Legendary drummer Vinny Appice recently took to 80's Metal Recycle Bin to share his journey through rock history, playing drums for some of the most influential bands of our time. He also talks about Ronnie James Dio 's Black Sabbath and how he became Ronnie's longtime friend and drummer.
Vinny said he had just returned from a photoshoot when he received the call from the band for the audition. “I had just returned from a Ludwig Drums with all the drummers, and they (the tour manager) asked if I wanted to meet Tony Iommi ,” he stated.
Black Sabbath simply communicated that they needed a drummer. “They were in Los Angeles, so it was easy to go to them. I went to the Marquee Hotel and met Tony. We got along very well and he invited me to play with them the next day. I met Ronnie and Geezer ( Butler ), and the first song we played was 'Neon Knights',” said Vinny Appice.
He also mentions that he heard the song on the radio two weeks before the audition and liked Ronnie's voice. “[…] I didn't know Ronnie's career with Rainbow . I wasn't a Rainbow fan. I'd heard of them, obviously, but I'd never really listened to them. Two weeks later, I'm there playing with him. We played a bit and they said, 'You're in the band'.”
