Ronnie James Dio, the metal god who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath and later piloted the bands Heaven & Hell and Dio, has died aged 67, his wife and manager say.

Dio announced last (northern) autumn he was suffering from stomach cancer. He was being treated at a Houston hospital, according to his website.

\"My heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45am," said a statement by Wendy Dio posted on Sunday on the site and confirmed by publicist Maureen O\'Connor.

Wendy Dio said friends and family were able to say their goodbyes to her husband, and asked for privacy. She concluded: "Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."

Read Wendy Dio's full statement here. Read the New York Times obituary here.