Dio's "The Last In Line" video

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As I channel surfed today I stumbled onto the second half of Ronnie James Dio's "The Last In Line" video. This is without question one of the most ridiculous videos ever. It brought me right back to my days as an 80's teenage metalhead. I must meet the director! There are so many unanswered questions! Apparently the star of our video (a teenage dirtbag resembling a young Billy Squier) takes an elevator ride to a very unpleasant "underworld" where RJD (who is wearing Cleopatra-like neckwear) is voicing the anger of the punished with his dulcet tones. Goofy looking teens are chained to giant fake rocks that have video games inside them with graphics a half step above Pong. For reasons unbeknownst to me, they scream in pain every few seconds. (Perhaps the song?) Anyway, our hero RJD finally uses a "light saber" to strike one of the monsters in the groin, thereby freeing Billy Squier to get back on the elevator and resume a Dio-free life. The final shot shows two monster guards dragging RJD away, but not before he can look into the camera with one more "...we're the last in line......WHOA OOOOOOOWO!!!!!!" So classic. God bless that sci-fi loving munchkin and his crappy songs!

Mark M, Friday, 8 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Here's the icing on the cake - this video even had a SEQUEL ("Rock and Roll Children") with the same teenage dirtbag in it!

dave q, Saturday, 9 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The same (very) low-budget post-apocalyptic aesthetic can also be seen in the vids for "This Corrosion" by the Sisters of Mercy and....er...."Adult Education" by Hall & Oates.

Alex in NYC, Saturday, 9 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

WE DON'T COME ALONE! WE ARE FIRE! WE ARE STONE! WE'RE THE HAND THAT WRITES AND QUICKLY MOVES AWAY!!!

your null fame, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

four years pass...
Ronnie James Dio has the best rock and roll voice ever! I think the video pwns all! If oyu dont like Ronnie James DIo you are totally ghey!

James newberger, Saturday, 27 May 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

You are a treat.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 May 2006 15:41 (nineteen years ago)

But we can't have this revived without the visual evidence, so:

"Last in Line"

"Rock'n'Roll Children"

And as a bonus!

"Rock'n' Roll Children" live on UK TV from 1986!

Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 May 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

I can actually get into the "Rock n Roll Children" video if drunk and sappy but yeah whoa "Last In Line" is something else. Didn't even know RnRC was supposed to be a sequel.

Sundar (sundar), Saturday, 27 May 2006 20:24 (nineteen years ago)

People in chains and metal cages were big in many 80s metal videos.
Oh yeah, it also helps if you have bunches of flying pentagrams, as that always looked pretty boss. The cheap light saber look was also rocked in one of those Def Leppard videos.

If I was one of these new thrash bands, I think getting that 80s video vibe would be something that I would strive to bring back.

Earl Nash (earlnash), Sunday, 28 May 2006 03:21 (nineteen years ago)

So classic. God bless that sci-fi loving munchkin and his crappy songs!

its a good song!

Q('.'Q) (eman), Sunday, 28 May 2006 03:31 (nineteen years ago)

I forgot all about the intro of LIL until seeing the video just now. It's a great example of the start-off-folky/wimpy-then-rock-out-fakeout (see also "Foolin'", "Battery"). Has there already been a thread about this form?

This all eventually led to "When the Children Cry," which took it as far as it could go, keeping it up for the entire song. Which was sort of a fakeout in itself (since there was no "surprise!" rocking-out at all).

drench, Sunday, 28 May 2006 18:33 (nineteen years ago)

fourteen years pass...

We search for the truth
We could die upon the tooth
But the thrill of just the chase
Is worth the pain

earlnash, Tuesday, 18 May 2021 03:52 (four years ago)


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