News: Michael Sweet joined Bowling for Ronnie charity event

2025 “BOWL FOR RONNIE” CELEBRITY BOWLING PARTYBRINGS IN OVER $85,000 FORRONNIE JAMES DIO STAND UP AND SHOUT CANCER FUND  SRO Event Hosted by Eddie Trunk BringsRockers and Supporters Together to Raise Awareness and Funds for Cancer Charity PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City, California was filled to capacity on November 13 with rock musicians, bowling enthusiasts and DIO fans for the annual BOWL FOR RONNIE Celebrity Bowling Party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund (www.diocancerfund.org). With sponsor lanes and spectator tickets officially sold out well in advance, the event brought in over $85,000 for the music industry cancer charity.  

Broadcast personality Eddie Trunk, who is heard on SiriusXM’s 103 Faction Talk channel, hosted once again and bowled with his team of celebrity musicians comprising Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler; Brent Woods (Gene Simmons, Chevy Metal, Sebastian Bach); Shavarsh “Shavo” Odadjian of System of a Down, Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) and Rick Thomas of Truckee, California, who prevailed as the highest bidder in the charity’s eBay auction for a place on Eddie’s team. 

Eddie Trunk’s Team, Clockwise from upper left: Brent Woods, Eddie Trunk, Adam Jones (Tool),Shavo, Geezer Butler, Nuno Bettencourt and Rick Thomas (Photo by Craig Newman)
Geezer Butler, along with his wife/manager Gloria Butler, were proud to introduce their singer-songwriter granddaughter Carolina Chase Butler (@carolinachasemusic) to the media gathered along the red carpet.
From left: Wendy Dio, Geezer Butler, Carolina Chase and Gloria Butler (Photo by Ron Lyons) 
Other attendees this year included Doug Aldrich (Dio, Dead Daisies, Whitesnake); Dennis Atlas (Toto); Sebastian Bach as well as his bandmate Frederico Delfino; Ira Black (Dio Disciples, Vio-Lence); Rob “Blasko” Nicholson (Ozzy Osbourne); Leah Bluestein (Eagles of Death Metal); Ann Boleyn of Hellion; Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group); Bobby Brown, who attended with his wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown and singer Macy Gray; Jacob Bunton (Steven Tyler, Billy Idol); John Bush (Armored Saint); Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses); Fred Coury (Cinderella); Daniel Dekay (Midnight); Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat); Matt Duncan (DC4); Bjorn Englen (Dio Band, Soul Sign); Marc Ferrari (Keel); Damon Fox (Bigelf, The Cult); Alex Holycross (Native Howl); Dino Jelusick (Whitesnake); Alistair (AJ) James (Steven Adler); Adam Jones (Tool); Danny Koker and Stoney Curtis (Count’s 77 and Counting Cars on the History Channel); Oni Logan (Lynch Mob, Dio Disciples); Paul Masdival (Cynic); Sean McNabb (Dokken, Quiet Riot); Billy McNicol, Bhargav Choudhury and C.J. Wilson of the Billy McNicol Band; Jason Charles Miller; Victor Orlando (GAP Band); Jeff Pilson (Foreigner); Rowan Robertson, Scott Warren and Simon Wright of the Dio band; Chaz Ruiz, Rob Jones and Tommy Gardner of Yachtley Crew; Robert Sarzo (Hurricane); Howie Simon (Winger, Starship); Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper); Michael Sweet (Stryper); George Thorogood; Brian Tichy (Whitesnake); Neil Turbin (Anthrax); Chris Velez (Persekutor); Chas West, T-Bone Andersson, Jason Cornwall and Dave “Chili” Moreno of Westbound; Jordan Ziff (RATT); musicians Kenny Aronoff, Jason Ebs, Gus Dubbern, John Heintz, Marco Minnemann and Neal Carter; Keith Cunningham, Stew Herrera and “Full Metal Jackie” Kajzer of KLOS Radio; Larry Morgia, Chris Parker, Chris Porridge, Todd Savran, Scott Waters and Jordan “Junkman” West of the newly relaunched KNAC.com; DJ Will; Regina Banali, Rita Haney, Riki Rachtman and artist Robert Vargas; producers Wyn Davis and Jay Ruston; actors Ali Afshar, Al Coronel (“The Last Ship”) and Star Fields (“Sons of Anarchy”) and filmmakers Myles Erfuth and Mark Jewusiak.
Event Highlights:
From left: Daniela and Doug Aldrich, Jeff and Ravinder Pilson, Oni Logan andDelilah Dio Gimenez (Photo by Craig Newman)

From left: Alicia Etheredge-Brown, Bobby Brown, Wendy Dio and Macy Gray (Photo by Ron Lyon) 

From left: Simon Wright, Ann Boleyn and Sean McNabb (Photo by @JeffCogginsPhoto)

George Thorogood joins the fun for the first time (Photo by Alex Kluft) 

From left: Jason Cornwell, Chas West and Dave ‘Chili’ Moreno of West Bound (Photo by Alex Kluft)
From left: Rita Haney, Sebastian Bach and his wife Suzanne Le Bach (Photo by Ron Lyon)
Legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff (Photo by @JeffCogginsPhoto)
Photo by PG Brunelli
The Board of Directors presented Dr. David Wong, whose team at the UCLA School of Dentistry has had the support of the Dio Cancer Fund for its research in the development of salivary biomarkers for gastric cancer detection since 2016, a check for an additional $25,000 toward his team’s research on a simple, non-invasive saliva swab test for early cancer detection. 

Check presentation to Dr. David Wong by Dio Cancer Fund board members, from left: Paul Newman,Sean McNabb, Mary Kusnier, Andy Gould, Adam Parsons, Dr. David Wong, Dr. Sandy Kapoor, Wendy Dio,Delilah Dio Gimenez, Nick Jackson, Sabrina Ment and Eddie Trunk (Photo by PG Brunelli) Following an interlude of feverish, highly competitive bowling, the winning teams were presented with trophies by Wendy Dio and Eddie Trunk. The Dean Schachtel Award for the Highest Individual Score (199) went to Mike Knutson of the Pants Optional team. 

Mike Knutson accepts his award from Wendy Dio (Photo by Alex Kluft)
The Steve Strange Award for the Highest Celebrity Score (179) was won by Stoney Curtis ofCount’s 77, who played on the Rolling Bones team, with Brian Tichy and DJ Will right behind him with tied scores of 177 each.  
1st PLACE CELEBRITY TEAM was won by YACHTLEY CREW, from left: Chaz Ruiz, Brian Jones,Rob Jones, Mike Fasano, Aaron Zepeda and Tommy Gardner (Photo by PG Brunelli)
2nd PLACE CELEBRITY TEAM From left: Gilby Clarke, Brian Tichy, Sean McNabb,Scott Courtright, Marc Ferrari and Howie Simon (Photo by Alex Kluft)

3rd PLACE CELEBRITY TEAM included Regina Banali, Blasko, Jason Ebs, Star Fields, Karin Shaw andAl Coronel (shown accepting the team’s award from Wendy Dio)  (Photo by Alex Kluft)
1st PLACE SPONSOR TEAM was won by KNAC.COM, from left:  DJ Will, Chris Parker,Jordan “Junkman” West, Chris Pirri, Todd Savran and Riki Rachtman (Photo by Alex Kluft)

2nd PLACE SPONSOR TEAM “The Rolling Bones” from left:  Stoney Curtis, Danny Koker,Scotty Ludwig, Doug Burgess, Sebastian Bach and Michael Sweet.  (Photo by PG Brunelli)
3rd PLACE SPONSOR TEAM: Danny Wimmer Presents (from left) Kiki Kravitz, Olivia Kravitz,Kathi Wimmer, Jimmy Hunt, Julien Hinz, Landon Hill, Wendy Dio and Mary Kusnier (Photo by Alex Kluft)
The special KING OF ROCK & ROLL AWARD, created to acknowledge above and beyond support for the Dio Cancer Fund, was presented to Barry Drinkwater and Benny Lindstrom of Global Merchandising Services. 
Benny Lindstrom accepts the award from Wendy Dio (Photo by Alex Kluft)
Regina Banali, widow of Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali, announced the new FRANKIE BANALI AWARD, to be given annually to a celebrity who has continually and generously supports the Dio Cancer Fund with their time and efforts. The inaugural award went to Dio drummer Simon Wright.


Wendy Dio and Regina Banali with the FRANKIE BANALI AWARD (Photo by Alex Kluft) 

Highlights of the 2025 BOWL FOR RONNIE can be viewed here:
BOWL FOR RONNIE 2025
(Video by Alex Castino) In addition to all of the celebrities who support and participate in our events each year, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund would like to thank:
everyone who generously donated by sponsoring a lane: 5B Artist Management, Axel Honey, BMG, Clair Global, DEB Concerts (The Rolling Bones), ESX Productions,Global Merchandising Services, Inc., Horns for Padavona, Kapoor Medical, KNAC.com, Luxxtone Guitars, McBride Wealth Management, Metal Blade Records, Niji Entertainment Group, Inc., Pali Wine Company, Pants Optional, Papercut TV, Adam Parsons Entertainment, Rhino/Warner Bros. Records, Rockefellas TV, Rick Sales Entertainment, Spectacle Group/Andy Gould, TKO (The Kirby Organization), Upstaging, Viper Cabling, Danny Wimmer Presents (Down With Pins) and Yachtley Crew as well as our friends at Cancer Support Community LA, START Animal Rescue and the veterans group Vet Tix…
…and the volunteers who generously gave of their time:

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