SLASH, RONNIE JAMES DIO AND TERRY BOZZIO HONORED BY…

Slash, Ronnie James Dio and Terry Bozzio were honored by Hollywood Guitar Centers Rockwalk for their presitgious careers in music.

Ronnie James Dio, Slash and drummer extraordinaire Terry Bozzio were all honored by Hollywood Guitar Center’s Rockwalk with an induction ceremony on Sunset Blvd. January 17th, 2007 celebrating each musicians prestigious career. With fans lining the streets to get a glimpse of their idols, Slash, Dio and Bozzio all dipped their hands in cement, where each of their handprints will grace the outside of Guitar Center along side plauques of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, BB King and many others.

Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Rainbow, Black Sabbath), who is gearing up for a tour with his latest project, Heaven and Hell along with old friends Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, not only thanked the many musicians he’s played with in the past, but he also thanked his legion of fans who he credited as being the best on the planet.

“This is such a special honor for me. Thank you Guitar Center and all the people that are involved with what this is about with charities and just wonderfulness. It’s incredible for me. One of the best parts is with Terry and Slash is I’m in there with two people who I really respect and who I think deserve this so, so much. So, it’s great for me as well. Anyway, thanks to my manager Wendy Dio, the best person on the face of the planet. More specially to every person I’ve ever played with as a musician, wrote a song with, sang a song with, bludgeoned, did anything we did, that was the best for me. This is a part of each one of them whatever you give to me you give to each of those people. They are my part, they are my whole. So, thank you to the fans who are the best on the planet. Dio fans rock and we rock!”

Slash, who grew up in the Hollywood area, even admitted he used to go to this same Guitar Center as a kid and he used to watch Rockstars come and go and dreamed of getting his chance. As is turns out Slash, who admittedly at the time didn’t had much money, he was at times forced to vacate Guitar Center, so being inducted to the Hollywood Rockwalk is certainly a little extra special for him.

“I was definitely one of those kids that was hanging out at Guitar Center across the street when it was over there. Hanging around watching rockstars walk in and out and never having any money and after a couple of hours be politely asked to leave or impolitely in some cases, so it’s a real trip now to be accepting this.”

After the ceremony our cameras caught up with each honoree to discuss their thoughts on being honored not only by the music industry but more importantly, their peers.

“You know, I don’t think it’s so much about your career, it’s a statement that, one, you’ve been doing it for a while and two, that you’ve been recognized by your peers as having some sort of significant effect on music in some way, shape or form. And that you’ve been recognized by fans as well. And you can just walk away for it and go ‘I did that!’ You can put it on your resume if you need one. As your career goes you just move on but it’s still part of your legacy, so that’s really cool!” Bozzio went on to add “Oh, I think it’s great, I mean I’d much rather be playing in that room over there, which I’ve done many times. I play in a lot of these places and I get to do what ever I want. So, that means more to me than any award.” Dio also talked about his induction as well “I’m from New York originally and I’ve lived here for close to thirty years now. I’ve always loved Los Angeles and I’ve wanted to live be here since I was twe

Slash and Velvet Revolver have recently finished recording ‘Libertad’ which is the bands follow up to their world wide debut hit ‘Contraband.’ Look for Slash and Velvet Revolver to tour extensively in 2007 in support of ‘Libertad.’ Terry Bozzio has been announced as Korn replacement on drums for their former drummer David Silveria who has announced an indefinite hiatus from the road. Bozzio and Korn are currently writing their follow up to 2006’s ‘See You on the Other Side.’ Ronnie James Dio will be taking Heaven and Hell out for a 2007 tour as well as the band has announced a world tour in support of the bands debut release.