The final, powerful chapter of Ronnie James Dio's legendary collaboration with BLACK SABBATH members is being immortalized! Get ready to relive the magic as Rhino announces the release of "Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007-2009," a comprehensive collection celebrating the unexpected and triumphant return of these metal titans under the banner of HEAVEN & HELL. This isn't just a rehash; it's a deep dive into a period that saw the band, featuring the iconic Ronnie James Dio alongside Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice, reclaim their legendary status decades after their initial groundbreaking work.
But here's where it gets exciting for collectors and fans: "Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007-2009" is set to drop on March 27th in two lavish formats: a 7LP vinyl box set and a 4CD/Blu-ray box set. Both editions are packed with goodies, including a beautifully illustrated book featuring new liner notes by Hugh Gilmour, a replica tour book, and a poster to adorn your walls. Imagine holding a piece of metal history in your hands!
And this is the part most people miss: This collection marks a significant milestone as it presents the complete "Live From Radio City Music Hall" performance on vinyl for the very first time. Plus, eight tracks are making their vinyl debut, including beloved studio recordings from "The Dio Years" and select electrifying live performances. The Blu-ray disc takes it even further, offering video footage from "Live From Radio City Music Hall" and "Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell - Live At Wacken," alongside insightful band interviews. To give you a taste, an HD-upscaled video of "Bible Black" is available right now – a powerful preview of what's to come!
The "Breaking Out Of Heaven 2007-2009" set chronicles the band's incredible reunion journey. It kicks off with their unforgettable 2007 New York performance, "Live From Radio City Music Hall," followed by the critically acclaimed and Top 10 studio album "The Devil You Know" in 2009. The live album "Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell - Live at Wacken," recorded later that year during their extensive tour in Germany, perfectly caps off this era.
The 4CD track listing is a metalhead's dream:
Disc One: The Devil You Know
- Atom And Evil
- Fear
- Bible Black
- Double The Pain
- Rock And Roll Angel
- The Turn Of The Screw
- Eating The Cannibals
- Follow The Tears
- Neverwhere
- Breaking Into Heaven
Bonus tracks from The Dio Years: The Devil Cried, Shadow Of The Wind, Ear In The Wall
Disc Two & Three: Live From Radio City Music Hall
- E5150 / After All (The Dead)
- The Mob Rules
- Children Of The Sea
- Lady Evil
- I
- The Sign Of The Southern Cross
- Voodoo
- The Devil Cried
- Computer God
- Falling Off the Edge Of The World
- Shadow Of The Wind
- Die Young
- Heaven And Hell
- Lonely Is the Word
- Neon Knights
Disc Four: Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell
- Mob Rules
- Children Of The Sea
- I
- Bible Black
- Time Machine
- Fear
- Falling Off The Edge Of The World
- Follow The Tears
- Die Young
- Heaven And Hell
- Neon Knights
For the vinyl aficionados, the 7LP track listing is equally epic, meticulously laid out across seven discs, including the full "The Devil You Know" album, the complete "Live from Radio City Music Hall" set, and the "Neon Nights" live performance. This is an unparalleled opportunity to own these monumental recordings in their purest analog form.
The Blu-ray content is a treasure trove for visual enthusiasts:
- Live from Radio City Music Hall: Featuring the main performance along with extras like "Heaven And Hell Road Movie," "Hail The Gods Of Metal," "Meet The Mob," "Radio City," and "The Wisdom Of Dio."
- Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell: Includes "30th-Anniversary Interviews" with Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, Vinny Appice, and Tony Iommi, plus a "Ronnie James Dio Tribute (2010)" featuring Iommi, Appice, and Butler.
It's a well-known fact that Ronnie James Dio first stepped in for Ozzy Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH back in 1980, leaving an indelible mark on albums like "Heaven And Hell" and "Mob Rules." After a hiatus, he reunited with the band for "Dehumanizer" and then, crucially, under the HEAVEN & HELL moniker in 2006. This reunion culminated in the release of "The Devil You Know" in 2009, a testament to their enduring chemistry.
Tragically, Ronnie James Dio passed away on May 16, 2010, at the age of 67, after a battle with stomach cancer. He was universally recognized as one of heavy metal's most influential and gifted vocalists. His final public appearance was at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles in April 2010, a poignant moment before his diagnosis in late 2009.
But what if this reunion had continued? Tony Iommi himself shared in September 2022 how he and Ronnie were planning more music. He recalled a conversation in Japan where Dio enthusiastically agreed to do "another album, another tour." Iommi expressed his deep sadness that Ronnie didn't get to fulfill those plans, emphasizing how well they were working together and how much they enjoyed each other's company. He stated, "It was going so well and we had a great time being together. We loved working together. I loved working with Ronnie."
This sentiment of deep connection and enjoyment was echoed by Iommi in an April 2021 interview, where he described the last tour with Ronnie as "real precious" and that "everybody was close." He highlighted Ronnie's remarkable ability to connect with people, often having fans in his dressing room before shows without any vocal warm-up, yet still delivering a flawless performance. "It was just amazing, really, how he could do that," Iommi marveled. He also spoke of Dio's caring nature, even recalling phone calls from the hospital shortly before his passing.
Here's a point that might spark some debate: While the "The Devil You Know" album debuted at No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart in May 2009, selling 30,000 copies in its first week, some might argue that this period, despite its critical acclaim, didn't reach the same commercial heights as some of BLACK SABBATH's earlier works with different vocalists. Do you think the HEAVEN & HELL project was as commercially successful as it deserved to be, or was its true value more in the artistic reunion and the legacy it preserved? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
This collection is more than just music; it's a tribute to a legendary voice and a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of heavy metal. What are your favorite memories or songs from the HEAVEN & HELL era? Share them with us!
