Vinyl Las Vegas inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino presents Last in Line.

Last in Line at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas
Photo by Jo Anna Jackson

The original musicians making up Ronnie James Dio’s namesake band from the 80’s reunited together this year to tour and relive the songs they wrote and created together. Under the moniker Last in Line (from the Dio album of the same name) drummer Vinny Appice, bassist Jimmy Bain, keyboardist Claude Schnell, and guitarist Vivian Campbell put together a revival lineup with vocalist Andrew Freeman (Offspring), bringing back some of the semblance of the early Dio years live on stage again.

Last in Line played Vinyl Las Vegas and kept up the Dio legacy, there was a great vibe in the room, and the love for the music and the genre represented by the players shone clearly through as the members opened with “Stand up and Shout” to a packed room of fans. Vocalist Freeman is not a Dio clone or tries to be, but carries a powerhouse voice that can belt out the classic tunes for a great tribute. Vivian Campbell smoked on solos he made famous as the band played through every song from Holy DIver, quite a few from Last in Line album, and touched on Sacred Heart, finishing out the set with an encore of “Gypsy” and fist pumping anthem “We Rock”. The guts of the early years radiated in the performance, but just as much reiterated how much Ronnie James is dearly missed by fans and devotees and the hole he left in their music world.

The Last in Line has played a short stint in Europe and a couple dates here in the US, but the original tour schedule was cut down due to Campbell’s diagnosis and treatment for cancer very recently. Campbell seemed in great form and enjoying the show here in Vegas, and news is the treatment and recovery is strong. The website has info on the band and where they may go from here, you can follow them at http://www.lastinlinerocks.com/

Vinny Appice of Last in Line at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas
Photo by Jo Anna Jackson

Last in Line at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas
Photo by Jo Anna Jackson

 

Last in Line at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas
Photo by Jo Anna Jackson