# Tracy G quits Dio after six years

> Tracy G leaves Dio after six years of lead guitar, saying solos are his identity.
- Title: Tracy G quits Dio after six years · Guitar World | Shortify
- Summary: Tracy G leaves Dio after six years of lead guitar, saying solos are his identity. Tracy G quit Dio after six years, stating he would not play rhythm if his…
- Keywords: tracy g, ronnie james dio, dio band, strange highways, angry machines, guitarist, Tracy, quits, Dio, six, years, Guitar World
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/tracy-g-on-why-he-quit-the-dio-band
- Published: 2026-10-25T11:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tracy g, ronnie james dio, dio band, strange highways, angry machines, guitarist
## Dio's band lineup shift
Tracy G auditioned twice for Dio after Black Sabbath lost money on Dehumanizer.
## Dio's new guitarist
Tracy G joined Dio with bassist Jeff Pilson for 1993's Strange Highways album.
## Recording timeline
Strange Highways took six weeks to record, Angry Machines eight weeks.
## Dio's lead guitar change
Dio brought back Craig Goldy on lead guitar, ending Tracy G's role.
## Tracy G's exit reason
Tracy G quit after six years, saying solos are his identity and he would not play rhythm.

> I had played guitar and lead guitar for Ronnie for six years, and now he asked me to play rhythm. When I solo... that's when and how I express myself. If you take that from me, then I'm out.
## Key takeaway

Tracy G quit Dio after six years, stating he would not play rhythm if his solos were taken away.