666 items from Ronnie James Dio’s estate up for auction
Exactly 666 items from Ronnie James Dio’s estate are going under the hammer next month.
Julien’s Auctions will be hosting the vast memorabilia sale at the Hard Rock Café in New York’s Times Square on 14th and 15th September and fans of the late metal legend will also be able to place bids online.
The most expensive lots up for sale are the original acrylic Barry Jackson painting used on the cover of Dio’s 1984 album ‘The Last in Line’ and the Robert Florczak artwork for 1985’s ‘Sacred Heart’, which have an estimated price tag of $20,000 to $30,000 (£15,600 to £23,400).
Other pricey items in the auction include a monumental animatronic sphinx stage prop on plinth base from the 1984 The Last In Line tour (estimate $2,000–4,000), a massive animatronic dragon’s head from the 1985 Sacred Heart tour (estimate $3,000–5,000) and a robotic spider stage prop.
Elsewhere, there are a veritable smorgasbord of stage outfits, amplifiers, musical instruments and gold discs encompassing Ronnie James Dio’s fabled career with acts like Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Duo and Heaven & Hell.
Other miscellaneous items include a letter from The Beatles’ George Harrison to Ronnie, Ronnie’s passport, the singer’s personalised wedding goblets and a Queens Park Rangers football club shirt owned by Ronnie.
Ronnie’s wife Wendy Dio comments: “I am glad that Ronnie’s extensive collection of items will go to his fans, museums and collectors around the world to be displayed for all to see and enjoy.
“These items are very special to me but I recognize the historical importance of anything to do with Ronnie and he would want his fans to be able to own, enjoy and see these items for many years to come.”
Darren Julien, President/Chief Executive Officer of Julien’s Auctions said: “Dio stands atop the colossal rock legends of our time as the definitive heavy metal hero whose voice, style and persona influenced heavy metal and today’s music icons like no other.
“Julien’s Auctions salutes Dio’s enduring legacy in this larger than life collection of his artefacts that will surely be the ultimate metal auction of the season.”