# List of Dio members

Dio was an American heavy metal band centred around vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Formed in 1982, the group originally consisted of Dio, guitarist Jake E. Lee (replaced by Vivian Campbell for the first active lineup of the band), bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Vinny Appice. The band's final lineup, active until Dio's death on May 16, 2010, included guitarist Craig Goldy, drummer Simon Wright, keyboardist Scott Warren and bassist Rudy Sarzo.

## History

Dio was formed in October 1982 by vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice following their departure from Black Sabbath. For the first lineup, the pair worked with Rough Cutt guitarist Jake E. Lee and former Wild Horses and Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain for around six weeks, before parting ways with Lee due to stylistic differences. Preferring to work with British musicians, Dio asked Bain for suggestions of a replacement; he recommended Sweet Savage guitarist Vivian Campbell, and Campbell joined the group. Around the release of the band's debut Holy Diver in May 1983, Claude Schnell joined as Dio's first full-time keyboardist. After two more studio albums – The Last in Line and Sacred Heart – as well as live release Intermission, Campbell left the band in March 1986. He was replaced by former Giuffria guitarist Craig Goldy.
Goldy remained for just one new album, Dream Evil, before leaving Dio due to "musical differences" in August 1988. After "hundreds" of submissions from guitarists worldwide, Rowan Robertson was chosen as Goldy's replacement in May 1989. A few months later, Bain and Schnell were replaced by Teddy Cook and Jens Johansson, respectively. In December, Appice also left Dio, with Simon Wright leaving AC/DC to take his place early the next year. The new lineup recorded and released their only album Lock Up the Wolves in 1990. The following January, Dio returned to Black Sabbath.
By November 1992, Dio and Appice had left Black Sabbath for a second time. They reformed Dio and added new guitarist Tracy G and bassist Jeff Pilson early the following year, after initially working with original member Bain. After recording Strange Highways, the group returned to a five-piece with the addition of Scott Warren on keyboards. Pilson remained until the end of the album's tour in late 1994, when he rejoined Dokken, although he contributed to the 1996 release Angry Machines. Larry "Bones" Dennison replaced him for the next tour, which spawned the live release Inferno: Last in Live. In February 1997, Appice was replaced for a run of shows by James Kottak, after being hospitalised for pneumonia. He was also next to leave Dio permanently, when he toured with Black Sabbath from June 1998.
Appice was replaced, again, by Simon Wright. The following year, former members Goldy and Bain also returned. Again, Goldy only lasted one album – 2000's Magica – before he was replaced by Doug Aldrich in January 2002. The new guitarist recorded Killing the Dragon, but by early 2003 had left due to "scheduling conflicts" with his other group Whitesnake. Aldrich was originally set to be replaced by Ratt guitarist Warren DeMartini, however he was replaced within a month by the returning Goldy. Bain also left in early 2004. Pilson returned to perform on Master of the Moon, with former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rudy Sarzo taking over on tour from July. Aldrich would later return to fill in for Goldy on tour in 2005 due to an arm injury, and again in 2009 due to scheduling conflicts with Budgie.
On May 16, 2010, Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer, marking the end of his eponymous band. All four other members went on to form Dio Disciples with former Judas Priest frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens in 2011, while original members Appice, Campbell, Bain and Schnell formed Last in Line with former Lynch Mob vocalist Andrew Freeman in 2012.

## Members
### Official members

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Ronnie James Dio (Ronald James Padavona) | 1982–2010 (until his death) | vocalskeyboardsbass | all releases |
| Vinny Appice | 1982–19891992–1998 | drumspercussion | all Dio releases from Holy Diver (1983) to Dream Evil (1987)Strange Highways (1993 Europe/Japan, 1994 US/Canada)Angry Machines (1996)Inferno: Last in Live (1998) |
| Jimmy Bain | 1982–19891992–19931999–2004 (died 2016) | basskeyboardsguitarbacking vocals | all Dio releases from Holy Diver (1983) to Dream Evil (1987)Magica (2000)Killing the Dragon (2002)Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003) |
| Jake E. Lee | 1982 | guitar | none |
| Vivian Campbell | 1982–1986 | guitar | all Dio releases from Holy Diver (1983) to Intermission (1986)At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) |
| Claude Schnell | 1983–1989 | keyboardspiano | all Dio releases from The Last in Line (1984) to Dream Evil (1987)At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010)Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986 (2013) |
| Craig Goldy | 1986–19881999–20022003–2010 | guitarkeyboardsbass | Intermission (1986)Dream Evil (1987)Magica (2000)Master of the Moon (2004)At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010)Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986 (2013) |
| Rowan Robertson | 1989–1991 | guitar | Lock Up the Wolves (1990) |
| Teddy Cook | 1989–1991 | bassbacking vocals | Lock Up the Wolves (1990) |
| Jens Johansson | 1989–1991 | keyboardspiano | Lock Up the Wolves (1990) |
| Simon Wright | 1990–19911998–2010 | drumspercussion | Lock Up the Wolves (1990) |
| Tracy G (Tracy Grijalva) | 1993–1999 | guitar | Strange Highways (1993 Europe/Japan, 1994 US/Canada)Angry Machines (1996)Inferno: Last in Live (1998)Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993 (2014) |
| Jeff Pilson | 1993–19941996 (session)1997 (touring)2004 (session) | basskeyboardsguitarbacking vocals | Strange Highways (1993 Europe/Japan, 1994 US/Canada)Angry Machines (1996)Master of the Moon (2004) Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993 (2014) |
| Scott Warren | 1993–2010 | keyboardspiano | Angry Machines (1996)Inferno: Last in Live (1998)Killing the Dragon (2002) – "Before the Fall" onlyEvil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003)Master of the Moon (2004)Holy Diver – Live (2006) |
| Jerry Best | 1995–1996 | bass | none |
| Larry "Bones" Dennison | 1996–1999 | bass | Inferno: Last in Live (1998) |
| Chuck Garric | 1999–2000 | bass | none |
| Doug Aldrich | 2002–20032005 (touring)2009 (touring) | guitar | Killing the Dragon (2002)Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003)Holy Diver – Live (2006) |
| Warren DeMartini | 2003 | guitar | none |
| Rudy Sarzo | 2004–2010 | bass | Holy Diver – Live (2006) |

### Live substitutes

| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Details |
| | James Kottak | 1997 (died 2024) | drums | Kottak filled in for Vinny Appice during a tour in February 1997, when he was hospitalised for pneumonia. |
| | Bob Daisley | 1998 | bass | After Larry Dennison had to leave a tour early, Daisley took over for Scandinavian shows in late 1998. |

## Lineups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| October – November 1982 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Jake E. Lee – guitar Jimmy Bain - bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion | none |
| November 1982 – May 1983 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Vivian Campbell – guitar Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion | Holy Diver (1983) |
| May 1983 – March 1986 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Vivian Campbell – guitar Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Claude Schnell – keyboards, piano | The Last in Line (1984) Sacred Heart (1985) Intermission (1986) – live tracks At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) |
| March 1986 – August 1988 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Craig Goldy – guitar Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Claude Schnell – keyboards, piano | Intermission (1986) – studio track Dream Evil (1987) At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 (2010) Finding the Sacred Heart: Live in Philly 1986 (2013) |
| May – September 1989 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Rowan Robertson – guitar Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Claude Schnell – keyboards, piano | none |
| September – December 1989 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Rowan Robertson – guitar Teddy Cook – bass, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Jens Johansson – keyboards, piano | none |
| January 1990 – January 1991 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Rowan Robertson – guitar Teddy Cook – bass, backing vocals Simon Wright – drums, percussion Jens Johansson – keyboards, piano | Lock Up the Wolves (1990) |
| Band inactive January 1991 – November 1992 |||
| November 1992 – March 1993 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Jimmy Bain – bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion | none |
| March – summer 1993 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion | none |
| Summer – November 1993 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Tracy G – guitar Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion | Strange Highways (1993) |
| November 1993 – October 1994 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Tracy G – guitar Jeff Pilson – bass, backing vocals Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993 (2014) |
| August 1995 – May 1996 | Ronnie James Dio – vocals Tracy G – guitar Jerry Best – bass Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | none |
| May – summer 1996 | Ronnie James Dio – vocals, bass Tracy G – guitar Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano Jeff Pilson – bass (session) | Angry Machines (1996) |
| November 1996 – May 1998 | Ronnie James Dio – vocals Tracy G – guitar Larry Dennison – bass Vinny Appice – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | Inferno: Last in Live (1998) |
| May 1998 – June 1999 | Ronnie James Dio – vocals Tracy G – guitar Larry Dennison – bass Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | none |
| June – September 1999 | Ronnie James Dio – vocals Craig Goldy – guitar Larry Dennison – bass Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | none |
| September 1999 – January 2002 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards Craig Goldy – guitar, keyboards Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | Magica (2000) |
| January 2002 – April 2003 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Doug Aldrich – guitar Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | Killing the Dragon (2002) Evil or Divine – Live in New York City (2003) |
| April – May 2003 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Warren DeMartini – guitar Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | none |
| May 2003 – March 2004 | Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals Craig Goldy – guitar Jimmy Bain – bass, backing vocals Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | none |
| March – July 2004 | Ronnie James Dio – vocals, bass Craig Goldy – guitar, bass, keyboards Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano Jeff Pilson – bass (session) | Master of the Moon (2004) |
| July 2004 – May 2010 | Ronnie James Dio – vocals Craig Goldy – guitar Rudy Sarzo – bass Simon Wright – drums, percussion Scott Warren – keyboards, piano | Holy Diver – Live (2006) (with touring substitute Doug Aldrich) |