And we can’t believe you’ve been gone a year already. Metal can never replace you.

In 1968, Gary Moore (above, top left) was just 16 years old when he joined future Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott in the Dublin blues-rock quartet Skid Row*. So, Moore was a charter member of the Society of Overachieving Teen Guitarists that would later include Steve Vai (19, Frank Zappa), Zakk Wylde (19, Ozzy Osbourne), and Devin Townsend (19, Steve Vai). Pretty elite company.

After a pair of short stints in Thin Lizzy, Moore again reunited with Lynott in 1979 for the band’s seminal Black Rose: A Rock Legend (see Axl Rose’s Black Rose-themed tattoo here, upper left). More than twenty solo albums followed, including 2008’s Bad For You Baby.

British tabloid The Sun reports that Moore, 58, was discovered unresponsive by medical staff in a Spain hotel suite where there were “definite signs of alcohol.” The Sun also quotes a source at the hotel who has stated that Moore “seemed fine when he left [the hotel bar] around 11 pm.” A post mortem has been scheduled.

After the jump, check out the MetalSucks round up of tributes to Moore by members of Obituary, Opeth, Black Flag, Testament, Black Sabbath, and mo(o)re.

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Welcome to “Question of the Week,” a (sometimes) weekly debate amongst the MetalSucks staff regarding a recent hot button issue.

There weren’t any real hot button topics this week, so we decided to just play a fun game that used to keep Vince and Axl occupied for many a lunch period when they were kids:

The MS staff’s answers after the jump.

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If there’s one thing our friend Carlos Ramirez loves to do, it’s compile a list which is almost guaranteed to tick people off; I mean, we love to make silly lists, too, but for reals, Carlos does one every fifteen minutes or so. He once showed me a list of the best lists of the best lists; that’s how much the man loves those things. He actually argues with his wife about who gets to do the grocery list. Now that’s passion, people.

Because we all suffered a horrible loss yesterday*, Carlos has now compiled a list of the “Top 10 Dio Songs” for Noisecreep. These are really just Dio songs – none of his work with Elf, Rainbow, Sabbath, or Other Sabbath (sorry, “Heaven and Hell”) to be had here – which should lessen the flame wars somewhat. Still, some of you will find plenty to get butt-hurt about, I’m sure.

Check out the list here, and then, LET THE NEEDLESS ARGUING BEGIN!!!

-AR

*Actually, three great loses – legendary manager Debbie Abono  and drummer Joe Markowski also passed away yesterday, although that news was overshadowed by word of Dio’s demise. Reader \m/Eluveitie\m/ e-mailed me today to bemoan the lack of justice in the world – “Yet Durst Lives???” Sad but true.

The rumors have been confirmed; Ronnie James Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer and passed away at 7:45am this morning. He was 67.

Rumors began circulating last night that Dio had passed, but his wife Wendy Dio shot them down late last night / early this morning with a statement saying “He is not doing good, but he is not dead.” Only a few hours later she posted the statement you see above at his official website RonnieJamesDio.com confirming his death. The death comes as a surprise to all of us as the announcement that he had stomach cancer came not even 6 months ago. Dio had planned to continue on with Heaven and Hell’s European Summer tour though the band recently canceled those dates; in retrospect, that could have been a sign that his condition had taken a sudden turn for the worse.

In Dio we lost an incredible man and singer whose influence on metal was undeniably profound. I don’t believe that it would be hyperbole to say that this is the biggest loss the metal world has ever experienced. Not much else to say here other than that this is incredibly upsetting news that will be felt for days, months and years to come by the worldwide metal community.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Dio and his incredibly prolific metal career in the comments below and on Dio’s official Facebook page.

- Everyone at MetalSucks

The dudes at Metal Insider (via tipster/friend of MetalSucks Stabitha C) have come across what might the find of the year: this video of featuring the single “An Angel is Missing” by Ronnie and the Red Caps… “Ronnie” in this case being Ronnie James Dio (or just “Ronnie Dio,” as he’s called here), who not only sings, but plays the bass and trumpet as well. The single was recording in 1959, a good ten years before the formation of Elf (which also featured Ronnie and the Red Caps guitarist Nick Pantas!) and a decade and a half prior to the first Rainbow album.

I don’t think it’s any secret that Dio had a non-metal musical career earlier in his life, but I’ve never actually heard any of the music he made during that period before. Plus, check out that photo of the young Mr. Dio! WEIRD!!!

-AR