Pribek

I’ve been raising awareness about karaoke violence for a long time to no avail. It seems that the problem is just getting worse. This time the outbreak occurred in Wisconsin. From The Smoking Gun…

Meet Kyle Drinkwine. The Wisconsin man, 24, allegedly became so incensed by a lackluster karaoke performance of a heavy metal song that he assaulted the singer and a second man, police charge. According to a River Falls Police Department report, Drinkwine throttled singer James Mischler, 28, and his friend Cyrus Kozub, 29, “over one’s ability to sing karaoke.” Though cops did not specify which song set Drinkwine off last week, Kozub told TSG that Mischler was performing “Holy Diver,” the title cut on Dio’s 1983 debut album (the band is fronted by Ronnie James Dio, the former Black Sabbath lead singer).

So this guy, Kyle Drinkwine, got bent because another guy sang a messed up “Holy Diver” and smacked the singer and his wing man.

Something I’ve noticed; there are people that are rabid Ronnie James Dio fans, cats that worship Ronnie James Dio. One reason I am aware of this is, I’ve told an anecdote about Dio a lot and, there’s always some guy who takes offense. Now, I got nothing against the Elf and the story is true and more amusing than unflattering, I think.

Here goes….

I was at Black Sabbath’s first show without Ozzy in St. Louis. It was tense because people love Ozzy and some saw Dio as an interloper. Sabbath was a few songs in to the set, the sound sort of sucked and, it wasn’t going so great. Dio was running around with scarves and stuff, slapping hands, doing the front man routine. He’s up there in between songs, talking about something and, all of the sudden, he gets plunked with a wine bottle. Now, this wasn’t an uncommon thing in St. Louis. I don’t know if it hit him in the head or anything but, there was a noticeable “BONK” that came through the system.

So Ronnie James says this to the crowd.

“Music or shooting gallery, take your choice!”

Well, like I said, the St. Louis audience in those days could be a little unforgiving and some people started chanting….

“Shooting gallery..Shooting gallery..Shooting gallery!”

So, Dio is standing there, looking a little flustered and the guys in the band start another song, probably trying to quell the minor uprising. Dio throws down the microphone and starts to scamper off the stage. Now, the stage exit was back in the corner, stage right which was where Geezer Butler was standing aloof and laying down the low notes. Ronnie heads for the exit and old Geezer grabs him by the scruff of the neck, like a little kid, and tosses him back towards the front of the stage as if to say; “You’re not knocking off early over a little wine bottle and I’m damn sure going to get my money”. And, Geezer keeps playing with his left hand through the whole thing, never missing a note!

Ronnie went back out front and finished the show. It was one of the coolest things I ever saw at a concert.

The point is, I like Ronnie James Dio just fine, seems like a swell guy. But, he’s just a guy; puts his spandex on one leg at a time just like you and I do.

So, in honor of Mr. Drinkwine’s harmful idolatry, I thought it would be good to show this clip of “Phil and Jesse shredding to ‘Holy Diver’”.

As always, pump your fist and do that cheesy heavy metal thing with your index and little fingers extended, scream then, press pause on the music player located in the side bar before playing the YouTube.