Wendy Dio has confirmed that “some changes” are being made to the Ronnie James Dio hologram before the launch of the next leg of the “Dio Returns” world tour.
In a brand new interview with the “Talking Metal” podcast, Ronnie‘s widow Wendy Dio, who is a member of the Eyellusion team, said that while everyone that saw the European “Dio Returns” tour “has just been amazed” by the performances, a few tweaks and improvements will be made to the hologram before it returns to the road.
“We took the hologram out to Europe to test the waters — basically to see if there was an audience for it,” she said. “Because it’s all new, and there are so many people [saying], ‘Oh, this is just a video,’ or, ‘This is just this,’ so we took it out to see if the fans were there [for it]. And they absolutely were. I mean, there were kids crying to me, saying, ‘Thank you for bringing Ronnie back on stage.’ And it was really an emotional trip. It was great. We saw the fans are definitely there. So that was just kind of a trial run. So we brought it back. There’s new technology happening every day, so we’re making an amazing show, which will go out in 2019, and hopefully here in America also. So we’re working on that very well. We’re making some changes, and we’re bringing it so it’s gonna absolutely amazing. It’s gonna be where Ronnie sings along with two other singers at the same time. And, of course, we take Ronnie‘s band that played with him for the last 17 years. And it’s a great experience. I mean, there’s nothing else like it. There’s other holograms going out, but they’re not rock bands, for a start, and they’re not going out with a band. The band plays live and then they play along with a live track of Ronnie‘s.”
According to Wendy, the people that saw the hologram on the first European leg of the “Dio Returns” tour “think it’s real — it looks really real. Because it’s not a video; it’s a hologram,” she said. “It’s 3D and it’s like he’s just right there on stage with a live band. And really, when you’re looking at it, you can’t tell that it’s not Ronnie back up there again.”
Wendy went on to describe the “Dio Returns” show as “an experience. We have some great stage stuff going on and production and things,” she said. “Everybody that’s seen it has just been amazed and just loved it. The naysayers are always the ones that haven’t seen it. And I say everybody’s entitled to their own opinion, but see it first before you say something about it.”
The production uses audio of Ronnie‘s live performances from throughout his career, with the DIO band playing live, consisting of Craig Goldy on guitar, Simon Wright on drums and Scott Warren on keyboards, along with Bjorn Englen on bass. Also appearing with them are former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim “Ripper” Owens and ex-LYNCH MOB frontman Oni Logan.
