Ronnie WAS NOT evil. He didn't like how religion was used to subject people. I'm Catholic but still love Ronnie James Dio.

Back in 2005 I was working for DIO (the band) backstage at Merriweather Post Pavillion and was sent to pick up DIO bassist Jimmy Bain. On the short drive from the train station to the venue, Jimmy and I were talking about our favorite Ronnie songs and I mentioned his collaboration with Kerry Livgren. Jimmy said "I've worked with Ronnie for 20+ years and never heard of this" When we got back to the venue and I was showing Jimmy the dressing rooms, Ronnie was there and, to my surprise, Jimmy called to him "Ronnie, mate over here says you worked with Kerry Livgren, is he mistaken?" Ronnie pointed out he had indeed sung 2 songs for Kerry as we all know. I shrugged and said "Mask of the Great Deceiver" Ronnie patted me on the arm and said "Don't forget 'To Live For the King' "

This entire record is without question, the best I have ever heard. It's massive, emotional, mesmerizing and Something a lot of people won't understand, set apart for a holy purpose. Every tune is so special and we'll never ever here it's equal again. Thanks Kerry! You're amazing!

This is one of the most heartfelt and amazing vocal deliveries Ronnie James Dio ever recorded.

The Wall is one of my favorite songs. The lyrics are just awesome and full of deep meaning.

I was listening to Kansas songs and knowing that Kerry Livgren was a Christian way before he ever got converted. The Wall, Carry on My Wayward Son, Miracles out of nowhere" were songs that nurtured me and my clients when I became a psychotherapist in the 80's. He has been and always will be a man with a message of good news. Christ nurtured him through all the years of his searching, and He and Kerry gave us this treasure house of songs. A modern day prophet, disquised as a rock star. Awesome.

Regardless of Dio’s beliefs, God gave Ronnie an incredible gift for singing. Rest in peace, Ronnie. Kerry is a gifted musician as well. God bless them both.

There's a 3rd element - it was an opportunity for Kerry to share the truth with Ronnie (through the song's lyrics)...

Ronnie grew up in Cortland, NY... always a decent person and not the "evil" that some believe. He merely pointed out the failings of humanity in any of his bands, especially in Black Sabbath and Dio.

For me Ronnie brought tremendous life to both songs. No one else for me could have sung these songs the way he did. For me being a Christian he was an incredibly talented singer.Loved his voice and what he brought to the table musically. RIP Ronnie.

I think the "controversy" (if there ever was one) was much more musical than it was spiritual. Kerry's lyrics have always been spiritually-minded, and back in 1980, the vast majority of Kansas fans had no idea of Kerry's Christian conversion (news like this didn't travel at the speed of light back in those pre-internet days.) I bought Seeds of Change in 81 or 82 and had no idea it was a "Christian" album (a term you notice Kerry avoids) - I just liked the music. But I remember thinking it was weird that RJD, who was already becoming known as Mr. Heavy Metal was on it -- Kansas had SOME hard rock moments in their music, but they were nowhere close to being a metal band. "The guy who wrote Dust In the Wind is collaborating with Dio?" was my reaction. But it was a great collaboration that worked out really well. Cheers to both of them for thinking outside the box and choosing to make some great music together!

RONNIE & KERRY OUTSTANDING MUSICIANS

Believe it or not, Livgren's initial albums appealed to agnostics like myself even after his "conversation". Some of my friends back in college were born agains and we all shared an interest in bands like Kansas, Triumph, Rush, UFO, the Rez Band, etc, be they secular or not. What I appreciate about Livgren's approach is that he doesn't force it down your throat which some of the Christian rockers did back in the late 80's. It really wasn't a shock to see Dio on "Seeds of Change", because you had two great lyricists in their own right collaborating on two awesome songs. The rest of the album is awesome as well. I respect Livgren even though we don't agree on everything. His songs have influenced my own writing and I thank him for his "gift" for a lack of a better term.

I saw Barriemore Barlow playing drums with Jethro Tull in November 1971. Great drummer.

At the same time, Kerry has always been the only "Christian rocker" I could ever accept and maybe that's partly because he himself is accepting and doesn't shove religion down people's throats. And honest with himself that RJD was the man for the job. Especially "To Live for the King" is totally a Dio tune!

Ronnie had the perfect voice for those so ngs. Two great musicians and perforners.

I have read Kerry's autobiography, also entitled "Seeds of Change." While it is true that he was previously involved in a number of Eastern religions, he specifically stated that he had never been involved with witchcraft.

I'm totally blown away in a good way. Now, I've got to purchase Kerry's album. Thank you!

Thanks so much for this video. I bought "Seeds of Change" when it first came out and thought the Dio sung songs were by far the best songs on the album. Great to hear the stories behind the music!

It's good to hear that Livgren didn't stoop to name calling, but was very mature with his comments.

What he did for Leftoverture was create a masterpiece. Lyrically and musically, it is a thing of great beauty.

...what a delight...just surfed in to check it out only to find I'm the interviewer with Kerry...appreciate the time you put into this...

It's all the same to me. Kerry's lyrics with Kansas always struck me as spiritual (as he says in the interview) and Ronnie's singing always seemed to me to have some kind of spirituality as well. He may not be a Christian, but he was a man with a big heart and (I believe) the right intentions.

Nothing strange here,two great musicians collaborating

Just got the reissue of, Seeds of Change. Still sounds great to my ears. Love it when you mix, two unlikely talents together, and get an amazing result. Actually, the single most beautiful performance's, on this CD, are the tracks featuring Barriemore Barlow on drums, from a little known band, named. Jethro Tull.

Trivia correction. At 3:14 Ronnie mentions "Paul Hammond" from ARS but it's actually Paul Goddard (bass). The ARS singer was Ronnie Hammond.

Great job on the vid. Loved through this also in multiple levels. As a musician guitarist and wanna be singer, I had already idolized Kerry via Kansas and RJD bcuz Black Sabbath. The second level was my older brothers conversion and subsequent obsession with Christian music and musicians. So when Kerry had his first album and RJD was singing it, my brother knew I’d love it and be more open to the genre which had a stigma early on and a history. These songs are epic on rock and in Christian rock. Two super talented people. I had seen Kansas live and Black Sabbath with Ozzie and later with DIO and finally RJD solo.

When the album FIRST came out, I bought a copy as soon as I saw it because I was (and still am) a huge Livgren fan. Then, as I was enjoying the music (and the lyrics), I started studying what was printed on the album......THEN, as I read that R.J.D. was singing those two songs, I remembered thinking about what a 'contrast that was' for Kerry to have 'this' particular man singing on his record, as it's pointed out in the video. At the time, I did not realize that one day, all of these years later, I would be seeing played out (here) my very thoughts I had so long ago.

Ronnie was a sweet, articulate, musician. It's called "performance art" for a reason. Some Christians don't realize it is a business. Let's not get "Kerried" away here. They both were respectful, I am sure, of one another's beliefs. Ronnie was not a Satanist.

I really loved this, thanks you.

Great album! Loved it then, and it still remains one of my favorites! Ronnie sounds great on both songs. He had a great voice... very unique!

I remember in the early 80's one of my friends telling me he heard Dio singing a Christian song & I couldn't believe it until I heard it. I was confused because this was around the Last in Line days & was a huge fan of Ronnie's since Rainbow & new exactly what he always sang about.. I was not Christian then but part of me still thought there is a little hope for Ronnie after all. I love Kansas now & always did love some of their stuff mainly from the 70's but didn't know it was Kerry's album that Dio was on.

I have the LP "Seeds of Change" that I bought in the 80's... Best record ever I got and listen to that as teenager on the way to school (from C-casette) etc, still listen to that as 54... Thanks, Kerry & Ronnie... Love and Peace fellas, no reason to argue in this world...🤘

Great pair of interviews that really shed a lot of light and provide a lot of insight into that amazing project. I'm no Christian, and neither was RJD but he was no Satanist; he was an atheist. However just as I do, RJD always had a very spiritual side to himself, and was a very enlightened person. Love this project, love Dio, and love Kerry Livgren as the great songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist he always was.

Kansas music has ALWAYS had spiritual!! Alot of THERE songs well there lyrics have a god inspiration in it!! Kerry was A great song writer he and steve put out some great music!! A very underrated band!!

Some very talented guest musicians; Ronnie James Dio, Barriemore Barlow (Jethro Tull) on drums and Steve Walsh on backing vocals!

Great testimony!! Great legacy Ronnie left us!!

I seriously doubt that Ronnie didn't know that these were religious songs.

Ronnie James Dio...Cortland NY's finest!

Great song big fan of Kansas and DIO and it works really well.

Kerry, I hope you see this comment. I wanted to thank you not only for all of the great work with Kansas but for "Seeds of Change" (the book) which I found at a Christian book store in 1984. I soon found the LP and older Kansas records. I had just begun my journey learning about the Lord and your music was a great encouragement to me. "One of several possible musics" is a favorite as well as AD (I got into DA yrs later) I especially like how, in the book, you continued to search for truth until you were satisfied. I'm still searching, having found the Apostolic truth in 1986 but the devil has had 2,000 years to mess up the first century church and he certainly has. Most of the "churches" by me, I believe, are disqualified, imo, having made money and control gods. Woe unto them. But Jesus still saves folks when we enter in the right way. We must obey Acts 2:38. Thanks again.

Why are people so put off if a song or band sings about god in a rock band? Songs are sung about the devil and people think its cool. I'm not a Christian, I think if a song rocks and hits you right in your soul and u find out its themed about god, love it anyway. A lot of my favorites are from Christian rock bands. Is there a better band than Kansas?

Wow! I didn't know Dio was on "Sedd Of Change" That was a great album!!

The guy that did the first Interview is Eric Blair. If any of you have heard of Stryper and their story, he is their friend that walked into their rehearsal studio when they were Roxx Regime and told them to play for Jesus. Eric has interviewed a lot of great Artists on his Show, "Blairing Out" and is a good guy (I knew him breifly back in the 80's) Check him out.

real strong music wich does lift me up and makes me wonder about where is peace on earth, one love true Dio breaks my heart what true energy send& taken up to GOOD Kenny&Ronny one day....!!!

There is a film coming out on September 28th I believe playing at movie theaters this year 2022 and it's all about Ronnie James Dio.

To be controversial, people would have to care first.

On the other hand, Dio sites a specific instance where Kerry was frightened by a black magic experience he had over the telephone with his wife. So there's got to be more to the story. In the mid-70's Kerry had a fascination with spiritualism and related things like automatic writing and seances. Perhaps, Kerry had a seance and thought he had contacted a demon. I could see where something like this could scare him half to death. It could also give Dio the impression he was into black magic.

Kerry Livgren is one of my favorite songwriters and musicians. GOD bless him and RIP. Thank you! 😔🙏🇺🇸🎸🎼🎵🎶❤

Nobody can deny Kerry's great guitar playing.... Greg... Greg Boardman Band...

Actually Black Sabbath had a lot of "Godly" themed Songs. Like After forever from Masters of Reality. Stryper covered that song on their "Fallen" album. War Pigs has a great message against evil.

I would like to know what "rather interesting things took place in the studio while we were recording." To Live for the King and Mask.....no songs to date, for me, have matched these!

Barriemore Barlow of Jethro Tull on drums as well.....might have to check this album out.

David Pack buy the way there Ronnie

There should be no controversy. Just great musicians doing their thing, and leaving treasures for us. Just enjoy, and leave the junk and nonsense behind.

To me, I find it even more interesting that the album list Steve Walsh as a backup singer! For Steve to take on that role, after being Kansa lead singer for so long, shows real character! As far as anyone of us know, it's looks like Steve wasn't even going to demand that Kansas get back together! He just wanted to help a friend who gave him a chance.

Kerry has always been one of my favorite musicians.

While Black Sabbath certainly delved into dark spooky themes, I'll never forget how SHOCKED I was the first time I heard "After Forever" around 1975. It's essentially a Christian themed song from Sabbath's third album Master of Reality recorded 1971. The lyrics to that song are really amazing and fit right in with Kerry's album Seeds of Change. Bassist Geezer Butler wrote the lyrics as a way to express the band members' dislike of being labeled as satanists. When the first album was released much to the shock of the band, instead of the inside of the album jacket featuring a photo of the band it was an upside down cross. Their producer was trying to be edgy and get publicity but it backfired. Now everyone thought they were satanists when they were actually a bunch of blue collar, hard partying, LSD loving Brits who also loved horror movies, LOL. Geezer did dabble in the occult a bit until an incident happened around the time of the first album. Ozzy gave him a 500 yr old book of spells that he stuffed in a kitchen cupboard. That night Butler awoke to a demon at the end of his bed with red eyes. He was so freaked out that he ran into the kitchen to go burn the book but it was gone. By the time the second album was released various occult groups wouldn't leave them alone because they assumed the band were hard core occult practitioners which they were not. After being rebuffed by the band several times, one of those groups threated to put curses on them for being posers. This really freaked the band members out. Geezer's father was a machinist so he had him make beautiful, large finely machined polished crosses for them which you see them all wearing in the early days of Sabbath.

There is no controversy in Dio singing songs about christian spirituality - listen to the lyrics of man on the silver mountain - listen to stargazer ( the story could have been taken from the old testament about the tower of Babylon - I am sure, Ronnie was a spiritual person

... my LOVE IS ALWAYS ONLY EVER EQUAL TO my HUMILITY and my GRATITUDE for the CONFIDENCE and the PROWESS that STABILISES my LOVE ... ... GOD BLESS EVERYONE, BLESS EVERYTHING, ALWAYS, AMEN ... signed by ... the ROCK OF PHAGES ... PDA ...

What a lot of people don't realize about Dio, is that he was a relatively old man playing a young man's game. He came to sing heavy metal music rather late in life. I recall that he started out in the late-50s doo-wop era. His peers were people like Dion and the Belmonts and Chubby Checker.

Before Kerry Livgren became a Christian, he was involved with a cult called Urantia. That may be the Kerry Livgren that Dio remembered before singing on this album.

Irresistible irony. Love it!

Wow great song there

Ευχαριστώ πολύ για το βίντεο! Ο Ronnie James Dio ήταν "άνθρωπος".Ένας "πολύ καλός άνθρωπος"! Thank you very much for the video! Ronnie was a "good man". A "very good man"!

Thank you for being you Kerry Livgren.

Respectively as he is no longer on the Earth... Kerry Livgren was NEVER into black magic N E V E R and then to say "he made Satan look pretty tame" ? absolute absurd fiction. sheesh.

Of course, what I've said in the past 2 posts are just my opinion regarding how such a misunderstanding could occur. I certainly don't believe Kerry was ever a Satanist, nor do I think Dio was intentionally spreading a malicious lie about Kerry. I'd love to hear what Kerry has to say about the comments Dio made above (from the 2:00 to the 2:20.mark.) That interview with Dio is about 4 - 5 yrs old and I'm really surprised that Kerry has not yet attempted to publicly elaborate on Dio's comments.

As far as I have heard, and I'm a big fan of Dio, he never applauds or promotes Satan. in Heaven and Hell, he proclaims that "The Devil is never a maker," which is basically the same thing St.Augustine and countless other Christian thinkers conclude. And I think it's also the Biblical position; evil has no essence in and of itself and therefore the Devil has no creative power, all he can do is seek to twist the good things which God has made. According to Dio himself, ''Holy Diver" is about a Christ-figure facing and overcoming the temptation to not make his sacrifice (some people claim that it is about Lucifer's fall, but this is bullocks). Many of his songs, maybe even most, are about wrestling with temptation and dark forces and the struggle to do good and be good.

As a dio fan i remember searching for seeds of change . Nowhere to find , sudenly my deep purple fanclub sold one album . Lucky me

Get Kerry livgren book seeds of change

Kerry writes christian geared songs, but their the best Kansas has done since.

3:18 David Paich was from Toto. David Pack was from Ambrosia.

People, don't get too caught up in Kerry Livgren's spiritual inspirations. He dabbled with several faith based philosophies during his most fertile creative periods while in Kansas during the 70's. He was searching and in the process created his most extraordinary body of work. Of course he had this GREAT band to help him search!

Ronnie James Dio's two Songs with Kerry Livgren are both Amazing Songs!

Sabbath isn't devil worship. Go listen to Tony and Geezer talk about that.

This was Interesting.

Carry On My Wayward Son is religious also...:-)

I wonder if Dio ever did these songs live

RJD is claiming KL was a Satanist? I spose it could be true, but his lyrics were highly spiritual starting with The Wall.

I am a part of ALL - Cosmos - Universe - All Universes - Cosmos at all

1:58 He use to be one of the most backmagic guys on the face of the planet.... I heard something of this /about this YEARS ago, but eventually put it down to baseless rumor. Kerry delved into / courted the dark side? I see no evidence of it myself, not even in any of the early album lyrics. ...never known of any Kansas member to bring it up in an interview.

Portsmouth, NH's own Ronnie James Dio.

He says interesting things happened in the studio..what.. ? The interviewer didnt pick up on it man : (

Typo...Mike

Hey Kerry....look me up Bud...

3:20 you mean David Paich from TOTO, Ronnie? lol

I pray he passed knowing that Jesus is Lord. Very interesting video .

Kerry RJD and Paul Goddard. thats a supergroup alone.

I think there could be a bit more to this story than meets the eye. I'd love to have a one on one conversation with Kerry about the matter. Better yet, I might try to conjur up Dio in a seance tonight and ask him some questions through my Ouija board. :) BTW, have you ever heard Dio's story about how he conjured up the demon Bael in the studio?

I was implying that it was an inside joke. Dio's statement definitely implied that he was into the black arts which I lump all together, black magic,occult,satanism and that he put "all of us" to shame". Obviously tongue in cheek. My original statement still stands. It's funny what Dio said and I wonder how many dim bulbs out there think he's telling the truth.

The bottom of the diamond points to an 's'. Not the capital 'O' . God/ Theo is 'θ' in ancient Greek, the language of the New Testament.

I never ever saw Black Sabbath whether it was Ozzy or Dio as satanic lyrics. They were just singing a song, telling a story not from an evil point of view but either a neutral view or a song telling people that evil is real and DONT let it consume you. Am I wrong ? For anybody who reads my comment no matter how old it may be, please respond. I don't care if it's 5 years from now although I might be dead by then LOL

2:44 i had no idea he was a born again Christian.

Weird he had no knowledge of what RJDs past was incl RAINBOW, based on what did he pick him then?

Black Sabbath was never a "Satanic" band. They were in fact quite Christian. Listen to the song "After Forever". In fact they wore the Christian crosses because of this (that goes a bit deeper but I won't go into it here). They wore them for protection against evil.

😀😀😀😀😀😀

People who think that Ronnie James Dio was some kind of satanist obviously have never heard a band like Deicide.

My , KZfaq Premium is small tuition for higher learning

Dio never said Kerry was a Satanist. He said Kerry was into Black Magic and that he made Satan look pretty tame. Since Kerry and RJD remained friends throughout the years, I think this is likely a misunderstanding or maybe an inside joke. Kerry freely admits that he was once involved in the occult and spiritualism via various New Age religions like Urantia. Maybe Kerry told Dio about his past involvement in the occult and Dio mistakenly equated the occult with black magic & satanism.