Claude Schnell Interview - Dio (Musicians Institute, 2010)

Jason Saulnier interviews keyboardist Claude Schnell on December 3, 2010, at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. In this archival interview, Claude Schnell discusses his career as a keyboardist and his experiences working in the hard rock and heavy metal scene. Schnell is best known for his years as a member of Dio, performing alongside legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio during one of the most celebrated periods of the band's career. His keyboard work can be heard on classic Dio albums including “The Last in Line,” “Sacred Heart” and “Dream Evil.” Before and beyond his work with Dio, Schnell was associated with bands including Magic and Rough Cutt. He also contributed keyboards to Y&T’s album “Down for the Count,” adding another notable hard rock credit to his career. Claude Schnell’s keyboards became an important part of Dio’s sound during the 1980s, adding atmosphere and depth alongside the band's powerful guitars, rhythm section and Ronnie James Dio’s unmistakable vocals. This 2010 interview, recorded at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, offers a look back at Claude Schnell’s career and his contributions to hard rock and heavy metal. Interview conducted by Jason Saulnier on December 3, 2010, at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. 0:00 Teaching at MI 1:08 Tailoring student needs 2:26 Collaborating with Magnus 3:40 Modern production tech 5:59 Honesty in composition 7:30 Early musical roots 8:59 Instruments and sampling 10:33 The organic piano 13:42 First gig with Dio 16:08 Performing rock classics 17:55 John Lord's validation 19:28 Fan interactions 21:15 Hand surgery incident 25:06 Future projects and legacy

Added 16 Oct 2026