In the history of heavy metal, perhaps no one is more beloved than Ronnie James Dio. And for good reason.

Ronnie's passion for the hard stuff delivered him from a promising pop career in the early-'60s to a life devoted to metal a decade later. Through his time in Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and his eponymous band, Dio, Ronnie was a champion of hard rock, uncompromising in his creative vision and endlessly inspiring to other artists.

As Dio: Dreamers Never Die documentary co-directors Don Argott and Demian Fenton learned while researching their subject, there were numerous inflection points in Ronnie's career where it must have looked like he was making huge mistakes.

"A lot of people obviously just go down those roads [in their careers] because they feel like if they don’t, they won’t have a career," Don tells Q104.3 New York's QN'A. "That tells you everything you need to know about Ronnie’s character. He was willing to throw it all away, but in his heart, he knew he had this talent to fall back on. He had so much belief in himself and his ability that he wasn’t scared by those things."

Ronnie's widow, Wendy Dio, and the co-directors Argott and Fenton caught up with QN'A earlier this month to discuss the unique challenges of making Dreamers Never Die and what makes Ronnie's story is so empowering.

The long-awaited documentary premieres worldwide on September 28.

The movie is essential viewing for any rock fan. It explores Ronnie's life, career and artistry in revelatory detail, highlighting the ambition and sensitivity that made him such a magnetic force.

Read the conversation via the QN'A below!

Go here to find a Dreamers Never Die screening near you!

Jilly