy Diver – Live (2006)
	Warren DeMartini	2003		none
	Rudy Sarzo	2004–2010	bass	Holy Diver – Live (2006)

Live substitutes

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Details
	James Kottak	1997 (died 2024)	drums	Kottak filled in for Vinny Appice during a tour in February 1997, when he was hospitalised for pneumonia.[18]
	Bob Daisley	1998	bass	After Larry Dennison had to leave a tour early, Daisley took over for Scandinavian shows in late 1998.[35]

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
October – November 1982	Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Jake E. Lee – guitar	none
November 1982 – May 1983	Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vivian Campbell – guitar	Holy Diver (1983)
May 1983 – March 1986	Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Vivian Campbell – guitar Claude Schnell – keyboards	The Last in Line (1984) Sacred Heart (1985) Intermission (1986) – live tracks At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010)
March 1986 – August 1988	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Claude Schnell – keyboards Craig Goldy – guitar	Intermission (1986) – studio track Dream Evil (1987) At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986 (2013)
May – September 1989	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Claude Schnell – keyboards Rowan Robertson – guitar	none
September – December 1989	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Rowan Robertson – guitar Teddy Cook – bass, backing vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards
January 1990 – January 1991	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Rowan Robertson – guitar Teddy Cook – bass, backing vocals Jens Johansson – keyboards Simon Wright – drums	Lock Up the Wolves (1990)
Band inactive January 1991 – November 1992
November 1992 – March 1993	Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals	none
March – summer 1993	Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Vinny Appice – drums Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Summer – November 1993	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Tracy G – guitar	Strange Highways (1993)
November 1993 – October 1994	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Jeff Pilson – bass, backing vocals Tracy G – guitar Scott Warren – keyboards (session/touring)	Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993 (2014)
August 1995 – May 1996	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Tracy G – guitar Scott Warren – keyboards (session/touring) Jerry Best – bass	none
May – summer 1996	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Tracy G – guitar Scott Warren – keyboards (session/touring) Jeff Pilson – bass	Angry Machines (1996)
November 1996 – May 1998	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Vinny Appice – drums Tracy G – guitar Scott Warren – keyboards (session/touring) Larry Dennison – bass	Inferno: Last in Live (1998)
May 1998 – June 1999	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Tracy G – guitar Scott Warren – keyboards (session/touring) Larry Dennison – bass Simon Wright – drums	none
June – September 1999	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Scott Warren – keyboards (session/touring) Larry Dennison – bass Simon Wright – drums Craig Goldy – guitar
September 1999 – January 2002	Ronnie James Dio – vocals, keyboards Scott Warren – keyboards (session/touring) Simon Wright – drums Craig Goldy – guitar, keyboards Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals	Magica (2000)
January 2002 – April 2003	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Simon Wright – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Doug Aldrich – guitar	Killing the Dragon (2002) Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003)
April – May 2003	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Simon Wright – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Warren DeMartini – guitar	none
May 2003 – March 2004	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Simon Wright – drums Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Craig Goldy – guitar
March – July 2004	Ronnie James Dio – vocals, bass Scott Warren – keyboards Simon Wright – drums Craig Goldy – guitar, bass, keyboards Jeff Pilson – bass (session)	Master of the Moon (2004)
July 2004 – May 2010	Ronnie James Dio – vocals Scott Warren – keyboards Simon Wright – drums Craig Goldy – guitar Rudy Sarzo – bass	Holy Diver – Live (2006) (with touring substitute Doug Aldrich)