My friend Big Jim was a close and personal friend of Ronnie James Dio. In fact, it was all thanks to Jim that I got to meet Ronnie for the first time in 1996, and many times after that. Jim plays in a couple of different bands in the New Haven area. When I found out his band was doing an all-Dio set, and that his band and the others were going to get together to do the song Stars, I knew I had to drive down through 2 states to see the show.
What's "Stars" all about? Well let me explain.
Back in the 1980s, there were lots of enormous one-time pop groups thrown together to record a song for some sort of charity. There was USA For Africa, Band Aid, Artists United Against Apartheid, etc. There was also a heavy metal one called Hear n' Aid, organized by Ronnie James Dio. It featured members of Dio, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Quiet Riot, Dokken, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Queensrÿche, Blue Öyster Cult, Vanilla Fudge, Y&T, Journey, W.A.S.P., Night Ranger, Iron Maiden, and a few more that I'm sure I'm forgetting. The song they recorded was called "Stars".
So now fast forward to 2010. Big Jim and a whole host of other local musicians perform "Stars" as part of a Ronnie James Tribute night. Frankly, I was impressed. It's really hard to get over a dozen musicians on one stage all properly mixed, let alone have them all doing the song OK. But somebody managed to get it on video and upload it.
Here's an article on the event.
And no, I have no idea what the deal is with the kid in the wheelchair at center stage.
