People Who've Seen New Dio Hologram "Think It's Real," Says Wendy Dio

Wendy Dio

Ronnie James Dio's widow Wendy Dio says, despite a few issues, her husband's hologram looks true to life.

Following the most recent leg of the Dio Returns tour, Wendy had said that the hologram developers needed to go "back to the drawing board" to get the illusion right.

But overall Wendy likes what she sees, and the fans don't see anything amiss.

"It's 3D and it's like he's just right there on stage with a live band," she told the Talking Metal podcast. "And really, when you're looking at it, you can't tell that it's not Ronnie back up there again."

Wendy, who married Dio in 1974, describes herself as "very critical" of the appearance of her late husband's hologram. 

"I need to perfect his face a little bit more — his eyes and his eyebrows are not quite right to me. So we're back on the drawing board right now," she told The Metal Voice last month.

Despite the changes she said needed to be made before the next leg of the hologram's tour, Wendy confirmed that she felt the European tour was a success. She insisted that even in Hologram Dio's earlier form people "think it's real."

She says feedback from fans who have seen the show has been overwhelmingly positive. 

She hopes the show will return to the road in 2019. 

"We took it out across Germany, Spain, Budapest, London, Belgium and Holland, and it was very, very well received," Wendy said. "Kids were crying to me and saying, 'Thank you so much for bringing Ronnie back to us.' And I think it was great for people that have been there and seen Ronnie before and wanted to see him back on stage [as well as] for the kids that never got the opportunity to see Ronnie." 

The production company has created a hologram of Ronnie to front a live (non-holographic) backing band, featuring Dio's former bandmates, including guitarist Craig Goldy, drummer Simon Wright, keyboardist Scott Warren and bassist Bjorn Englen

Singers Tim 'Ripper Owens and Oni Loganprovide additional vocals.

Hologram Dio's vocals come from audio of his live performances over the years. 

By most accounts, the show sounds great, thanks to Ronnie's transcendent vocals and the power of the live backing band. Some people have a hard time wrapping their heads around the ethics of the whole thing.


Photo: Getty Images


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