Heaven and Hell, featuring Black Sabbath founding members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler as well as drummer Vinny Appice, will before a tribute show for the late Ronnie James Dio.
The show will take place in London at the High Voltage Festival on July 24, 2010. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple/Black Sabbath) and Jorne Lande (Masterplan) will cover vocals.Dio died on May 16 after a short battle with cancer. "It's going to be a very emotional occasion," Geezer Butler said in a statement. "Ronnie loved his fans like no-one else I know - and they loved him. It will be a privilege doing a gig in honour of his memory, and to help towards his charity. Above all, I hope it encourages people to have regular check-ups for this disease. Early detection is vital, and greatly improves the chance of a cure. I know everyone has heard that a million times before, but seeing one of your best friends die because we all think we're immune from this disease, really brings it home. Do it for yourself, your family, your friends. Ronnie would be proud of you."
"Ronnie's passing has left a huge hole, we hadn't anywhere near finished what we set out to do as a band together. He was so looking forward to the European tour and we hope this appearance will go some way to fulfilling that," Tony Iommi said.
Proceeds from the tribute show will aid the Ronnie James Dio 'Stand Up and Shout' Cancer Fund. The fund is committed to the early detection and prevention of cancer through facilitating access to medical screening and medical educational programs.
The fund supports programs designed to integrate medical knowledge into local communities such as cancer screening programs, education on nutrition in cancer prevention, exercise and overall wellness.
