DIO
Live In London: Hammersmith Apollo 1993 – DVD review
Eagle Rock
Dio has been very busy since his sad demise, four years ago this month, And here’s the latest, with a DVD and Blu-Ray release of his Hammy O show in 1993. Last year saw the arrival of “Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986”, just as Dio reached their commercial peak, but 1993 saw him flailing slightly following the collapse of the Black Sabbath reunion.
The “Strange Highways” album and Tracy G version of the band aren’t the most beloved in the history of Dio, but in its favour, at least it wasn’t “Angry Machines”. But, gird yourselves, because this show featured six tracks from “Strange Highways”.
This was probably the loudest and rawest Dio ever got, and the nearest to out and out metal, as Tracy G had a tendency to shred, and the rhythm section of Vinnie Appice and Jeff Pilson amped up to the max. But across 17 songs (and a drum solo), it does show Dio trying to make himself relevant for a new decade. Even though the man himself was already in his fifties, he hadn’t lost any of his power at this point, and acquits himself very well.
As for the classics, well it’s as it was for most of his solo career, with a lot of Black Sabbath and a snatch of Rainbow. So there’s room for ‘Stand Up And Shout’, ‘Don’t Talk To Strangers’, ‘The Mob Rules’, ‘Children Of The Sea’, ‘Holy Diver’, the ‘Heaven And Hell / ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’ / drum solo / back to ‘Heaven And Hell’ bit, ‘The Last In Line’, ‘Rainbow In The Dark’ and ‘We Rock’.
The bonus material has some mini interviews pre-show, with some interesting snippets from the band members, and it’s an entertaining show for fans of the late Ronnie James Dio.
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