While Bob Geldof was saving the world with Live Aid and charity singles in the mid-80s, the metal community was pretty much left out, until Dio members Vivian Campbell and Jimmy Bain connected with Ronnie James Dio to put together their own charity project.
As Rolling Stone reports, the result was the song "Stars", featuring members of Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, Blue Öyster Cult, and even Spinal Tap. The group – which called itself Hear N' Aid – also enlisted Ted Nugent and Yngwie Malmsteen to record the track and put out an album, "Stars", featuring live cuts by KISS, Rush, Dio and more.
Due to contract differences with the labels, the song and album weren't released until New Year's Day, 1986, well after the success of its predecessors and it has since been largely forgotten.
But Ronnie's widow/manager Wendy Dio wants to fix that.
"I’m going to rerelease ['Stars'] because it only ever came out on vinyl and cassette. So it’ll come out on DVD and CD," she says. "I have loads of outtakes for the video."
In the meantime, Wendy is busy with The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, which is holding its first Awards Gala Tuesday night (Nov 1) at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Awards will be presented to six distinguished honorees for their contributions to spreading awareness of Fund's important work.
She's also planning a bowling benefit January 31st and a guitar auction in April featuring over 100 donated guitars. Next year she wants to begin work on the tribute album, which will include artists ranging from Dave Grohl doing "Mob Rules", to Asia lead singer John Payne, who may tackle "Heaven And Hell". She also tells us it will have to be a double album that will include friends like Halford and Glenn Hughes, as well as younger bands, such as Killswitch, who were influenced by Dio.
Omg, I can't wait for that tribute album. I'll always love the original songs, but I love when my favorite bands cover songs from my other favorite bands.
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