Ronnie James Dio Hated One Of His Most Famous Songs So Much He Threatened To Destroy The Master Tapes: “I Would Have Taken A Razor Blade”…

Ronnie James Dio Hated One Of His Most Famous Songs So Much He Threatened To Destroy The Master Tapes: “I Would Have Taken A Razor Blade”…

 

Heavy metal icon Ronnie James Dio is celebrated for his powerful voice and his pivotal role in shaping the genre through legendary acts like Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his own band, Dio. But fans may be surprised to learn that the late singer absolutely hated one of his most popular songs—so much so, he once admitted he would have destroyed the master tapes with a razor blade if given the chance.

 

In a resurfaced interview, Dio didn’t hold back when talking about his distaste for the song “Rainbow in the Dark,” a track that helped define his solo career in the early 1980s. Featured on his 1983 debut album Holy Diver, the song became a radio hit and remains a fan favorite, but Dio originally saw it as a departure from his vision of what heavy metal should be.

 

“I didn’t like it. I thought it was too poppy,” Dio revealed. “I thought it was too happy. It just didn’t fit with the rest of what we were doing. I was furious when it ended up on the album.” He went on to admit, “If I could have, I would have taken a razor blade and cut the master tape right then and there.”

 

“Rainbow in the Dark” features an unusually melodic keyboard riff for a Dio track, and a more mainstream sound compared to the darker, more mystical tone of the rest of the Holy Diver album. While those elements helped it break into the mainstream and attract a wider audience, they also made Dio feel like the song compromised his artistic integrity.

 

In fact, according to those close to the band, Dio was so adamant about cutting the song that it took serious persuasion from producer and bandmate Vivian Campbell to convince him to keep it. “Ronnie was ready to toss it,” Campbell once recalled. “But we all felt it was a strong track. Eventually, we wore him down.”

 

Despite his initial resistance, “Rainbow in the Dark” went on to become one of Dio’s most enduring songs. The music video received heavy rotation on MTV, and the song helped propel Holy Diver into commercial success, cementing Dio’s place as a solo artist outside of his work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath.

 

Over time, Dio seemed to soften his stance on the song, occasionally including it in his live performances. But even in later interviews, he maintained that it was never one of his favorites—though he came to appreciate the fans’ connection to it.

 

“I still think it’s not really what I wanted to say musically,” he said in a 2004 interview. “But I understand that it means something to people. And that, in the end, is what matters most.”

 

Ironically, the very track Dio once threatened to destroy helped solidify his legacy, proving that sometimes an artist’s least favorite work can become one of their most cherished by the fans.