NEPA Scene Staff

Former Dio members in Last in Line play new and classic metal at Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg on April 1

Former Dio members in Last in Line play new and classic metal at Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg on April 1
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

From a press release:

Last in Line, a heavy metal band formed by the original core lineup of Dio’s 1984 album “The Last in Line,” will perform at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg on Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m.

Tickets, which are $23 in advance or $27 the day of the show, are on sale now and available through the Sherman Theater box office (524 Main St., Stroudsburg), online at shermantheater.com and ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster outlets. VIP boxes and sky boxes are available for this show and include eight tickets (VIP box) or 12 tickets (sky box), a fruit and cheese platter, and waitstaff. To purchase box seats, call the theater at 570-420-2808.

What started as a casual reunion jam in a Los Angeles rehearsal room in 2011 has grown into a fully-fledged project that has taken on a life of its own. Last in Line, the band, takes its name from the second Dio album released in 1984. Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain, and Vivian Campbell were Ronnie James Dio’s co-conspirators and co-writers on the “Holy Diver,” “Last in Line,” and “Sacred Heart” albums – these records have gone on to become part of rock history.

During that first jam, it was apparent that the chemistry of the original band was very much intact, even after a 27-year hiatus. The excitement generated by that rediscovery led to a second session, where this time they called in acclaimed vocalist Andrew Freeman. Hearing Freeman’s interpretations of the original Dio songs was a revelation and the inspiration to move forward as a band.

Over the ensuing years, a handful of local LA shows led to a handful of overseas shows in the U.K. and Japan, and eventually to an offer from Frontiers to record a new album of original material.

During the course of 2014, the band wrote and recorded 12 new songs and chose longtime friend Jeff Pilson as producer. Pilson very much captured the organic crunch of the band and the very best in Freeman’s voice and delivery.

Last in Line’s debut album, “Heavy Crown,” was released in February of 2016, with the singles “Devil in Me” and “Starmaker” leading the charge. But the release was preceded by tragedy, when Jimmy Bain passed away at the age of 68 on Jan. 23, another great musician taken from us far too soon.

Bain was immensely proud of the new album, and his input to “Heavy Crown” was immeasurable. “We will continue to celebrate his life through his music. Rest in peace, dear friend,” Campbell, who also plays in Def Leppard, said.

Last in Line played a handful of shows in 2016, including headlining both the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan and the Metal Stage at the Rocklahoma festival, bringing in renowned bassist Phil Soussan and keyboardist Erik Norlander. The gigs featured tracks from “Heavy Crown,” alongside songs from those classic Dio albums.

With “Heavy Crown” finally being released on gatefold vinyl on Aug. 26, Last in Line took that lineup out on a full European tour in November, appearing as special guests to Saxon on select European dates and headlining venues across the U.K.