We’re 5 days into the new year and I can’t help myself but reflect the past year. 2010 brought us a lot of good music and a lot of sad news. Legends died, other legends released new music. The circle of life, sometimes it’s bittersweet.
Make the jump to see what I make of the last year.
RJD at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards
The main news of 2010 was the passing of Ronnie James Dio. Arguably the greatest, but definitely one of the greatest metal singers of all time. Dio lost his battle against stomach cancer on May 16.
In retrospect, it was surreal seeing the little man do so good at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, just a little over a month before, where he won the award for Best Vocalist. I mean, you could see he was ill but he was optimistic.
In an interview at the awards, Dio said “I think I’ve done all the right things and it makes me feel positive about my life and positive that there’s a lot more of it to live.”
As sad as his passing made me feel, I’ve got to express my deep respect for his career, that lasted unbelieveable 53 years. He has had worldwide success and critical acclaim with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. I can’t think of any metal musician, or musician in general, who had a career like this.
His voice was a gift, a gift that he gave to his fans in the form of his music, that will live on forever. We will miss you, but thank you for all that you’ve done for music, Ronnie.
Besides Ronnie James Dio, we also lost other big names in the industrie. Peter Steele, the charismatic frontman of Type O Negative, died on April 14. Steele was just 48 years old at the time of his death.
Years of substance and alcohol abuse finally caught up on him, even though he enjoyed a long period of sobriety before his death. It just goes to show you that downward spiral of drugs can take you down any time, even if you’ve finally got your head straight.
Another victim of his own demons was Paul Gray, bassist of Slipknot. Gray was 38 years old and his wife Brenna was pregnant at the time of his death.
You might think 2010 sure was a tough year to be a metalhead, and you’re right about that, but let’s not forget that we lost just as many legends the years before and let’s not kid ourselves, it will happen in 2011 and the following years aswell. Musicians, who are on the road for most of the year, will go to alcohol and drugs just like before. The irony is that nobody seems to learn from these mistakes.
Most musicians might think “This won’t happen to me” but it can and it does way too often.
Iron Maiden released their new album 'Final Frontier' in 2010
In 2010, we lost one of the biggest legends in metal and other legends, Iron Maiden, released a new album. Other big names, like Fear Factory, took back the throne of Industrial Metal.
That’s just the way it goes. The circle of life, the circle of metal, goes on and it’s good that way. If it wasn’t for the music, what else would we have in metal? As much as metalheads would like you to believe that metal is a “way of life”, without the music we wouldn’t have much left.
This music makes you, makes me feel good and leaves positive thoughts and moments. We have to cherrish what we have and what’s about to come. If and when we lose beloved musicians, take your time to grief but don’t write metal off. It will get back stronger than ever. Stronger than all.
2010 was just another year, a meaningless number, but the thoughts we had will stay with us forever. Be it the good ones or the bad ones.
