BLACK SABBATH ARE BACK!!!

[Dino]

The original line up held a press conference in America yesterday to announce they'd be headlining the Download festival. *yawn They've reformed for gigs before... but this time... NEW ALBUM!!! Oh, NOW we're talking!

I haven't heard much of the Ronnie James Dio years. Or even the Ian Gillan er... "year", but the original line up of Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and of course, Ozzy Osbourne are making their first studio album since Never Say Die.

This is excellent news as from that line up on "Technical Ecstasy" didn't quite match up. "Sabotage" is a fantastic album housed in a terrible album cover.
The band with the original line up can't do wrong in my book. So this is a thread for all Black Sabbath fans on Planet Skaro. There has to be a few of them!
If you are more familiar with the late Ronnie James Dio years, then you can fill in some of the blanks for me! But until then, here's my favourites in You Tube form.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCjspyo-_aI "The Wizard" from their first album.

"Electric Funeral" the lyrics may sound laughable today, but I can't think of another band who wrote about nuclear weapons from 1970. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GWdfiCO_Ws Or at least other bands who wrote about nuclear weapons never had a riff as good as this!

"Master Of Reality" is currently being hyped by music magazines as their overlooked album (*coughNEVERSAYDIE*cough) and it's still good. It still deserves to be looked at again. But better things were to come. Here's "Children Of The Grave" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp-9jeiBzHQ

"Vol. 4" Aww... I love that album so much. It does contain "Changes" which Ozzy re-recorded with his daughter for that 2003 number one. And it also has "Supernaut" (A take on "Astronaut" geddit?) and this album is in their words "Vol. 4 is a great album, but listening to it now, I can see it as a turning point for me, where the alcohol and drugs stopped being fun." Here's my favourite "Cornucopia" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilqKj1dsEk4

"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" was more progressive with orchestrations and guest appearances by Rick Wakeman. The title track is what most metal is made of, but the closing "Spiral Architect" is nothing short of a thing of beauty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r15MOmLGehE

"Sabotage". An album that was meant to reconnect with their four piece rock roots. It did... it just had a terrible album cover. And if you had the patience to sit through "Spiral Architect", this one's even longer! A song about the band about to go onstage when they were handed with a writ from some lawyer. We've all been there haven't we? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3eXPlk9-2g "The Writ".

"Technical Ecstasy" I agree this one was quite hit and miss. But when it's good... I wondered why this song never got the exposure "Changes" got. Turns out it was sung by drummer Bill Ward. But "It's Alright" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV7LDGC5m8g

"Never Say Die". The last Ozzy album. I always liked it and had no idea why Ozzy hated it so much. "The last album I did with Sabbath was Never Say Die and it was the worst piece of work that I've ever had anything to do with. I'm ashamed of that album. I think it's disgusting." Come come, Ozzy! It was pretty good. "Over To You" was great. Seeing it was a slower version of the hair metal America would throw back at the world next decade. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnIt8ZPlywI And even Bill Ward finished the album with "Swinging The Chain" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX-fX0fPi9E I love his sign off to the listener at 2:16

So that's that. That's my favourites from the Ozzy era. If anyone wants to take the story on, feel free! Black Sabbath are back next year and it's about time.

Or do any of you need this after listening to this post?

[Anthony Williams]

I'm a HUGE Sabbath fan, and I'm actually fairly disappointed with the reunion news. A new album was promised when they first reunited over 10 years ago - and that failed to materialise. New material was written and subsequently scrapped because it "wasn't good enough" - coupled with the fact that I have no desire to see Ozzy on stage yelling "let's go f***ing crazy!" every five minutes. After the last (extremely successful) reunion with Dio, which resulted in an absolutely killer album with two amazing tours, I can't help but feel that Sabbath should've died with Dio and gone out on a real high...

Anyway, carrying things on from where Dino left off, I will go through the Dio, Gillan, Hughes and Martin eras...

So, having sacked Ozzy, they recruited former Rainbow singer, Ronnie James Dio, and released the magnificent Heaven and Hell album, which is my very favourite Sabbath album of all of them. Dio brought a vocal talent which Ozzy could never provide, spurring the band onto new highs. My choice cut from the album is the wonderful Die Young, which I genuinely believe is probably the best rock song of all time - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frtJQFe9apw

However, during the tour for the album, Bill Ward realised that he had succumbed to alcoholism, and was unable to continue with the band (to this day, he insists that he is unable to remember recording the Heaven and Hell album). So, out went Ward, and in came new tubthumper Vinnie Appice. This was the line-up that would go on to release Mob Rules - which, while not as good as Heaven and Hell, was still a very solid album. My favourite track from this is the doomy epic The Sign of the Southern Cross - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgjmxYL04V4

But then the strangest thing happened. Dio and Appice left, in a storm of accusations about the mixing of the live album that they were putting out - Live Evil. Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice have all got together since, and said that they've come to the conclusion that it was all a misunderstanding, and have laughed it off. Is this the case? Well, we'll probably never know. Following that, there was another strange occurrence - Ian Gillan, from Deep Purple, joined as the new singer.

The story goes that Iommi, Butler and Gillan all got drunk together. The next morning, with little recollection of the night before, Gillan gets a call from his manager - he had agreed to join Sabbath and had even signed a contract while he was drunk! That's it, he was in the band. Bill Ward rejoined, too. The resulting album was Born Again - with it's infamous devil baby cover. Driven by doomy riffs and Gillan's trademarked silly lyrics, I actually love this album. By far the best track is Zero the Hero, which has a riff so good that Guns 'n' Roses decided to copy it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwoT9_StEfY

But this was another line-up doomed to failure. Sabbath went into dark times - both Butler and Ward left, believing that Sabbath would lose all credability if they recruited a fourth singer. Iommi auditioned other singers - both Dave Donato and Jeff Fenholt held auditions (and there's an entire demo tape of Fenholt material). Eventually, Iommi took his music from the Fenholt sessions, and decided to release a solo album - the plan was to have a number of different singers, including Rob Halford (of Judas Priest) and Glenn Hughes (formerly of Deep Purple).

However, Iommi recorded a few songs with Glenn Hughes, and decided that he liked the result so much, that he would use Hughes for the entire album. After the album was recorded, the record label decided that, since Iommi was still contracted to provide them with a couple more albums, that they would put it out as a Sabbath album. The record was eventually released as Seventh Star, by Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi. It's a fairly strong album, but if you go in expecting a Sabbath album, you would be sorely disappointed - have an open mind, and enjoy it! My choice cut is the one single that was put out - No Stranger to Love - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ4owg9ICHc

I don't want this post to get too long, so I will be back later to talk about the Tony Martin years, the two Dio reunions and Tony's three solo albums!

[Anthony Williams]

So... just incase anyone is interested, I'll carry on with this...

I left off with the release of Seventh Star. However, the tour did not go well. Only a few shows into it, Glenn Hughes got into a drunk-fuelled fight, which left him with severe vocal problems, and was unable to sing - he fully admits that this was one of the darkest periods of his life. A new chap was brought in at very short notice - a charismatic young American by the name of Ray Gillen. In my opinion, he was the best singer Sabbath ever had. Period. You can hear him singing Heaven and Hell with the band on a bootleg here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBYehEoCJC4

But this era was not set to last. While Seventh Star was forced out under the Sabbath name, Iommi, Gillen and Bob Daisley started working on what was to be the follow-up album. After recording a series of demos, Gillen left the band, believing that Sabbath were a spent force, and wouldn't go anywhere again. The next album was eventually released with credits going to a huge number of people for their contributions. This was released under the name of The Eternal Idol, and was relatively ignored at the time. My favourite track is the lead single, The Shining, which can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLtJo30OGeM (and the demo version with Ray Gillen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfwTWBjraV4)

For the next album, Iommi and Martin focused on really strengthening the Sabbath name, and brought in Cozy Powell (formerly of Rainbow) on drums, and session bassist Laurence Cottle. Neil Murray, formerly of Whitesnake, would replace Cottle on tour. The resulting album Headless Cross, is an absolute masterpiece - a doomy album, sounding like as close to classic Sabbath as a late 80s album possibly could. The title track is probably the best cut from the album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPrHOrtFsrs, although Devil and Daughter is an excellent track, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh8-N4LCU5w

For the first time since Mob Rules, we have a band where three members are consistent for the next album - the touring line-up from Headless Cross stayed on to record the magnificent TYR - a semi-concept album based around Norse mythology. I actually think that this is one of the strongest albums that Sabbath ever recorded, with any line-up. Just about every song is brilliant, except the throwaway Feels Good to Me. I honestly recommend the entire album, but special mentions have to go to Anno Mundi - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xStOwBhImuY, Jerusalem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxlBgZj8RAQ and The Sabbath Stones - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziySrAPpKAs.

Despite the artistic success of this line-up (and Iommi has since said that they were building momentum), Geezer turned up on the scene, and convinced that it was time to reunite with Dio. Out went Martin, Powell and Murray, and back in came Dio, Geezer and Appice. They recorded what was quite possibly the heaviest album to bear the Sabbath name - the mighty Dehumanizer. A lot of people really love this album, but I find it disappointing after TYR. So anyway, my favourite track from it is easily Master of Insanity - a track laden with classic Iommi riffs, and some powerful singing from Dio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBADDzsfeRk

Sadly, this reunion was short lived. After Dio refused to front a Sabbath that was opening for Ozzy on his "retirement" tour, the Sabs tried to reunite with Ozzy. He initially said that he would do it, but eventually decided not to. Iommi and Geezer stayed on in the band, brought back Tony Martin, and brought in another former Rainbow drummer - Bobby Rondinelli. This line-up eventually recorded Cross Purposes - another absolute stormer of an album, which has been sadly mostly ignored since. Psychophobia is probably the best track on the album - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hLBb4sKQfQ

This line-up was also fairly short-lived. Eventually, Rondinelli walked off the tour, and Bill Ward came in to replace him, playing with Sabbath for the first time since the Born Again tour ten years earlier. However, neither Ward nor Geezer stayed on past the tour, and Iommi and Martin reformed the TYR line-up for what would eventually become the final Black Sabbath album for 16 years (providing they fulfill their promise of a new album next year). Sadly, Forbidden was not a good album to go out on - produced by Ernie C of Body Count, and featuring a vocal from Ice-T on one of the tracks - what WERE they thinking!? There were some good tracks on the album, but it really wasn't great. The title track, however, is worth checking out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1ZjX3MEZvI

That, for now, is the album history of Black Sabbath. I will be making one more post in this series, summing up the nine years of album-less Ozzy reunion, the three Iommi solo albums, and the Heaven and Hell project.

[Anthony Williams]

And just to cap it off, here's my final part:

So, Ozzy first returned to Sabbath in 1997, after Forbidden completed the band's contractual obligation to IRS Records, and Tony Martin was released from his contract. A new album was promised - and although there were two lacklustre bonus studio tracks on the Reunion live album, the promised studio album never materialised.

With a lack of anything forthcoming from Sabbath, Iommi focused on his solo career (which he never toured for). The first one to be released to the general public was his self-titled Iommi, featuring a number of guest musicians and singers (as had been the original plan for Seventh Star). Notable guests included Brian May, Phil Anselmo, Dave Grohl and many others. My two choice cuts are Meat - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ZlJsFeyy4, which featured singer Skin from Skunk Anansie, and Who's Fooling Who - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbgwoM6W7GA, which is the closest there was to a Sabbath track, featuring Ozzy on vocals, Bill Ward on drums and Laurence Cottle on bass (he also played bass on The Eternal Idol)

The next album to be released under the Iommi name has an interesting history. Iommi's first attempt at a solo album started in 1996. That was shelved. However, the demos were widely circulated as a bootleg, known as Eighth Star. They featured Glenn Hughes on vocals and bass, and his former Trapeze bandmate, Dave Holland, on drums. It was eventually decided to release this in 2004, under the name of The 1996 DEP Sessions (catchy title, right!?), with the drumming re-recorded, as Dave Holland had been convicted of attempted rape of a teenager, and Iommi didn't want a sex offender on his album. The album itself marks a change from Iommi's usual style, with Hughes' trademark soul permeating Iommi's classic style. I love this album, dearly, and my favourite track has got to be the fantastic Don't Drag the River - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkrC_UEJaBQ

The final Iommi solo album was also recorded with Glenn Hughes on the vocals and bass combo spot, with session drummer Kenny Aronoff. This album was much heavier than the previous one, and was entitled Fused - and I love this one even more than the DEP Sessions. Big Name Sabbath Fan Joe Siegler described this as the closest to a thing to a Sabbath album since Forbidden. Up to that point, anyway. My favourite track, by far, is the superb What You're Living For - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0yNrubJP34

Now finally, the Mob Rules/Heaven and Hell line-up reunited in 2006. Iommi and Geezer, bored with touring with Ozzy and replaying the same songs set after set (watch any of the videos from the 2005 Ozzfest, and Geezer and Tony just look so utterly BORED), brought Dio back on board. The recorded several new songs for The Dio Years - a Black Sabbath retrospective of Dio's time in Sabbath. This, being so successful, caused them to go on and form Heaven and Hell - basically Black Sabbath under another name - something that they recognised, causing their album to be named The Devil You Know - a reference to their Black Sabbath heritage.

I love The Devil You Know. It's a doom-laden epic of an album. Even though Dio was over 65 when he recorded his vocals for it, he's still fantastic. Iommi and Geezer, recording together for the first time since Cross Purposes, remind everyone what a great team they made. Vinnie Appice, played a fairly simple game with drums, but they're not the focus of this album. Stand-out tracks, in my opinion, are the opener - Atom and Evil - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2PBUubvHp4 and the closer, the aptly named Breaking into Heaven - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRRee3Ee4I0

Heaven and Hell had planned to record and release a follow-up album in 2010. But it was not to happen. Dio was struck with stomach cancer, an illness that he sadly passed away with on May 16th, 2010. I had hoped that this would be the end of Black Sabbath, and that they would go out on a high.

However, they've since decided to reunite with Ozzy and Bill Ward, and record a new album. We'll see if that happens - and will it be anywhere near as good as The Devil You Know? Time will tell!

[Dino]

I'm happy how the band have rallied round, and Tony's optimistic but...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/m...ng-cancer.html

His bandmates - with whom he has recently been reunited to record a new album - have asked for fans to send ''positive vibes'' to the 63-year-old musician.
The hard rock pioneers recently reformed with their original line-up to work on their first album together for 33 years.
A statement released on behalf of the band said: ''Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan - the Iron Man of rock & roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery.''
The group, widely credited with creating heavy metal, insist they will plough on with plans for the new album.

Black Sabbath had also lined up a series of major dates during the year.
Iommi and colleagues Ozzy Osbourne, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward announced last year that they were together again once more. They had been writing and recording in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin on an album due for release in the autumn.
The statement said the group would continue to work on the recording: ''They will now go to the UK to continue to work with Tony. Further information will be released as it becomes available.''

[Dino]

And the news seems to get worse.

Black Sabbath have responded to drummer Bill Ward's statement about leaving the band with their own promise to continue without him.

In an open letter, the drummer, part of the iconic band's original line up, said he would pull out of this summer's planned reunion shows and recording sessions for a new album unless he was presented with a "signable contract."

However, in a statement on their Facebook page, the remaining three members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler indicated they will carry on regardless.

They wrote: We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans. We have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open.

The statement went on to say: "We are still in the UK with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll...See you at Download!!!"

Tony Iommi was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, causing the band to move their recording sessions from Los Angeles to the UK, where the guitarist is receiving treatment.

They reportedly backed out of a planned headlining slot at Coachella and their European summer tour seemed to be in jeopardy, though the above statement makes it clear they plan on performing at the Download Festival on June 10th.

Black Sabbath toured without Bill Ward when the original line-up reformed in 1997, but he joined up with the group the following year. In 2004 a contract dispute almost caused him to not participate on that summer's Ozzfest tour, but he eventually agreed and joined in.

"After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract," Ward wrote in his recent letter. "I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honour all that I've brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning."

He also addresses the possibility that the group might replace him. "If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans," he wrote. "I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath line-up as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to Sabbath is intact."

http://www.nme.com/news/black-sabbath/61840

[Dave Tudor]

Oh dear. It's not looking good, is it?

[Anthony Williams]

Well, I'm a bit late with this, but you'd really hope that they'd sorted out all this contract malarkey before they had the press conference back in November...

[Dino]

Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi has said that the metal icons will be touring "as much as we're able" next year.

Writing in a post on his website, Iommi.com, the guitar player thanked fans for their support throughout the year and also made reference to his battle with cancer. He wrote: What a year! Certainly not the one I was expecting. Thanks to you all for your massive help and support, it was very encouraging. I'm still working on the album and managed to play three shows, not bad given the news a year ago. I'm looking forward to next year, seeing what you think of the record and touring as much as we're able.
He added: "My Best Wishes to you all, I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year, most of all, stay positive."

Black Sabbath recently revealed that they are six tracks into recording their new album, which is due for release in April of next year. Iommi has said that the final album will consist of 15 tracks.

They will be playing five shows in Australia and New Zealand in April and May of next year and will also be appearing at Ozzfest in Japan on May 12, 2013.

Black Sabbath were recently named the most important British hard rock band in a new poll by the BPI.

Sabbath took almost half of all votes cast. Iron Maiden and Led Zeppelin came in second and third respectively. Speaking about coming out on top of the poll, Sabbath stated: "We are honoured and flattered to be acknowledged in a poll like this which is voted for by the fans. We thank you."

http://www.nme.com/news/black-sabbath/67892

Maybe "most important hard rock" is for another thread. But great to hear how Tony is optimistic even though this thread has reminded how Bill Ward had quit.
But don't you want to hear the new album in the end, now?... (for image) and

[Dino]

Hi!

Still not bought the album yet, but it looks like the "No Bill... No Sabbath!" thinking hasn't stopped the album... going to number 1 in the UK album charts!

[Jeff]

I think I've heard the single 'God Is Dead?' once or twice on the radio, but I've been meaning to check it out properly on youtube along with anything else from the album that's been posted there. I recall liking what I heard though.

edit- full album is on youtube for the moment.. I expect it will be taken down before long though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1W-FIf8p_I

[Dino]

Managed to finally buy this album today. I'll be back on later with my thoughts.

[Dino]

Sorry I took a while getting back to you on this!
If I want a full on rock thing, I've been sticking this one on.
The opening song does sound like them recycling their best riffs from the first two albums (Black Sabbath Time Team... Please?...) but then maybe they were sick of all the other bands who recycled Black Sabbath riffs for their own careers.
Never expected the first song to have a bit a lot like Oasis four minutes in!!!
"God Is Dead" isn't bad lyrically but doesn't go anywhere musically.
The album really picks off from "Loner". I love the blues harmonica (And I love it so much I haven't even looked at the sleevenotes to see if it was a heartless sessionman playing it instead of Ozzy) in the penultimate track.
And "Dear Father" is probably the only song I've heard about institutional child abuse by the Clergy I've ever heard.
It begins with Tony swiping the strings of his guitar as is replicating the screams nobody came to investigate and it ends with a clap of thunder in a rainstorm and a toiling bell.

*Black Sabbath Time Team Pitch Etc Their actual song "Black Sabbath" starts with thunder in a rainstorm and a toiling bell.

I understand more and have come to terms with no Bill Ward. But Ozzy has said in an interview he was worried Bill would have had a heart attack playing the pieces. So it's that kindness that wasn't reported at the time has switched things around and even if we don't get another Black Sabbath studio album with Ozzy, Tony and Geezer ever again, this is the perfect ending.
Please buy the best British Metal album of 2013!

Yours,
A "Vol. 4" and "Never Say Die" fan!

[Dino]

It really is one thing or another with this band!

http://www.nme.com/news/black-sabbath/82533

Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has reportedly been arrested following a bar brawl in Death Valley, California.
TMZ reports that Butler was in the Corkscrew Saloon bar when a fight broke out on Tuesday night (January 27). He was arrested on charges of misdemeanour assault, public intoxication and vandalism.

According to a sheriff’s report, an argument "escalated into a physical confrontation" before an "individual being struck". The full press release from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office can be seen below:

"Shortly after midnight on January 27th Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call regarding a verbal and physical altercation that took place at the Corkscrew Saloon located at the Furnace Creek Ranch property in Death Valley National Park. After the Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on scene and interviewed witnesses it was determined that there had been an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation – resulting in an individual being struck, and a broken window. Terence Michael Butler a 65-year old man from Beverly Hills, CA was arrested for misdemeanor assault, public intoxication and vandalism. Butler was booked into the Inyo County Jail and released after detox and citation."

HOW old are you, Geezer?

Still, a new final ever album! Don't mind never ever seeing them live in my life if it's even better than "13"!