Download Festival Name Stage After Ronnie James Dio

Download Festival are paying tribute to Ronnie James Dio by naming a stage after him.

The 67-year-old Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Heaven & Hell legend lost his battle with stomach cancer on Sunday.

In response to the sad news, organisers of Download Festival are renaming the Second Stage at this year’s festival The Ronnie James Dio Stage in an ultimate tribute.

The stage will be jointly sponsored by Metal Hammer magazine and Scuzz TV.

In a second tribute, Download will also be renaming the main stage The Maurice Jones Stage in honour of the co-founder of the Monsters Of Rock festival at Donington.

Jones passed away last year and with 2010 marking the 30th anniversary of rock music at Donington Park, it takes on extra poignancy.

Headlined by AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine and Aerosmith, Download Festival takes place on June 11 – 13.