YOU could almost hear Ronnie James Dio squirming all the way from Los Angeles.

"I don't do ego questions very well," he apologised, when asked what he believed he brought to Black Sabbath as its frontman.

While Ozzy Osborne is the singer more synonymous with the legendary heavy metal group, let us not forget that the Dio years (1979-1982 and 1991-1992) were among the band's most heavyweight and most successful.

Dio believes it was his own brand of musicality which got him a pass onto Black Sabbath's centre stage.

"I'm not just a singer but a musician," he said. "I started off playing bass, I learned the trumpet when I was five years old and have always been into classical music.

"That musicality, plus the heaviness of Black Sabbath was an explosive formula.

"I also brought a pride to the band plus I think my background was a challenge to the other members."

Indeed, Ronnie - formerly of Elf and Rainbow, and lead singer of his own outfit, Dio - was once referred to as "the single most important vocal technician in the history of heavy metal".

"I didn't say that!" he protested after being reminded of the accolade. "It was someone else!

"But, technique IS the answer," he added.

"Some people can sing well - as you see on these pop idol programmes, but there is more to it than that. You have to know your own talent and know how to bring it forth.

"My success has been my longevity. Being at such a high level for so long, it has crossed generations.

"If that's my reputation, well, I can live with that."

Speaking to the Echo from California, the 58-year-old (who is actually 65 if the rumours are true) sounded polite yet tired.

Little wonder, as the last few months have been spent touring the world with original Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice.

Using the name Heaven and Hell (taken from the first Dio-fronted Black Sabbath recording of the same name) they kicked off the UK leg of their tour at Newcastle on Sunday, and will appear at the Bournemouth International Centre on November 18.

"It has been a busy few months," he said. "We've been non-stop, but it has been great,"

"The only negative thing is the travel. The band and the gigging are good."

Tickets have been flying out of the box offices. The first concert, which took place at New York's Radio City Music Hall in March, sold out in 20 minutes.

"That's not to say they have all been like that," he said. "But it set the tone,"

"I have noticed a built-in base - a core of fans. And thank God for that. But the cross section is huge. There are also sons and daughters of some of the older fans. It has been eye opening.

"Hopefully they are attracted by the good music, or it may be partly because of the legend of a band getting together, as many have. But the mentality of some fans may be let's see this before it stops'."

Perhaps the run of good luck has been down to Ronnie's now-famous devil horn hand gesture.

"I first saw my Italian granny making the symbol as protection against the evil eye. It sort of stuck with me, and I have become synonymous with it."

With a British wife, and having called this country home for a total of 10 or so years, Dio does feel a connection with the UK and as such as gotten to know the lay of the land'.

"I have been spoiled by British fans," he added. "They are so knowledgeable. And it is the British musicians who have re-introduced music back to where it started.

"So I have had good experiences with the UK, except the rise of the pound and the fall of the dollar.

"And you have some good real ales down in the south, don't you?"

A further connection comes in the form of fellow band members Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi, who are both from the Birmingham area.

Together with New Yorker Appice, it is the first time the iconic foursome have played together in 15 years.

"What is it like working together after a decade and a half? The same," Dio said with a shrug in his voice.

"There has been some horrific stories about how it ended before but these just weren't true, certainly as far as I am concerned.

"We are the same sort of people, from working class families, with the same attitude to music. We also like each other so it has been an easy thing to do.

"Camaraderie is a great catalyst to productivity. Getting back together hasn't been a revelation - we've done it three times now.

"But this time I'm happier than ever before."