Dio/Aichi, Japan 1997

From the 1997 Japan tour that Ronnie James Dio led DIO conducted for the first time in 10 years since “JAPAN AID” in 1987, the Nagoya Bottom Line performance on May 8th will be the first to appear in the highest quality. Released with audience recording! DIO’s second album, “ANGRY MACHINES,” featuring Tracy G, reflects the era when traditional heavy metal/hard rock was losing popularity and louder sounds became popular, and it has a more contemporary feel than its previous album, “STRANGE HIGHWAYS.” The heavy rock route was carried through. If you listen closely, you’ll find some interesting discoveries here and there, such as Tracy’s guitar with brutal distortion and Ronnie’s vocals, which are as furious as ever even during the BLACK SABBATH era. It was difficult to bridge the gap between fans and their fans, and the album’s reputation and sales struggled. The world tour that began in November 1996 included a large number of shows in the United States, but the European tour was shorter and the venue size was smaller than the previous one. Although the situation was a headwind for DIO, they were able to hold their first Japan tour in a while, consisting of 4 performances from May 7th to 11th. In this work, the second day of the performance in Nagoya is recorded directly from the original master, which is not even available among traders! The closeness of the stage and audience, the combination of the performance and the excitement create a superb atmosphere that is unique to a live house right from the opening. The opening of the show, where the tension and anticipation that increased in the intro play with “Jesus, Mary, And The Holy Ghost”, which has a unique groove, has an interestingness unique to this period. The following “Straight Through The Heart” approaches Tracy’s guitar and Ronnie’s singing with a heavy interpretation different from the ’80s, and it also gives you a wonderful atmosphere. Although the acoustics are heavy, the sound does not get crushed, and the performance captured with a wide range, clear visibility, and the best sense of separation is a masterpiece. Even if you listen to it from the opening to the end, the listener will not feel any stress. Larry Dennison’s bass line can be clearly heard in the first three consecutive songs “Straight Through The Heart”, “Don’t Talk To Strangers”, and “Holy Diver” at the beginning, and the sound is like a mix of line sound sources. It’s a perfect listen! Tracy’s approach to playing sets her apart from her predecessors such as Vivian Campbell and Craig Goldie, but this is the only time Tracy’s era stands out on DIO classics like “Stand Up And Shout” and “The Last In Line.” It gives off a unique appearance. However, the basic setlist, its contents, and Ronnie’s performance are as good as those in the 1980s, and SABBATH numbers such as “Heaven And Hell” and “Mob Rules” are more like Tracy’s playing than Vivian. Sounds a better match than Craig. “Double Monday” and “Hunter Of The Heart” are included in the set from “ANGRY MACHINES”, but these don’t feel as bland as the album. Rather, it seems that the lively performances of Ronnie and Vinnie Appice, and the positive attitude of the audience, enhance the appeal of the song from the bottom up. The highlight of this ’97 live is “Mistreated,” which DIO only played on this tour. Here, Tracy’s sticky play portrays a crazy passion and asserts a presence that rivals Ronnie’s singing. “Catch The Rainbow” included in the middle of the album also has an excellent arrangement that gives you a sense of shadow, making it a highlight that everyone cannot miss. In the second half of the live, Ronnie’s classic numbers such as “Rainbow In The Dark”, “Man On The Silver Mountain” (of course “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” is also featured), and “We Rock” are repeated, making the live the best. We conclude with a peak. The approximately 100-minute live performance is enough volume on its own, but the wonderful sound quality and performance will captivate the listener and make you want to hear more of their live performance. In addition to the unfavorable reviews for “ANGRY MACHINES,” there is also the official live performance “DIO’S INFERNO,” so there has been a lack of variety of live recordings from 1997, especially the recordings from the performance in Japan (for the first time in 10 years). Even though it was a visit to Japan!) The items that appeared were limited. This sound source will be the highest quality audience source even at the same time, and will be an item that will bring a re-evaluation of the unfortunate ’97 live. Live at Bottom Line, Nagoya, Japan 8th May 1997 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1 1. Opening 2. Jesus, Mary, And The Holy Ghost 3. Straight Through The Heart 4. Don’t Talk To Strangers 5. Holy Diver 6. Drums Solo 7. Heaven And Hell 8. Double Monday 9. Stand Up And Shout 10. Hunter Of The Heart Disc 2 1. Mistreated (incl. Catch The Rainbow) 2. Guitar Solo 3. Mistreated (reprise ) 4. The Last In Line 5. Rainbow In The Dark 6. Mob Rules 7. Man On The Silver Mountain 8. We Rock Ronnie James Dio – Vocals Tracy G – Guitars Larry Dennison – Bass Vinny Appice – Drums Scott Warren – Keyboards