The latest Classic Rock News All the news and gossip from the world of Classic Rock.

Ronnie remembered

Ronnie James Dio has died after his battle with cancer.

An all-time great, Dio was born in 1942. He first released a record in 1958 under the band name of Ronnie & The Red Caps. But he made his name in the early 1970s with Elf and as the frontman of Rainbow, Black Sabbath, his own band Dio and Heaven and Hell.

Last year, the vocalist was diagnosed with stomach cancer, but it was felt this had been caught early enough to ensure successful treatment.

Leppards not splitting

Def Leppard have denied that they are on the verge of splitting after rumours started circulating late last year that their number was up.

After calling a halt to a US tour late in 2009 for “personal reasons” there were mutterings that end was nigh for the band. However, frontman Joe Elliot has finally revealed the reason for their tour cancellation. Elliott insists the trek was only cancelled so he could tend to his wife Kristine, who was expecting their first child.

He added that he often jokes about what would happen if the band did split up, but he couldn't think of anything else that he's do.

Another classic line up together

Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan are to record new music together, nearly 30 years after Black Sabbath’s Born Again album. Iommi says Gillan has been around his house and putting a couple of tracks down for a charity record for Armenia.

The pair raised money 20 years ago and recently visited the earthquake torn country to see what equipment they'd bought for a music school with the donated cash.

Now Tony and Ian are going to record a few more songs so they can raise some money to build a new school, and he's not dismissed the chance of a few shows together.