Dio guitarist Craig Goldy got into a verbal argument with journalist Don de Leaumont of The Great Southern Brainfart, who publicly urged him to “put an end to this sh*tshow,” referring to Ronnie James Dio’s hologram.
Craig replied (via Blabbermouth):
“You’ve missed the whole point. It’s your way that disrespects Ronnie, and you think it’s what I’m doing that disrespects Ronnie.
“I am always out of pocket on these things, and have plenty of other projects going on with big names who are alive… This is not a gig. This is not how I make money.
“The other projects that I am involved in have very big-name musicians from Ozzy, Whitesnake, Dio, AC/DC, Michael Schenker, and a surprise singer that is going to blow people away, and others with members from Black Sabbath, Lynch Mob, Pink Floyd.
“Writing and touring with Joe Lynn Turner, touring with guys who also played with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, AC/DC, Jimmy Page, being a counselor for Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp, and so much more. You speak out of ignorance of the truth.
“If you could’ve been there and have seen the happy faces and tears in their eyes for the shared love for Ronnie and getting to go out onto the floor afterwards like Ronnie would do… no paid meet-and-greets, just him with his true friends and family – that’s what it felt like.
“The hologram was pointless at that time, the Dio Disciples were pointless at that time – it was just me and my love for Ronnie and their love for Ronnie, and what was in my heart and what was in their hearts, and it was beautiful.
“That makes all this cr*p worthwhile, ’cause I get to at the very least keep his way alive in that manner, and that his way with the fans did not die with him!
“The hologram and the band became pointless, because when I came out there to face them – good response or bad – it was no longer about anything other than what was in our hearts, and that transcended past any bullsh*t like this.
“When I got a chance to go out onto the floor and talk with the fans, they were sooooo happy and emotional, kind, appreciative with only love in their hearts because they gave me a chance to face them, talk to them, and they could see and hear for themselves the love we shared together for Ronnie.
“One guy read my posts and came just to see if once he met me if I was full of sh*t, and he too was full of apprehension and disagreement about the hologram, but once he saw the whole concert and the heart of those on stage, the pumping PA equipment and was able to look me in the eye and say, ‘I came here to see if you were full of sh*t,’ and instead ended up hugging me because he was so overwhelmed by the true spirit behind and within this thing.
“This is something that just simply cannot be translated over a computer screen on YouTube.”