Wendy Dio Says Ronnie was "always overlooked" during his career

The late legend's wife Wendy says that during his career, Ronnie was "always overlooked"

In a new interview, the late wife of legendary singer Ronnie James Dio, discusses the legacy he left behind and his influence on fans both old and new. "I just think that Ronnie was always overlooked during the time that he was alive. And after his passing, I just felt that his music was something he wrote for the fans, he performed for the fans. He loved his fans and that should continue and carry on. That's one of the reasons why we did this documentary, was so that people could understand him, understand his life and where he came from and the trials and tribulations he had. He wasn't an overnight success. He paid his dues, for sure. And also to get his message out there. Ronnie's message was always like, follow your heart, follow your dreams [and] don't give up."

In the same interview, Wendy, who helped produce the documentary, Dio: Dreamers Never Die, she revealed her first reaction to seeing it. It will hit cinemas worldwide on Sept. 28 and Oct. 2. "When they put the film together, and we had a private screening for me, it was my first chance to see all the little bits put together and it was very bittersweet. I broke down and cried. And it was just exactly how I wanted Ronnie to be portrayed. They had done such a magnificent job. And that was just really, really - after all the hard work we all put into it, it was like 'woah.' I think the fans are absolutely gonna love it."

The new documentary had been fully authorized by the artist's estate and explores the creative life, rising from a 50s doo-wop crooner to his early days in Elf and Rainbow to replacing Black Sabbath front man Ozzy Osbourne and finally fronting his own self-named band. The film also includes never-before-seen footage and photos, in addition to close scenes with some of his peers, family and friends. They include: Wendy Dio, Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Vinny Appice, Glenn Hughes, Lita Ford, Judas Priest front man Rob Halford, Sebastian Bach and Jack Black