Ronnie James Dio, Magic Maker

Heaven & Hell announced yesterday that they were canceling all of their European shows this summer because Dio is still not quite 100% after his bout with stomach cancer. The news didn't surprise me that much, because he was diagnosed 5 months ago or so and he's already a 67-year-old man who goes on exhausting tours for a living - really, it seems pretty ambitious to expect that he'd be ready to rock again any time this year. In fact, the only reason why I bring up any of this information is because the press release that Dio put out in reaction to (or in support of?) the cancellation news, stating that:

Wendy, my doctors and I have worked so hard to make it happen for all of you, the ones we care so much about, that this setback could be devastating, but we will not let it be. With your continued love and support, we will carry on and thrive. There will be other tours, more music, more life and much more magic.

It's the magic part of it, really, reminding us in its subtle way that our favorite metal godfather and Italian grandmother look-alike is also some sort of elf, bringing us joy in the form of songs about men in silver mountains and kings and queens who blind our eyes and steal our dreams.