Dio at Carling Academy (2005)

Carling Academy (Glasgow, UK)

Dio

In a Metal scene so full of fake, insincere, manufactured, style-over-substance garbage, it is refreshing […]

By Chris D.

• October 14, 2005

In a Metal scene so full of fake, insincere, manufactured, style-over-substance garbage, it is refreshing to see that there are still a select few stalwarts who remain capable (and willing) to fly the flag. For those of us who still believe in the values which made the genre so great in the first place, Ronnie James Dio is an institution, a legend among men.

At the age of 63, Dio could be forgiven for deciding to retire and put his feet up, leaving us less worthy minions to pick up the pieces. Yet here we are, witnessing another master-class in his long and illustrious career. The tour was billed as "An Evening With Dio", due to its nostalgic vibe, which included the monumental "Holy Diver" album in its entirety and a generous selection of Rainbow and Black Sabbath classics.

From the first notes of the Rainbow classic "Tarot Woman", it's clear there is no stopping this band, not even the fact that guitarist Doug Aldritch had to step in at very short notice for the remainder of the tour, due to Craig Goldy's withdrawal. After blasting through 2 more classics, it was on to the showcase of the night: The "Holy Diver" album in its entirety! There is nothing I can say in praise of this all-time classic which hasn't been said before, so it will suffice to say that the spectacle I witnessed was nothing short of legendary!

While some may bemoan the fact that setlist regulars such as "Stargazer" (a favourite of mine) and "Egypt (The Chains Are On)" were not present, as well as the fact that there was nothing post-1984, you need only take one look at what WAS included, to know that this was one hell of an occasion. On a night like this, searching for weak points is like searching for a virgin in a brothel. Indeed, the ecstatic audience reaction inside this fine auditorium, complete with balcony, said it all. The venue was packed to the rafters with old and new fans alike, none of whom leave disappointed.

So now we come to the end of another chapter in RJD's career. Where he goes from here, or how long he can keep this up, is anyone's guess. But the fact remains that there is no better frontman in Rock, from ANY era. The best thing about this particular tour is that it is about to be immortalised in a forthcoming DVD, to be released sometime next year. As the great man himself so proudly proclaims: "Long Live Rock N' Roll"!!

Setlist:

01. Tarot Woman
02. The Sign Of The Southern Cross (edit)
03. One Night In The City
04. Stand Up And Shout
05. Holy Diver
06. Gypsy
07. Drum Solo
08. Caught In The Middle
09. Don't Talk To Strangers
10. Straight Through The Heart
11. Invisible
12. Rainbow In The Dark
13. Shame On The Night
14. Holy Diver (reprise)
15. Guitar_keyboard solos
16. Heaven & Hell