DIO's 'Holy Diver' Certified Double Platinum In U.S.

DIO's classic debut album, "Holy Diver", was recently certified double platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of two million copies.

The RIAA developed its gold and platinum awards program in 1958 to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure the commercial success of a sound recording. The program trademarked the gold record and formalized the industry practice of presenting awards to artists for music sales achievements.

Presently, the RIAA awards a gold honor for 500,000 units sold, a platinum honor for 1 million units sold and a diamond award for more than 10 million units sold.

In the streaming age, each permanent digital album or physical album sale count as 1 unit for certification purposes, 10 permanent track downloads from the album count as 1 unit for certification purposes, and 1,500 on-demand audio and/or video streams from the album count as 1 unit. For songs, 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams count as 1 unit for certification purposes.

Originally issued on May 25, 1983, "Holy Diver" has been hailed by critics as DIO's best work and a classic staple in the heavy metal genre. The LP was certified gold in the U.S. on September 12, 1984 and platinum on March 21, 1989.

"Holy Diver" re-entered The Billboard 200 chart in May 2010 — shortly after the band's frontman, Ronnie James Dio, died of stomach cancer — at No. 149 and bowed at No. 11 on the Pop Catalog chart.

DIO wrote and recorded "Holy Diver" after Ronnie left BLACK SABBATH to create a new group built around his formidable singing and unquestionably stellar songwriting. The album's stunning quality and consistency owed much to Dio's carefully chosen bandmates, including powerhouse drummer (and fellow BLACK SABBATH survivor) Vinny Appice, veteran bassist Jimmy Bain, and a phenomenal find in young Irish guitarist Vivian Campbell, whose tastefully pyrotechnic leads helped make this the definitive DIO lineup. The group entered the studio to record their debut album in early 1983. Produced by Ronnie James Dio, "Holy Diver" consists of nine original cuts penned by the singer and various band members. Included are such distinctive DIO cuts as "Stand Up And Shout", "Straight Through The Heart", the title track and the concert favorite "Rainbow In The Dark".