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Guitarist Vivian Campbell recently reflected on his time with the iconic metal band Dio, revealing how Ronnie James Dio’s past experiences with legends like Ritchie Blackmore and Tony Iommi shaped the band’s structure, sound, and leadership.
“Honestly, it felt like Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow all over again,” Campbell said, pointing out how much Ronnie carried over from his earlier bands. “He had learned so much from being around guys like Blackmore and Iommi. That experience really informed how he ran Dio it was very much his project, his vision.”
Campbell, who was just in his early 20s when he joined Dio, described how Ronnie’s approach came from years of working in bands where strong, commanding leaders set the tone. Having fronted Rainbow and then replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, Ronnie had absorbed how top-tier musicians operated—and brought that same intensity into his own band.
“He knew what it meant to lead,” Campbell said. “You could see how Ritchie’s control over Rainbow had stuck with him. And being around Tony Iommi, whose riffs were the heartbeat of Sabbath, taught Ronnie the value of direction and consistency. He wanted to run Dio with that same kind of focus.”
Although the band achieved major success with classic albums like Holy Diver, Campbell admitted that things weren’t always easy. “It wasn’t a group where everyone had equal input,” he recalled. “Ronnie made the final calls. At the time, I struggled with that because I had so many ideas, and I wanted to be heard. But now I understand why he did it.”
Despite creative tensions that eventually led to his exit, Campbell doesn’t hold any grudges. Looking back, he appreciates the opportunity and the standards Ronnie upheld. “Ronnie had a clear idea of what he wanted. He’d seen how legends did it, and he wasn’t going to settle for anything less,” he said.
Campbell described those early days as a whirlwind touring the world, playing massive stages, and growing as a musician under immense pressure. “It was an incredible experience,” he said. “Demanding, yes. But I learned so much. You had to give your best every night, because that was the environment Ronnie created driven by his time with the best in the business.”
Ultimately, Campbell views his time in Dio as a defining chapter in his career. “Being part of that legacy, knowing Ronnie shaped the band with what he learned from Blackmore and Iommi—it was special,” he said. “Even if we had our differences, I’m proud of what we created.”
