Ronnie James Dio's estate has no plans to resume its controversial concert tour featuring a hologram of the late-heavy metal icon.
Ronnie's widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio confirmed the hologram hiatus in a recent conversation with Ultimate Classic Rock, saying she's focusing on other projects.
"The hologram is on hold," Wendy told UCR. "I don't know if we're going to do that again or not."
Produced by Eyellusion entertainment, the Dio hologram show debuted in 2016 and later toured with Dio's Disciples, a real-life live band made up of some of Ronnie's former collaborators. Despite being championed by Ronnie's wife and supported by many of his friends, the hologram project never found a footing among fans concerned about the ethics of the whole thing.
Wendy admitted that she's unsure if the success of the 'Dio Returns' hologram tour converted any of its naysayers. So she's pivoting for now.
"We went out, and we tried it — we did it," she said. "There's still talk about doing the hologram. I don't know. I think that there's so much more that's come along developing-wise [as far as technology]. I just think that the fans would prefer to see Ronnie as being really Ronnie instead of a hologram."
She explained that she's working on another Dio live touring project, but it will be centered on film of Ronnie, not a hologram, so fans might be more receptive.
Ronnie's long-awaited memoir, Rainbow in the Dark, which he began writing shortly before his death in 2010, arrives tomorrow, Tuesday, July 27. A documentary on Ronnie's life and legendary career is slated for release in 2022.