Heavy metal icon Ronnie James Dio lost his battle with stomach cancer yesterday morning at 7:45  a.m. He was 67-years-old.

His wife, Wendy Dio, posted on his website:

My heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away. Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all.

Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.

Dio fronted the bands Elf and Rainbow during the ’70s and replaced Ozzy Osbourne as vocalist for Black Sabbath in 1979. Together they released the monumental albums “Heaven and Hell” in 1980 and “Mob Rules” in 1981.

He formed the band Dio in 1982 and continued to make heads bleed with the albums “Holy Diver,” “The Last in Line,” “Dream Evil,” “Sacred Heart” and “Lock Up the Wolves.” In 2007, Dio reunited once again with Black Sabbath to tour under the moniker Heaven and Hell.

Dio is credited for making the “devil’s horns” hand gesture the official symbol of unity among those who choose to rock and not suck.

Some of his most recent projects included a hilarious cameo in the 2006 Jack Black film Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny and the 2009 Heaven & Hell CD release “The Devil You Know.”

Tonight, we all shall dream evil.

(Thanks to headbanger Adi V. for waking me up from my drunken stupor with the sad news.)