For those of you who like them the "Classic" Black Sabbath line up of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward have announced some dates throughout Europe this summer. These will be Black Sabbath gigs rather than Ozzfest shows.
I personally hope this is a prelude to them finishing off the new album they've been working on sporadically for several years now.
Black Sabbath Tour
Re: Black Sabbath Tour
Its one going too be at Donington? so i read a few days ago!
Re: Black Sabbath Tour
Joyous news. Wonderful band, so influential.
Re: Black Sabbath Tour
Ozzy's voice is wrecked now. Alright he may be an original member but these days his voice is actually spoiling Sabbath. Have to say they sounded better with Tony Martin before Ozzy came back.
Re: Black Sabbath Tour
"Have to say they sounded better with Tony Martin before Ozzy came back."
God bless you! I totally agree. As much as I ADORE Sabbath with Ozzy for my money Sabbath is, always was and always will be Tony Iommi and Tony Martin was a phenomenal singer for Sabbath. When Sabbath featured Tony Martin and Cozy Powell on drums they were insanely powerful and they were regularly touring and putting out awesome albums.
The '97 reunion gigs were probably the best gigs I've ever seen but the reunion heralded the end of Sabbath as a creative band.
Alas history seems destined to record that Sabbath were only a great band when Ozzy was a member which is total bollocks perpetuated by London media scumbags working on crap magazines like Q and Kerrap.
God bless you! I totally agree. As much as I ADORE Sabbath with Ozzy for my money Sabbath is, always was and always will be Tony Iommi and Tony Martin was a phenomenal singer for Sabbath. When Sabbath featured Tony Martin and Cozy Powell on drums they were insanely powerful and they were regularly touring and putting out awesome albums.
The '97 reunion gigs were probably the best gigs I've ever seen but the reunion heralded the end of Sabbath as a creative band.
Alas history seems destined to record that Sabbath were only a great band when Ozzy was a member which is total bollocks perpetuated by London media scumbags working on crap magazines like Q and Kerrap.
Re: Black Sabbath Tour
I quite agree.
The 2 studio new songs that have been recorded since Ozzy came back left no kind of impression on me at all. Albums like the Eternal Idol, Headless Cross, and even Forbidden may not be all time greats in themselves but there are some superb riffs on many of those songs and at least Sabbath were still writing and recording. Now it seems they are touring as a kind of tribute to themselves rather than being an active band. This happens with some bands, while others like Uriah Heep, keep going with a mix of new and old songs. Will be interesting to see if Iommi carries on again when and if Ozzy leaves again.
The 2 studio new songs that have been recorded since Ozzy came back left no kind of impression on me at all. Albums like the Eternal Idol, Headless Cross, and even Forbidden may not be all time greats in themselves but there are some superb riffs on many of those songs and at least Sabbath were still writing and recording. Now it seems they are touring as a kind of tribute to themselves rather than being an active band. This happens with some bands, while others like Uriah Heep, keep going with a mix of new and old songs. Will be interesting to see if Iommi carries on again when and if Ozzy leaves again.
Re: Black Sabbath Tour
For my money it was noticeable that Iommi was kind of "Freed up" as a musician when Ozzy left, his playing on "Heaven and Hell" is incredible and "Seventh Star" is surely as good as anything the band recorded with Ozzy, it's a great album.
I suppose my dream scenario would be to see the original line-up record a new album, there is rumoured to be a LOT of great stuff already in the can. But if that isn't going to happen I'd be pleased as punch to see Tony Iommi out there recording and gigging with whomever he chooses because if it's Iommi it's Sabbath!
I suppose my dream scenario would be to see the original line-up record a new album, there is rumoured to be a LOT of great stuff already in the can. But if that isn't going to happen I'd be pleased as punch to see Tony Iommi out there recording and gigging with whomever he chooses because if it's Iommi it's Sabbath!
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keep us posted if there are going to be uk dates please
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And I remember one instance in 1992 I think it was, where Dio walked out because he didnt think Sabbath should have to be support for Ozzy, it should be the other way round and I quite agree with that. But mother of all sins, they brought in Robert Halford to sing those gigs.
Heaven and Hell, and the arrival of Dio in the band brought no end of new light to Sabbath. After hearing Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die, which, don't get me wrong are very good albums, the sound of Heaven and Hell just blew me away. This was a new dimention. Still definately the sound of Black Sabbath but Dio's voice and lyrics brought something new and interesting. Mob Rules also has some of my favourite Sabbath tracks of all on it in "Falling off the Edge of the World" and "Over and Over" to mention a couple. Guitar solos are phenomenal, especially on the song "Mob Rules" when you think the guitar solo is in full flow it suddenly steps up a notch and explodes into a frenzy of fretting coupled with wah-wah pedal that is very pleasing to the ears.
Dio had been good on Blackmore's Rainbow, and Rainbow Rising, if somewhat mediocre on Rainbow's other albums with him, but what he brought to Sabbath was magic. Ozzy was the original of course we can't think of anyone other than him on the first few albums, but by the end of the 70s something was lacking and I honestly say it was a good thing that he left Sabbath and made way for Dio to come and stoke the fire that Ozzy was letting burn low.
As for the mention of Seventh Star LP. Taken as a Black Sabbath album it doesnt seem that good. Only Iommi remained from Sabbath and it was actually supposed to be released as his own solo album, but was released as Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi by the record company without Iommi's consent. Looked at as a solo album it can be seen as excellent. It doesn't sound much like the Sabbath we know, but it was never meant to be Sabbath at all so it doesnt matter. All the music on it is enjoyable to listen too, and even if Glenn Hughes was atrocious on the tour, he sounded good in the studio. The later IOMMI solo album didn't impress me at all. I think he tried to go for a newer, trendier sound which doesnt work for me, and I don't find that one enjoyable to hear.
Of all the Sabbath LPs, my biggest criticism goes to T.Y.R.
Many rank Born Again as their worst LP but its up there with the rest for me. Some brilliant tracks on that one. We know that Gillan is from Deep Purple, but give him a chance, he doesnt do a half bad job for Sabbath. The riffs are up to the expected standard, Geoff Nicholls is on form with his keyboards and some of the music seems to be a step back towards the Ozzy era.
Heaven and Hell, and the arrival of Dio in the band brought no end of new light to Sabbath. After hearing Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die, which, don't get me wrong are very good albums, the sound of Heaven and Hell just blew me away. This was a new dimention. Still definately the sound of Black Sabbath but Dio's voice and lyrics brought something new and interesting. Mob Rules also has some of my favourite Sabbath tracks of all on it in "Falling off the Edge of the World" and "Over and Over" to mention a couple. Guitar solos are phenomenal, especially on the song "Mob Rules" when you think the guitar solo is in full flow it suddenly steps up a notch and explodes into a frenzy of fretting coupled with wah-wah pedal that is very pleasing to the ears.
Dio had been good on Blackmore's Rainbow, and Rainbow Rising, if somewhat mediocre on Rainbow's other albums with him, but what he brought to Sabbath was magic. Ozzy was the original of course we can't think of anyone other than him on the first few albums, but by the end of the 70s something was lacking and I honestly say it was a good thing that he left Sabbath and made way for Dio to come and stoke the fire that Ozzy was letting burn low.
As for the mention of Seventh Star LP. Taken as a Black Sabbath album it doesnt seem that good. Only Iommi remained from Sabbath and it was actually supposed to be released as his own solo album, but was released as Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi by the record company without Iommi's consent. Looked at as a solo album it can be seen as excellent. It doesn't sound much like the Sabbath we know, but it was never meant to be Sabbath at all so it doesnt matter. All the music on it is enjoyable to listen too, and even if Glenn Hughes was atrocious on the tour, he sounded good in the studio. The later IOMMI solo album didn't impress me at all. I think he tried to go for a newer, trendier sound which doesnt work for me, and I don't find that one enjoyable to hear.
Of all the Sabbath LPs, my biggest criticism goes to T.Y.R.
Many rank Born Again as their worst LP but its up there with the rest for me. Some brilliant tracks on that one. We know that Gillan is from Deep Purple, but give him a chance, he doesnt do a half bad job for Sabbath. The riffs are up to the expected standard, Geoff Nicholls is on form with his keyboards and some of the music seems to be a step back towards the Ozzy era.
Rommo
As far as I know (Trust me, my life depends on things like Sabbath tours!!) it's just the "Download" festival announced so far for the UK. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more UK dates including a warm-up gig or two in a small venue as this has become a bit of a tradition for them. I saw them at the Astoria a few years ago before they went off to do Ozzfest or the NEC (I can't remember exactly) which was pretty amazing.