DOUG ALDRICH Says Working With RONNIE JAMES DIO Was 'A Great Experience'

Guitarist Doug Aldrich, who was a member of DIO for a short period between 2002 and 2006, spoke to "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" about his contributions to the band's "Killing The Dragon" album.

"I only wrote two songs with [Ronnie James Dio] on that, 'cause he had already written [the rest of] it," Doug said at last month's NAMM show in Anaheim, California (see video below). "But it was great, man. Ronnie was very focused. He knew what he wanted. Me and Jimmy Bain [bass] got together and we put together about five or six pieces of music — mainly around a riff — and Ronnie chose the two. 'Scream' and 'Along Comes A Spider' were the two that I wrote with him."

Doug continued: "Ronnie was amazing. He was such a great guy. I miss him all the time. I picture him in his house, where I saw him hundreds of times. I'd come in his house in the morning and he'd be in his kitchen, listening to sports radio, listening to the New York Giants radio. And then he'd say, 'Okay, let's go downstairs.' We'd go down to the studio and we'd sit there the whole day creating.

"It was great, man. What a great experience."

Asked if he and Ronnie made their own meals or if they had somebody cook for them, Doug said: "Usually we would not eat. We'd go there and we'd work until about seven and then go home and eat dinner or whatever. But Ronnie loved to do is Ronnie's favorite thing — one of 'em — was Indian food. He'd say, 'Let's go get a curry.' Or, 'Let's order out for curry.' If we were in England, every night the food would be curry — every night. Hot, spicy vindaloo — he loved it. Ultimately, that's not super healthy for you, but he loved Indian food. That was his favorite."

In a 2015 interview with CrypticRock.com, Aldrich said that he was "only really in [DIO] for about a year, but in that year, we did do the 'Killing The Dragon' record. I got to contribute to that record with a couple of songs also, which was nice," he said. "We did a lot in that first year. We did that record, a bunch of touring, and a live DVD called 'Evil Or Divine - Live In New York City' [2005]. Then I joined WHITESNAKE, but I kept coming back to DIO. There was a couple of tours in 2005. Ronnie said, 'Would you come on tour with me?' I said, 'Absolutely, I just have to speak to David about it.' David said, 'Cool, just make sure you come back,' because we had talked about some new music and he did not want me to split."

Having also played with LION, HOUSE OF LORDS, BAD MOON RISING, HURRICANE and Glenn Hughes, Aldrich joined THE DEAD DAISIES in 2016 and can be heard on that band's last couple of albums, 2016's "Make Some Noise" and 2018's "Burn It Down".

Ronnie James Dio, best known for his work with BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW and DIO, died of stomach cancer in May 2010 at the age of 67.