Pour ceux qui découvrent ce blog, il est consacré à Black Sabbath et ses membres. Ce groupe géniteur du Heavy Metal depuis 1969, continue aujourd'hui sous le nom de Heaven and Hell. Il est toujours composé à 100% de membres de Black Sabbath et joue des titres de Black Sabbath sur scène! Mais pour diverses raisons liées à sa longue histoire et pour ne pas froisser certains de ses anciens membres, Tony Iommi, le mentor du groupe, en compagnie de celui qui incarne la voix du Heavy Metal: Ronnie James Dio, nous livre un nouvel album studio en cette année 2009. Dans ce blog, vous pouvez découvrir l'histoire du groupe, pour ce, consultez (sur votre gauche) la rubrique 'LINE-UP TREE' pour parcourir plus de 40 ans de Metal noir!
FRENCH BLOG OF BLACK SABBATH HEAVEN AND HELL - TONY MARTIN
(BLACK SABBATH)
The Actual Line-Up Is:
Ronnie J. Dio
Tony Iommi
Geezer Butler
Vinny Appice
+
SCOTT WARREN (ON TOUR) & MIKE EXETER (KEYBOARDS ON THE STUDIO CD)
Ce line-up est l'auteur de 4 albums studios, dont 'Heaven and Hell', 'Mob Rules', 'Dehumanizer' époque Black Sabbath. Puis sous le nom de Heaven and Hell 'The Devil You Know', puis 3 albums live dont deux sous le nom de Black Sabbath: 'Live Evil', 'Live At The Hammersmith Odeon', une compilation sous le nom de Black Sabbath 'The Dio Years' avec 3 titres studio inédits, et le dernier live sous le nom de Heaven and Hell 'Radio City Live' édité aussi en DVD. Plus délicat à dénicher la vidéo 'Black N Blue' qui existe aussi en DVD pirate, un live époque Black Sabbath en alternance avec le groupe B.O.C
TODAY ON LINE
EXCLUSIF LINE-UP TREE
Enfin disponible, le line-up tree complet du groupe des prémices à nos jours, en 4 parties, il permet de porter une étude sur l'histoire du groupe. De soulever des questions sur les périodes troubles du groupe. Ce line-up tree est le plus complet disponible à ce jour.
For the very first time, this is the complete Black Sabbath line-up, the early years until now!
Ozzy Osbourne, premier chanteur du groupe de 1969 à 1979, reviendra pour le Live Aid en 1985 pour 15min! Deux shows à Costa Mesa en 1992, retour officiel début 1997, puis fin réelle de la collaboration en 2006. Dave Walker, second chanteur en 1978, ne restera que le temps de composer un peu avec le groupe, un bref passage sur une TV et quelques rares photos, seuls documents de cette courte époque. Ronnie James Dio, troisième chanteur de 1979 à 1982, puis sera de retour en 1991 au 13 nov 1992. Reviendra dans le groupe mi-2006 à nos jours (depuis la tournée 2007 Black Sabbath s'est mué sous le nom de Heaven and Hell). Le quatrième, Ian Gillan restera de 1983 à 84, puis fera deux guests en 1989 lors de la tournée 'Headless Cross'. Le cinquième, David Donato, le temps de faire quelques démos, puis s'en va, le tout en 1984. Le sixième chanteur, ne sera pas embauché en 1985 pour Black Sabbath finalement, même si Jeff avait lancé cette confusion dans les médias. Mais il est embauché pour un projet de Iommi solo, néanmoins, il chante sur des titres qui seront repris pour l'album 'Seventh Star'. Mi-85 Glenn Hughes, et le septième chanteur de Tony Iommi mais pour Black Sabbath cette fois, il partira en 1986. Il fera par la suite deux autres albums solos avec Tony Iommi. Le huitième frontman sera Ray Gillen de 1986 à 1987, une tournée, et un album 'Eternal Idol', mais ses vocaux seront effacés! Le neuvième entre en scène en 1987, c'est Tony Martin, départ en 1991, puis retour en 1993 à 1996. Enfin, Rob Halford, le dixième (une super guest) remplace Dio pour deux soirs à Costa Mesa en 1992, un cadeau de Iommi. Puis remplacera Ozzy malade un soir d'août 2004 pour un seul concert.
Ozzy Osbourne
69>78/78>79/85/92/97>06
Dave Walker
1978
Ronnie James Dio
79>82/91>92/2006>Now!
Ian Gillan
1983>84/89
David Donato
1984
Jeff Fenholt
1985 (Iommi Solo)
Glenn Hughes
1985>86
Ray Gillen (R.I.P)
1986>87
Tony Martin
1987>91/93>96
Rob Halford
1992/2004
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09 FEB 2010
BILL WARD
BLACK SABBATH Drummer BILL WARD: 'It's Really Tough To Actually Make A Living In This Business'
Jarrod Dicker of Stay Thirsty recently conducted an interview with legendary BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Stay Thirsty: What are you currently involved in musically? Does the Bill Ward band still participate in the modern music scene?
Bill Ward: Oh, yeah! This year [2009] I've worked non-stop. I'm in the process of finishing up three albums, which are ALL my albums. When I write songs, I usually write everything (tracks), so I compose in guitar, bass, keyboards, melody arrangements, the vocals…just everything really. So I'm really active inside my own music…
Stay Thirsty: And I'm assuming drums as well?
Bill Ward: And drums of course [laughs], forgot all about the drums. But that's what I've been doing throughout the year and I'm hoping to bring out three fresh albums in 2010. The first one hopefully in the spring, then one in the summer and then trying to get one towards the end of October, right before Halloween. So that's what I'm doing right now. Well I go back into the studio on Tuesday, making sure the tracks are ready for 2010. I'm always busy.
Stay Thirsty: On these upcoming albums, are you the sole musician or do you have a group accompanying you on the tracks?
Bill Ward: When I say I write, I write the parts and so forth, but I have other players that play the music. On the newest work, that's coming out in the spring, Keith Lynch (Bill Ward band veteran) is playing guitar. Paul Ill is playing some bass and then I have a couple of other guys that will play bass as well. Paul's also from early years of the Bill Ward band. And then I have my own drummer, Ronnie Ciago, who's playing on several tracks. I'm playing drums on several tracks too, so it's pretty much a band album if you'd like. There are some guests coming onto the following two albums after the spring one, but it's all under wraps right now [laughs]. They're rock and rollers, man… so they agreed to do it but now let's get them all together in a room and nail it!
Stay Thirsty: Currently, how is your relationship with BLACK SABBATH alumni Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi?
Bill Ward: My relationship with Ozzy is brilliant. I am picking Ozzy first because I speak with him the most often. I talked to Oz a couple days ago. We speak once or twice a week, so we're always in contact with each other. My relationship with Tony is very good at the moment. I spoke with him last week as well. And Geezer never talks on the telephone so I e-mailed Geez, I don't know, just a few weeks ago. I'm in constant contact with all of them, pretty much.
Stay Thirsty: Do you still hold a relationship with Ronnie James Dio? Recent news revealed that he is battling cancer…
Bill Ward: Oh shit yea. For quite a while we did the whole "Heaven and Hell" album together, so I felt like I spent a lot of time with him. We wrote together and played together and did some of the business things together. I also spent a lot of social time with him and his family as well.
Stay Thirsty: In 1979, SABBATH made the decision to fire Ozzy claiming pressure from the record label and various other complications and frustrations. It was you who was chosen to break the news to Ozzy. Why so?
Bill Ward: I just thought that it would be easier if I just did it. I've been in that position before with other musicians; I just felt that I ought to do it. It just felt like the right thing to do at the time. It was a very difficult and depressing time for all of us. I felt it was the right thing to do, for me to talk to Oz. We were close. I volunteered myself.
Stay Thirsty: You left (fired) BLACK SABBATH one year after Ozzy's dismissal. How difficult of a time was this for you; 1) the separation from Ozzy and 2) your constant battle with addiction?
Bill Ward: Yes, it was a very difficult time. I was indeed feeling the loss of not having Ozzy in the band. I also had something happen to me, which had nothing to do with Ronnie or BLACK SABBATH or anything. I'm an alcoholic and a drug addict and my addiction was running rampant with me. I was losing all "control." I thought I had control of it and I did not. I was completely hit so hard with everything that I was unable to function properly. So I reached a point where I put the alcohol and the narcotics before the band and that had never happened before in my life (1980). This is something that I am not proud of, but it is something that happened to me. It actually became more important for me to drink and get high than to perform on stage. That's changed a lot since; my priorities are the right way round again. But back in 1980 it was very bad…very, very bad.
Stay Thirsty: As previously mentioned by other music critics and historians, the drumming style you use doubles the bass and guitar riffs played by accompanying band members. How did you step into this method? Who inspired you to play this particular way?
Bill Ward: As far as drummers are concerned, when I was a child growing up I was really attracted to artists like Gene Kupra and Louis Bellson and Buddy Rich; a lot of the drummers that played in the popular big bands of the '40s. I would listen to their records. My mother and father listened to them because the GIs in World War II had brought that music over with them. So my mother and father became real quick fans of American music. When I was growing up in the early '50s, four or five years old, I listened to these bands and thought it was great. It was pretty much all we had, except for the early rock and roll like THE PLATTERS and a few other bands that were still doing the "crooner"-type ballads.
Stay Thirsty: This is a question I like to ask older, more established musicians: Now that we are in the digital age of mp3's and music piracy, it seems that the concept and idea around a record has vanished. Fans prefer to buy singles rather than listen to the entire piece of work. What are your particular feelings on this matter?
Bill Ward: I have some feelings about it. If I say anything, I must preface it by saying that we [SABBATH] were all brought up in the age of the '60s at a time when how you made a record was that you would release it out and people actually bought it. [laughs] So it's very different today. It can be a little bit frustrating. I think it's a shame that we get bootlegged so much, we were always bootlegged anyway, but now people are just grabbing a copy downloading it and not thinking twice about it. It's just difficult for me to be supportive of that. I mean, it's always been music first and money somewhere down the line. But now, it's really tough to actually make a living in this business.
Stay Thirsty: As I said before, we are in a more digital age. Do you think that music piracy and "ripping off" musicians is a product of the times?
Bill Ward: Now it's this ruthless dog-bite-dog world, but it was definitely like that before the whole "age" you speak of. The '60s and the '70s had their assholes as well. What really pisses me off isn't what necessarily is happening with me, but what is happening with younger bands. They're some great musicians who need to be cut a break, man, and someone needs to invest some time in them. The only ones that invest time in them, what once was enormous record companies, are falling like broken giants now. I see a lot of the casualties coming out of it. It's a shame, there's a lot of people in the industry who I wish weren't in the industry because they don't know anything about the industry or music or anything. You asked me a question there, and a little long and drawn out answer but there it is…
Invasion are one of the most exciting bands in the UK at the moment. A three-piece from London, they are dousing the scene with a bit of well-needed angst and a surge of metallic goodness. Not being strictly doom and not being particularly thrash, Invasion are a new breed of metal who are being accepted by all kinds of metal-heads, while at the same time being embraced by the indie community. The Master Alchemist (This is Music, 2009) is out now and has yet to receive a bad review. Invasion appeared in ’SUP 17 over two years ago and we’ve been avidly following and supporting them ever since. Guitarist Marek, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of metal, towers over the side of the stage when Invasion play live – tall and slim with blonde fringe in face – messing about with effects pedals, lasers and smoke. His heavy riffs and subtle rock god moves are just one small piece of the triptych. Drummer Zel, totally fierce, is hands-down one of the best rock drummers ever. Not only does she sweat so much she strips down to her bra, but she is also known for setting her cymbals on fire. Singer Chan adds the unexpected twist to the metal equation. Her soulful bellowing and wails atop the music actually makes it all quite melodic. Outside the band, they stay busy being journalists, scoring and directing films and being all around awesome creative people. Metal on this British isle is certainly in its rudest health for a long time, and Invasion are right at the forefront. But before Invasion came Black Sabbath: the godfathers, the creators and the band whose music every single other metal-head looks to, and who have influenced pretty much every one of them, including Marek. Knowing that Marek is a massive fan of Sabbath, ’SUP arranged for a chat to take place between Marek and the mighty Bill Ward–drummer for Sabbath–to find out where it all began and where the metal scene is headed. On a Friday afternoon in late summer ’09 Invasion met Sabbath and this is what ensued.
Black Sabbath have determined the course of my life, so it’s mind-blowing to talk to you. I’m really interested in the early days as a band. Your early work is pretty much all that matters when it comes to metal. Were your early influences blues music? Bill: The influences were blues. In my case there was jazz. Tony also listened to jazz and one of his favourite guitar players was Django Reinhardt. Geezer and Ozzy liked blues and their tastes didn’t go back as far as Tony’s and mine did. As a child I was bought up on big band and swing. We all liked blues music and we all liked music that was somewhat different and we all liked to play loud. That was something that we were aware of, but playing really loud didn’t come till we’d been together for about a year. Within a couple of months of playing together we were already playing aggressively–that was the key to our passion right there.
That must have been around ’68 then. You were slowly developing an aggressive sound. Do you remember a certain point where you switched to this incredible dynamic that you found for the first album? Was there a key moment where you switched from a heavy blues band to the incredible sound you laid down on the first album? Bill: I think the most significant happened when we wrote our first song together. It was at Tony’s house, in Park Lane, Aston. We wrote a song called “Wicked World”. It starts off with a very simple jazz feel, but it quickly goes into a ‘baam baam baaaaam bababababaam.’ As soon as those first notes came out, that was like a flat fifth right there, I think. We are all very attracted to dark notes–flat fifths or notes that are very, very powerful–that are often found in opera and Wagner or Beethoven. I know you’re a musician so you’ll know that the strength of a note can really determine the direction of a song. The second example and probably the most well-known example was when we were rehearsing in Aston Community Centre and we went there one morning and Tony came up with the riff for “Black Sabbath” and we all fell in line. That was a major, major turning point. When we did that we were asking ourselves what the blazes we’d tapped in to. I know I came away feeling very, very secure in my soul. I knew that I’d tapped into something with the three other guys that was just killer. We were still incredibly poor at that point and down on our luck, but that was a real turning point right there.
That is still the ultimate heavy metal track for me. It’s just mind-blowing, the heaviness and power of it. I always say that to people when they ask me what my favorite track is. No one has come close to the first three or four albums you laid down. You obviously had tapped in to something very special, between the four of you. You were very much ahead of your time and you’re still changing people’s lives today. Bill: Well thank you very much. I really appreciate your feedback and comments about the band. I agree with you. What that song has become, Marek, is our rallying cry. When everything else has turned to crap and we don’t know who we are anymore–and as time goes on and we lose each other a bit–whenever we play that song we look around at each other and we know that is our solidarity.
It must be an amazing feeling and experience to have that. You recorded that first album in 24 hours or something didn’t you? Do you remember that period? It’s such a perfect album. Bill: I think we had about three days of studio time, but our circumstances were quite good. The band was very well rehearsed. We were already veterans of touring as that line up. We’d probably been playing together and touring for about two years. We’d been all over Europe, so we were a very tight unit by the time we went in to record that first album. The people around us told us they’d sorted us out making a record. We were used to things turning upside down and disappearing, but this actually came through and we actually did make a record. We went into the studio and did a set up. We put some mics up. We’d never been in a studio as Black Sabbath. I think the credit has to go, not only to the band, but the producers Tom Allen and Rodger Bain who really pulled it together. I think Geezer, in his eloquence, spoke the best of it when he said: ‘We came into the studio, then we walked out of the back door after a couple of days and just went back on the road.’ When I look back on that, and being a producer myself nowadays I just think we were madmen. To go into a studio and try to record this very raw and live stuff. Today that would be construed as a nightmare, but back then it was the real deal. It’s amazing in a production sense and the timing sense and the way we went about it, to come out with that album actually boggles me a bit. I’m still quite amazed.
You did a lot of touring back then. I heard the shows could be quite violent. Is that true? Bill: The audiences were very rowdy. Only a couple of years before–and I’ll use Cream, who are a great band, as an example–the audiences for them were still very subdued. They were mainly listening and then would stand up and applaud. If you look at a Cream audience back then, there would be a couple of people getting their rocks off, but for the most part there would be a crowd intelligently listening to Cream, and rightly so. But by the time we were performing as Black Sabbath, the audiences were changing. Even the audiences that listened to Jimi Hendrix and major rock groups of the day had begun to change. Even our early audiences were very polite. It felt like playing in our living room. I remember the audiences changing in front of me. I remember that distinctly. The way they wore their clothes became different. We got a lot of leather jackets with studs. People’s hair changed. The whole look was just a sublime move. I think that was from a lot encouragement from us, and of course Ozzy. He wasn’t prepared to go into a room where people sat and applauded at the right place. We played loud and really aggressively. Ozzy refused to go on unless everybody got up. That’s where all the profanity with the audience started too. It was another turning point. I’d never seen another band do it. It was a crossover point. It was where the fire started. People got up and danced in such a restricted space. I think that’s why everybody started head banging, because there wasn’t enough room. It was just fucking unbelievable to watch. Everybody just rocked from their torsos upwards. It was nothing to do with the feet. It spread like wildfire all over England and Europe. Everybody was just rocking out, but in a completely different way than they had to Hendrix and Cream and our contemporaries of the day. It was quite the sight to see.
I don’t think anyone can argue that Sabbath were the band. You opened the doors for so many people and nobody can beat those albums you put out. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, metal kind of lost itself a bit, and I’m hoping it’s coming back now. People are looking back and understanding what you guys were all about. Did you feel that too? It must have been a huge loss when Ozzy left the band and it was a tragedy for metal. I don’t think metal really recovered from it. I’m not totally sure what I’m asking here, but how do you feel about heavy metal generally and the fractioning of the band in the late ‘70s? Bill: I could understand why Oz was asked to leave, however it’s always been regrettable as far as I’m concerned. But I’m just one person in a four-person band. Behind the scenes and out of the public eye, there have been a lot of conversations and healing going on. There’s been time to make up–make amends and put your best foot forward. I was with Oz last week where he was picking up an award. That shows that we’re still a band, we’re still bandmates and still friends. I’ve tried to maintain friendships with all the guys. Just a couple of weeks ago I was chatting to Geezer and I haven’t spoken to Tony for a little while, but our conversations continue, we’re all still pretty open minded to each other. We’re all doing our own projects, but we’re not cut off from each other in any way. Also the reunion that we started about 10 years ago went very, very well. We’ve toured the world since 1999 as the original band. It was absolutely great. I loved it. I’d always hoped that the band could remain together and if anyone wanted to make their own albums or just take a break for a couple of years then they could, but that didn’t really happen with Black Sabbath. Oz was asked to leave. And what he’s gone on to do is phenomenal. He’s huge in the US and across the world. He’s a huge recording artist as well as the TV show and a couple of movies. He’s done incredibly well. All of us have done really well. We’re all really involved in music still. In fact that’s why I’m a bit groggy today. I was in the studio until really late last night finishing some mixes of some stuff I’m going to put out. Did I actually answer your question there?
Yeah, you did. Everything happens for a reason, and you’ve got those eight albums, which for some people are like a religious experience to listen to. Maybe you wouldn’t have surpassed them if Ozzy had stayed. Were you aware of any bands in the ‘80s and ‘90s that were following the concepts that you had in the early days? People like Saint Vitus and Trouble or Sleep? Bill: In the ‘80s and for part of the ‘90s were really, really tough on me. That’s when my recovery from alcohol and drug addiction started. So for the most part I wasn’t really aware of any of the UK bands then. My nephew used to let me know which bands to look out for. I didn’t make any trips to England for a long time. It took me a few years to work out what was going on with me, and what it actually meant to be an addict. For me the lifesaver came in the form of Ozzy’s records. There was also a couple of songs that Tony did that I really liked. The saving grace for me was Metallica. I knew them from the beginning. Metallica for me was the life-saving force that came in and rescued all the bands that were flailing at the time. When I heard The Black Album (1991), I sat down and I played it and played it and played it. It was like listening to Sgt. Pepper’s (1967), which forever changed my life. I thought, ‘My god. Now we’re into something solid.’ Metallica really hit the spot with me. My biggest break into today came when I started listening to the gothic bands, and some grunge and bands that were a little bit rough around the edges. Today I think we’re in the most marvellous place with heavy metal. I’m just immersed in the amazement of the progress that has been made. Some of the guys and I had a bit of a tough time with the new bands, but there’s a lot of us older musicians who really love the new bands–it’s a bit like watching the grandkids. I hope I don’t sound big-headed, but I can tell what tree they originally came from. I actually get that same religious feeling you mentioned earlier when I hear some of these new bands. They’re doing amazing things. It takes me back to where we were in 1966.
I’d agree that Metallica definitely picked up your baton in 1983 and they and Black Sabbath are easily the best metal bands ever for me. It feels to me there are lots of good new bands who understand what you were about back in the ‘70s, and I think that the next decade is going to be really exciting for metal. I guess Geezer wrote a lot of your lyrics, but you had this power and intensity. Where did you pick that up from? Bill: Part of it came from our predecessors. There were great bands in the ‘60s. A lot of bands were referencing flower power and peace. I want to make it clear that I’m not being negative about that whole movement, but we were from Aston and there wasn’t much of a hippie era going on there. At least 50 percent of our day was spent looking at the guy across the street to see if he was going to run over and kick you in the head. That was our reality. It was not someone running across the street to give us a flower. I think there was a lot of valuable things in the hippie–or counter-culture. But some of the ideals fell short. It was a great time in the ‘60s.
I guess things also got a bit darker in the ‘70s. You were just reflecting what was going on then. Bill: Well, you’re right. That was a large part of it. When we went to play in Berlin in 1969, there was a wall up. That was a reality. The Russian forces in and around Berlin outnumbered the Allied forces 35 to one, with tanks. The Iron Curtain was a two-hour flight from London. We were reflecting on our times in Aston, and Aston back then was dog rough. We were talking about our reality.
There still is a sense of counter culture in there though “Sweet Leaf” and “Children Of The Grave” and other antiwar songs. Bill: Well, we were pissed off, you know? “Sweet Leaf” is a very aggressive song when we do it live. “Sweet Leaf” and “Iron Man” were the rallying points for all the young men coming back from Vietnam. And when I think about it– to be quite honest with you, Marek–I start to cry because life is precious and I can still see the audiences when we played those songs. All the vets were up the front, so all we could see were the vets. When those songs came on, they were trying to get out of their wheelchairs. They came to hear those songs. We’d give them our all. They were men that didn’t want to go to war. They were pushed into it and nobody thanked them when they came back.
Do you have any advice for any bands that are just starting out? Bill: The first thing that any musician needs to have is self-honesty. That will take over when the musician is in 15 feet of snow in the middle of an ice storm in upstate New York and really wants to go home and have some of mum’s soup. You have to be honest about the music that you’re representing, because if you’re not, the music won’t hold you, the fame won’t hold you, whatever you want out of the fame won’t hold you safe in that upheaval. The storm could represent anything–being sick on the road or whatever. If you’ve got the passion for yourself and your bandmates then you may last the course.
Thanks so much for this interview. It’s been fantastic for me to talk to you. And thank you for the music that you’ve created. It’s still having a huge impact on generation after generation. Have a fantastic weekend. Thanks so much, Bill. Bill: Before you go, I’ve really enjoyed talking with you. I hope I get to meet you. I’d really love for you to send me some CDs of your band. I would love to hear where you’re coming from, especially after hearing who your influences are for God’s sake! I’d love to hear what you’re doing. Please stay in touch. Give me a call whenever you like. We can connect up. Take care of yourself and stay strong. You mean a lot. You guys out there mean an awful lot.END
BOBBY RONDINELLI
BOBBY RONDINELLI's Ripping Drum Solo At NAMM
The AskOurMusicians.com team stopped by the Ludwig booth at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show in Anaheim, California and caught Bobby Rondinelli (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH) rippin' a drum solo with the help of the Ludwig team. Watch the footage below.
Bobby started playing drums when he was 11 years old. He joined a band called THE WANDERS at 13 and they played school dances and fraternity parties. Later in his teens, Bobby and his brother Teddy started their first band TUSK. "I was in a band called SAMANTHA when Ritchie Blackmore asked me to join RAINBOW," he said.
Rondinelli, who is currently with THE LIZARDS, is one of the most noted drummers in the industry today. He is a drummer's drummer, whose resume includes RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, DORO, QUIET RIOT, THE LIZARDS, SCORPIONS, SUN RED SUN, RONDINELLI, RIOT, PYRAMID, THE SIGN, ZEBRA and DANIEL WENTWORTH.
In addition to critically acclaimed solo projects, Bobby has recorded with the SCORPIONS on their multi-platinum "Love At First Sting" LP and toured with AEROSMITH and ZEBRA when their drummers were ill.
GLENN HUGHES
GLENN HUGHES, JOE BONAMASSA Issue BLACK COUNTRY Video Update
A short video message from Glenn Hughes (BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE) and Joe Bonamassa about BLACK COUNTRY, their new supergroup with Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian, can be viewed below.
BLACK COUNTRY takes its name from the industrial area in England from which Bonham and Hughes both hail. The band is currently in the studio with producer Kevin Shirley (BLACK CROWES, AEROSMITH, LED ZEPPELIN) cutting tracks for an upcoming album to be released in late 2010 or early 2011.
With Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER) on drums, Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, BILLY IDOL, ALICE COOPER) on keyboards, Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE) on bass and vocals and Bonamassa on guitar and vocals, the band already has six tracks cut. The next recording session will take place in March and the band hopes to finish recording in early April. Shirley made the announcement on his web site: "So there it is folks — the cat is out the bag! This is BLACK COUNTRY. The songs are all original and what a lineup. They are all the very best players in the world, for my money!"
Shirley added, "Jason Bonham is a totally unique drummer and a supreme, yet oh-so-tasty powerhouse. Derek Sherinian is super versatile, and is playing mostly overdriven Hammond organ in this ensemble and is the color on the palette. Glenn Hughes plays bass and sings with a range very, very few can even get close to, and Joe Bonamassa, perhaps the best blues rock guitarist around, plays hard riffing guitar as well as adding his signature vocals alongside Glenn. You'll just have to wait — we're planning to get this out late summer, and it's promising to be phenomenal!"
Recently named "The Blues Rock Titan" by Guitar World magazine, Bonamassa's new solo album, "Black Rock", will be arriving March 23, 2010. Produced by Shirley, who has produced Bonamassa's last six solo albums, it will be released on Bonamassa's own J&R Adventures label.
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE And Family On 'The Ellen Degeneres Show'; Video Available
Ozzy Osbourne and his family — wife/manager Sharon, son Jack and daughter Kelly — were interviewed on this past Friday's (February 5) edition of "The Ellen Degeneres Show". Watch video of their appearance below.
Ozzy's just-published memoir, "I Am Ozzy", debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times' hardcover non-fiction best-seller list this past weekend. The book was published on January 25 in the U.S., nearly two years after it was first expected to arrive. "I Am Ozzy" chronicles the legendary metal icon's life from his working-class beginnings in Birmingham, England to his initial fame with BLACK SABBATH to his massive solo career and forays into television.
Although the book delves into Ozzy's battles with drugs and tragedies such as the death of his guitarist Randy Rhoads, he told The Pulse of Radio what makes his memoir different from those of other rock stars. "Whenever you read a rock 'n' roll celebrity's book, it's always about the sex, the drugs, the rock 'n' roll and all the rest of it," he said. "My story is that the humor has kept my head above water from time to time. There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek stuff about it. Even with counting the tragedies that happened along the way, I tried to be a little bit light-hearted about it, you know?"
Ozzy recently completed a short book-signing tour to promote the release of "I Am Ozzy".
He is currently finishing up his new studio album, which was first called "Soul Sucka" but will now go out under a different title.
Ozzy also says that his long-running Ozzfest tour will be back this summer after a one-year hiatus.
08 FEB 2010
THE BLOG: 2 YEARS NOW!
(bon OK, Ozzy tu as mis trop de bougies!)
LE DEUXIEME ANNIVERSAIRE DU BLOG!
Le 8 février 2008 naissait ce modeste blog, sans trop vraiment savoir où mener la barque, deux ans à chercher l'info, à dénicher les nouvelles éditions de disques, les pirates, les shows...
Début 2009, avec une mauvaise manip, j'ai perdu une centaine de pages du blog, dont la discographie de Ray Gillen, les titres joués en live pour chaque tournée, et pas mal d'infos sur les différents membres. En 2009, pas mal de changements qui ne me laissent pas trop le temps de toujours paufiner ce blog. J'écris souvent très tardivement le soir, et tant pis pour les loupés dans la mise en forme, l'écriture...
Alors aujourd'hui comme à chaque jour une intervention de Sarkozy à la TV, et pour nous c'est encore une intervention d'Ozzy (SarkOZZY?) Damned, quelle forme.
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE On 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'; Video Available
Ozzy Osbourne was interviewedon this past Friday's (February 5) edition of ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (which actually aired the morning of Saturday, February 6). Watch a couple of clips from his appearance below.
Osbourne doesn't think he's likely to play with BLACK SABBATH again since he and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne are involved in a lawsuit against guitarist Tony Iommi over the rights to the band's name. But Ozzy also told Rolling Stone that anything could happen, explaining, "I'm not gonna say I've written it out forever. But right now I don't think there is any chance. But who knows what the future holds for me? If it's my destiny, fine."
The original SABBATH lineup of Ozzy, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward has not toured together since the summer of 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 2006.
The group did try to record a new album 10 years ago, their first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. Ozzy said, "I tried and I couldn't do it . . . I've been away from SABBATH thirty-odd years. I was only with them for 10 years. I had girlfriends when I was younger and I would go 'Oh, I would really like to go back with Shirley,' and then you do and you go to yourself, 'What the fuck was I thinking?' You're never the same, you know."
Since 2007, Iommi and Butler have toured and recorded with latter-day SABBATH singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice under the name HEAVEN & HELL, while Ozzy has been working on a new solo record. When asked about Dio recently being diagnosed with and treated for stomach cancer, Ozzy said, "I'm sorry to hear about Ronnie having cancer. It must be really fucking scary for the poor boy."
Ozzy's first memoir, "I Am Ozzy", was published on January 25, with the singer launching a book-signing tour that same day. The book chronicles the metal icon's life from his working-class beginnings in Birmingham, England to his initial fame with SABBATH to his massive solo career and forays into television.
07 FEB 2010
TWISTED SISTER: NEON KNIGHTS!
Neon Knights (a devasting cover version!)
Heaven & Hell (great!)
Lady Evil (another great cover!)
Finalement Dee pourrait faire un assez bon chanteur pour Sabbath!
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE's Memoir Lands On NEW YORK TIMES Best-Seller List
The book, which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, was released in the U.S. on January 25 via Sphere Publishers (the book was published in the U.K. on October 1, 2009).
"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.
In a statement, he revealed what fans can expect from the bio, explaining: "They've said some crazy things about me over the years. I mean, okay: 'He bit the head off a bat.' Yes. 'He bit the head off a dove.' Yes. But then you hear things like, 'Ozzy went to the show last night, but he wouldn't perform until he'd killed fifteen puppies…' Now me, kill fifteen puppies? I love puppies. I've got eighteen of the fucking things at home. I've killed a few cows in my time, mind you. And the chickens. I shot the chickens in my house that night.
"It haunts me, all this crazy stuff. Every day of my life has been an event. I took lethal combinations of booze and drugs for thirty fucking years. I survived a direct hit by a plane, suicidal overdoses, STDs. I've been accused of attempted murder. Then I almost died while riding over a bump on a quad bike at fucking two miles per hour.
"People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, which one of us would end up with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and Beverly Hills, I wouldn't have put money on me, no fucking way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time.
"A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. I've always been drawn to the dark side, me. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time."
Publisher Antonia Hodgson called the book "fantastic," adding that it was "very much in the tone of his voice, very funny and a very full story."
Ozzy's wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.
Ozzy's next album, his first since 2007's "Black Rain", is tentatively slated to come out in July and will feature songs such as "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and "Soul Sucka". The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"Black Rain" was Ozzy's first all-new solo effort in six years and debuted on the Billboard album chart at No. 3.
05 FEB 2010
BLACK SABBATH NEW CD VERSION SOON ON SALE!!!!
GOOD OR BAD THING???
HUM....NOT REALLY GOOD! PROBABLY BAD!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
BLACK SABBATH's Classic DIO-Era Albums To Be Reissued In 'Deluxe Expanded' Editions -
(Sadly nothing really new for the die hard fans like me!!!)
OK, OK, après le coffret assez minable édité avec les CDs époque Dio, juste remasterisé sans bonus, voici une nouvelle édition qui comprendra des titres pas vraiment collectors! Bref, cela semble encore loupé pour cette fois! Et Dehumanizer???
Universal Music has set an April 5 release date for the deluxe expanded editions of BLACK SABBATH's classic albums "Heaven And Hell" (1980), "Mob Rules" (1981) and "Live Evil" (1982).
The details are as follows:
"Heaven And Hell" (1980):
Disc One:
01. Neon Knights 02. Children Of The Sea 03. Lady Evil 04. Heaven And Hell 05. Wishing Well 06. Die Young 07. Walk Away 08. Lonely Is The Word
Disc Two:
01. Children Of The Sea (Live) 02. Heaven And Hell (Live) 03. Lady Evil (Mono Edit) 04. Neon Knights (Video - Live) 05. Die Young (Video - Live) 06. Neon Knights (Live, Hartford, CT, USA, '80) 07. Children Of The Sea (Live, Hartford, CT, USA '80) 08. Heaven And Hell (Live, Hartford, CT, USA '80) 09. Die Young (Live, Hartford, CT, USA '80)
"Mob Rules" (1981):
Disc One:
01. Turn Up The Night 02. Voodoo 03. The Sign Of The Southern Cross 04. E5150 05. The Mob Rules 06. Country Girl 07. Slipping Away 08. Falling Off The Edge Of The World 09. Over And Over
Bonus Tracks:
10. Die Young (Live - 12" version) 11. The Mob Rules (Alternative Version)
Disc Two:
01. E5150 (Live) 02. Neon Knights (Live) 03. N.I.B. (Live) 04. Children Of The Sea (Live) 05. Country Girl (Live) 06. Black Sabbath (Live) 07. War Pigs (Live) 08. Slipping Away (Live) 09. Iron Man (Live) 10. The Mob Rules (Live) 11. Heaven And Hell (Live) 12. Paranoid (Live) 13. Voodoo (Live) 14. Children Of The Grave (Live)
"Live Evil" (1982):
Disc One:
01. E5150 02. Neon Knights 03. N.I.B. 04. Children Of The Sea 05. Voodoo 06. Black Sabbath 07. War Pigs 08. Iron Man
Disc Two:
01. The Mob Rules 02. Heaven And Hell 03. The Sign Of The Southern Cross / Heaven And Hell (continued) 04. Paranoid 05. Children Of The Grave 06. Fluff
* Original Ronnie James Dio crowd interaction and audience noise restored
Commentaires de fans:
This is why people download music for free. These were released as a box set in July 2008, then individually in October 2008 now, barely a year and a half later as expanded releases. They knew this stuff was out there and held off on purpose.
The people in the industry talk about how downloading for free is killing sales. I really think this kind of thing is contributing to that problem.
This is bound to piss off even the most die hard fan who needs all the releases.
...most likely, yes.
Six Strings, I'm w/ you! I also bought "The Rules of Hell"...this is all typical record company nonsense. I'm not sure I need 8 different versions of Neon Knights...
I thought the DVD industry was bad about double-dipping with all kinds of releases. So, seeing this is funny because just how many times are they going to release a CD before no one buys it.
What they should have done was release a 2 disc set and calling it, RARE, LIVE and EVIL. Instead of doing this and making everyone groan who bought the box set. They could even make a 4 disc set and drop in the Radio City Music Hall live performance which would make a seriously cool collection of the all the DIO/Sabbath era material.
This is indicative of the problems the music industry suffers from, no forethought into how a package can be marketed. Some releases do have some actual brain power behind them when it comes to new releases but these re-releases just get churned out with whatever is lying about the shelves and you end up with people just being irritated that they have to spend yet even more cash to get coveted recordings.
...(and I'm only asking because my turntable isn't set up): how much "crowd interaction and audience noise" are we talking about? Is that stuff NOT on "Rules of Hell" version of Live Evil?
If it's just a couple of "How you doing Chicago?" type things, I think I can live w/o it.
... is probably the only one I might consider getting from these re-releases, and that only because it seems Disc 2 is the "Live At Hammersmith Odeon" album (I'm just based on the track list, which is the same). And, considering it was quite limited, and it sells for really huge prices on ebay, this would be a nice change to grab it... in case it is indeed "Live At Hammersmith Odeon"...
Other than that, I'm quite fine with the versions I already own...
These are classics,but I wouldn't BUY any of it.
Fuck the record companies.
Yes,this is why I buy,rip,burn and resell every release that comes out now. If I just don't download it for free.
Let RiotAct666 be the chode that buys this rereleased junk over and over.I'll borrow his. ;-)
In different formats. The Hartford board boot has been available for ages and the videos from H&H are also widely available. These are the European imports, like the Ozzy years before them. I can make my own "compilation" disc of all this...
I'll stick with the Rules of Hell box, but I do recommend getting the Ozzy years recent imports tho. The first 3 albums have a lot of rare bonus stuff and the sound quality is the best I've heard of any Sabbath CD's.
Well, I am one of those freaks. I really like a complete live concert. This is, an album in which you hear everything from start to finish, as if you were there. I really dislike those albums edited, or made up of a bunch of songs from one night a another bunch of songs from another night. When I find a true live album, sometimes I feel like being there (turn off the lights, a beer/joint , headphones, and you are in the stadium...)
Like the Live At Hammersmith Odeon: that ultra limited concert is from 3 different nights:
1) Neon Knights (January 2nd, 1982) 2) N.I.B. (January 1st, 1982) 3) Children Of The Sea (January 1st, 1982) 4) Country Girl (January 1st, 1982) 5) Black Sabbath (December 31st, 1981) 6) War Pigs (January 1st, 1982) 7) Slipping Away (December 31st, 1981) 8) Iron Man (January 1st, 1981) 9) The Mob Rules (December 31st, 1981) 10) Heaven And Hell (January 1st, 1982) 11) Paranoid (December 31st, 1981) 12) Voodoo (January 2nd, 1982) 13) Children Of The Grave (December 31st, 1982)
I have this stuff, and ten times more. If they want to do something, fucking release remastered versions of the first four or so Dio solo albums. Aside from Holy Diver, they have only been remastered in Japan I think, and they are a bitch to get. I'd be happy with that. And I have a ton of "extra" stuff for Dio's solo 80's albums as well. Or how about remastering all the Tony Martin Sabbath stuff? There is some great stuff there! But this? This is as best laughable. It is insulting. No wonder people download so much!
* HEAVEN & HELL TO HEADLINE BLOODSTOCK 2010 *
Heavy Metal Legends HEAVEN & HELL have been confirmed as headline act for BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR 2010. The metal masters have chosen to headline the 10th anniversary of the festival, crowning an already incredible line up, befitting such an important milestone. Living legend/Guitarist TONY IOMMI commented:
“Great for Geezer and me to play somewhere near to home, even better to headline a legendary festival. Thanks for the opportunity!”
BLOODSTOCK more than welcomes their appearance. Says founder Paul Gregory:
“10 years of bringing the UK a METAL festival that metalheads can be proud of has just been made better with the announcement of Heaven and Hell. As a fan to say I'm made up with the announcement would be the understatement of the millennium.This year Bloodstock has come of age”
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR is undoubtedly the UK’s most loyal festival to the metal genre. A performance featuring members of BLACK SABBATH - the true pioneers of the genre - at this special 10 year anniversary is an occasion for any metal fan to celebrate, and one the BLOODSTOCK attendees will welcome with heart, body and soul. The promise of RONNIE JAMES DIO, TONY IOMMI, GEEZER BUTLER and VINNY APICE performing classic SABBATH songs such as “The Mob Rules”, “Lady Evil”, “Die Young” and “Neon Knights” will surely be one of the stand out moments in the 10 year history of BLOODSTOCK, and is not to be missed.
The BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR METAL FESTIVAL 2010 will take place at Catton Hall, Derbyshire from 13th – 15th August.
Chacun comprendra aisement que les nouvelles de Ronnie James Dio ne sont pas légions en ce moment, et la question reste toujours 'le groupe sera t-il prêt pour les festivals de 2010' ? Vinny Appice donne de bonnes nouvelles en ce qui concerne sont état. Pour Ronnie, l'info qui tente de rassurer ses fans, c'est aucune perte de cheveux suite à son traitement. Espèrons que la situation puisse se maintenir, imaginez-vous notre Ronnie sans ses cheveux longs? Bon, c'est un peu un sujet de contoire que je viens de lancer, mais une certitude, le spectre d'une reformation (souhaitable?) de Black Sabbath avec Ozzy et Bill semble s'éloigner, s'éloigner.... Ozzy annonce un nouvel album solo, 18 après son annonce de 'retraite' un soir de 1992 à Costa Mesa! Qui a oublié ces deux soirées de légendes? Remercions à jamais, le fan ou les deux fans qui ont sauvé ces concerts en vidéo!
Un nouvel album du Madman, qui est annoncé comme très Heavy! Hum, si cela pouvait être vrai, ce serait vraiment un miracle, car c'est l'overdose des morceaux 'slows' d'Ozzy à la sauce US pour faire fondre sa petite Sharon. Assez de soupe! Du Ozzy fou, taré, lobotomisé par les riffs, voici ce qu'il nous faut, c'est peut-être une de ses dernières chances de nous prouver qu'Ozzy n'est pas l'ombre de lui-même. Espèrons que ce nouveau guitariste va enfin relancer la machine devenue depuis des années trop huilée voire prévisible avec Z.W!
Et notre Tony Martin, semble sombrer dans l'oubli avec le génial Geoff Nicholls, rien ne filtre sur lui depuis le début de 2010, le calme total, alors que ce mec dispose d'une voix incroyable.
04 FEB 2010
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE Talks About His Contribution To SLASH's Solo Album
Although Ozzy Osbourne has been hard at work on his own new solo album for much of the past year, the Prince of Darkness did find time to contribute vocals to a song on the upcoming debut solo effort from ex-GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash. Ozzy told The Pulse of Radio how the collaboration came about. "Slash is a real good friend," he said. "He's a lovely, lovely man and his family's great as well. And he phoned me up and he says, 'I'm doing an album, would you be prepared to do — sing on it?' So he sent the tape over and I put a vocal on it and did some lyrics. It was kind of like an '80s vibe and I thought, 'He ain't gonna like this.' He loves it."
Ozzy's song is tentatively titled "Crucify Me Again".
Although the track was initially slated to be the first single from Slash's record, due to legal issues The Pulse of Radio hears that a song featuring AVENGED SEVENFOLD's M. Shadows on vocals, titled "Nothing To Say", may now be the first one headed to rock radio stations.
Slash's solo album is due out this spring and will feature guest appearances from Dave Grohl, Flea, Chris Cornell, Duff McKagan, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Nicole Scherzinger, Meat Loaf, MAROON 5's Adam Levine and possibly Fergie in addition to Ozzy and Shadows.
Ozzy's record is due out by the summer. Although he was thinking of calling it "Soul Sucka", he has now discarded that title following a fan outcry.
OZZY OSBOURNE Interviewed On 'Good Day LA'
Ozzy Osbourne was interviewed yesterday (Monday, February 1) on "Good Day LA", a television talk show that airs on KTTV (Fox 11), the Fox Broadcasting Company-owned and operated station in Los Angeles, California. Watch his appearance below.
As previously reported, Ozzy will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, February 3 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Ozzy by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The program will be rebroadcast on Monday, February 8.
"I Am Ozzy", which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, was released in the U.S. on January 25 via Sphere Publishers (the book was published in the U.K. on October 1, 2009).
"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.
Sharon Osbourne published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.
Ozzy's next album, his first since 2007's "Black Rain", is tentatively slated to come out in July and will feature songs such as "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and "Soul Sucka". The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"Black Rain" was Ozzy's first all-new solo effort in six years and debuted on the Billboard album chart at No. 3.
03 FEB 2010
GEEZER (GZR)
GZR "CYCLE OF SIXTY" and "X13" plus "DRIVE BOY SHOOTING", "DETECTIVE 27' and "HOUSE OF CLOUDS" all LIVE. MINT PROMO 1996 TVT RECORDS. Voici ce qui vient de se vendre sur ebay, un collector très rare, et limite inconnu du groupe de Geezer Butler. Une belle pièce, sachant que Geezer en solo n'a pas fait grand chose! (si je puis me permettre!)
01 FEB 2010
HEAVEN AND HELL ON STAGE
HEAVEN & HELL To Headline U.K.'s BLOODSTOCK Festival -
HEAVEN & HELL — the band featuring BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi (guitar), Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums) — will headline the 10th-anniversary edition of the Bloodstock festival, set to take place August 13-15, 2010 at Catton Hall, Derbyshire, United Kingdom.
The festival billing is shaping up as follows:
AMORPHIS ANDROMEDA BEHEMOTH CANNIBAL CORPSE CHILDREN OF BODOM DEVIN TOWNSEND DORO DREAM EVIL FEAR FACTORY GOJIRA GWAR HEAVEN & HELL KORPIKLAANI LEAVES' EYES OBITUARY RAGE ROSS THE BOSS SONATA ARCTICA SUFFOCATION
Very interesting interviews with Roger Glover, Ronnie Dio, Eddie Hardin, Ray Fenwick, and Alan Aldridge (author of the book). This was filmed circa 1999 (a poster of a 1999 DP gig in Hamburg can be seen at one point).
OZZY OSBOURNE Answers Fan-Submitted Questions For TIME Magazine; Video Available
Ozzy Osbourne recently answered a number of fan-submitted questions for the readers of Time magazine. The question-and-answer session can be viewed below.
As previously reported, Ozzy will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, February 3 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Ozzy by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The program will be rebroadcast on Monday, February 8.
"I Am Ozzy", which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, was released in the U.S. on January 25 via Sphere Publishers (the book was published in the U.K. on October 1, 2009).
"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.
Sharon Osbourne published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.
Ozzy's next album, his first since 2007's "Black Rain", is tentatively slated to come out in July and will feature songs such as "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and "Soul Sucka". The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"Black Rain" was Ozzy's first all-new solo effort in six years and debuted on the Billboard album chart at No. 3.
OZZY OSBOURNE Says OZZFEST Will Return As Travelling Festival In 2010
Video footage of Ozzy Osbourne talking about the upcoming Ozzfest tour and enjoying a heavy metal jam of face-melting proportions at the Sirius XM studios with host Jose Mangin can be viewed below.
Ozzy Osbourne says his upcoming new album, the 10th solo studio effort of his career, will not be called "Soul Sucka" as first reported. The Prince of Darkness told RollingStone.com, "When we put that on the Internet none of my fan base liked the title. They were like, 'I can't imagine me walking around the fucking house with the words 'Soul Sucka' on my T-shirt.' So I was like, 'Fuck it. I've got to come up with something else!'" No matter what it's called, Ozzy told The Pulse of Radio what to expect. "It's very heavy. It's a cross between — it's kind of like a SABBATH/Ozzy album, you know. It's kind of, it wasn't meant to, I didn't plan on doing it but that's the way it unfolded. A lot of it's very, very heavy. I just hope people like it. I love it."
The new set is due out in July, with a fresh title yet to be announced. Ozzy's last solo project, "Black Rain", came out in 2007.
Ozzy also confirmed that Ozzfest will return this summer after taking a one-year break but did not reveal whether it would be a one-shot affair like the 2008 edition or go back to its roots as a traveling event. He also plans to head out on his own headlining arena tour next fall.
The new album and tour will introduce guitarist Gus G.Ozzy parted ways last year with axeman Zakk Wylde, who has played on every Ozzy album and almost every tour since 1988.
Ozzy's first memoir, "I Am Ozzy", arrived in bookstores last week.
Sadly, a good portion of our recent interview with Ozzy Osbourne won’t make it onto MainStreet.com. The man drops F-bombs approximately every 12 words. So we’ll just edit them out. Obscenity aside, Ozzy had plenty of interesting things to say about his reputation, the music business and, ahem, his bowels. He’s got a book coming out today called I Am Ozzy, which is why we were lucky enough to score 15 minutes on the phone with him -- living legend that he is[
I wanted to start off by talking to Ozzy about his current public persona, compared to his image during his rock ‘n’ roll heyday with his band Black Sabbath and going solo thereafter. We write a lot about personal branding on MainStreet and it’s not a stretch to say that Ozzy has experienced a kind of PR metamorphosis. He went from being known as a kind of scary prince of darkness who bit the heads off bats and doves, to a kind of warm and fuzzy prince of darkness, fit for prime time TV (Ozzy, his wife and manager Sharon, and their two kids famously starred in the MTV reality show The Osbournes, one of the network’s biggest hits).
Ultimately, Ozzy rejects the notion that either his former or current public image is or was in any way scripted or contrived, and I believed him.
“What you get up from me is what I am,” he told me. “Believe me. My antics weren’t for anything but the antics. It wasn’t like I thought, ‘I’ll bite the heads off these things and then I’ll be on the front page tomorrow.’ If I had the trick of doing that I’d have made a zillion dollars.”
This is not to say he’s ego-free or totally oblivious to how he’s perceived (who among us is?). He’s admitted to having plastic surgery, telling Reveal Magazine in 2005, “It boosted my confidence no end. I've had a face job and a new nose.”
But for Ozzy, who lived much of his professional life in a drug and alcohol induced haze (he’s been sober since 2005) , the idea of a personal brand is nonsense. Frankly, when I used that kind of marketing jargon he pretty much had no idea what I was talking about, and I sensed he was a little bit annoyed, which in turn made me feel like a bit of a schmuck. He didn’t strike me as pompous or arrogant in any way, mind you, it’s just that he’s lived his life by the seat of his pants, and contends that none of his success or his public transformation was the result of any plotting… at least not on his part.
[
“I don’t do drugs any more. I don’t smoke cigarettes. I don’t drink alcohol,” he told me. “When you drink booze all the time you do crazy things. I used to think the whole world was drunk.”
Given all that hard living, it may come as a surprise to many that Ozzy has done as well as he has. He and Sharon have been ranked as one of Britain’s richest couples, having amassed a fortune of close to $150 million. Ozzy, however, has very little to do with the family finances. When I asked him what his biggest money mistake was, he couldn’t come up with anything, and told me that Sharon really controls the purse strings.
“She’s the manager. She’s the organizer,” he said. “I’ve been married to her for like 30 years and I don’t have that kind of responsibility. I’m just lucky I don’t have to worry about where the next meal is coming from.
As for music, Ozzy is still very much in the game. He’s coming out with a new album this summer and he’ll be going on a stadium tour as well. But the music business has changed, he said, largely because of the advent of the computer.
“The days of the bohemian rock and roller who tours once in a blue moon and just makes records and sells records are long gone. The royalty train is broken forever,” he said. Nowadays, because of digital downloads, musicians must go on tour if they want to bank real cash, but he added that many are shooting themselves in the foot by charging too much for tickets.
[
“Some of them charge $1,000 per ticket. I wouldn’t pay $1,000 to see God,” he said. “I’m not an advocate of rip-off ticket prices. You work your gigs with the state of the economy, so kids don’t have to re-mortgage the house to buy a ticket.”
He went on to say that some bands might be able to get away with charging an arm and a leg once, but only once.
“They get away with it one time, these big tours, and then the bands want to go again but… no one wants to go back. It’s pure unadulterated greed,” he said. “You can’t do that.”
Another big difference between today’s music scene, and that of yesteryear, is the impact of digital technology when it comes organizing and producing a show.
“In the ‘70s and early ‘80s we never had cell phones. I have a cell phone now but I don’t use it. I don’t know how to work a computer and I don’t want to particularly,” he said, noting that years ago putting on a show was a much simpler affair. “In the old days all the manager would do is give you a piece of paper the time of arrival, the time we go on stage, and if you get lost, all you do is stop and ask someone. And now you’ve got electronic wires and computers. If the system breaks down, it’ll be chaotic.”
[
The book, which Ozzy wrote with Chris Ayers (author of War Reporting for Cowards) has plenty of chaos. One of the highlights he shared with us was the story of when Sharon had him taking a colon cleanser (she’s evidently always finding and sampling new kinds of health products). Unfortunately, he found himself at the home of the British crooner Roger Whitaker not long after taking the concoction, and soon enough nature took its course.
“When you pour it in your bowels, you’ve got to go to the toilet fast,” he explained... thanks for clarifying.
“So I was in his house and I used his bathroom. I had no choice. But there was no toilet paper. I had to use his curtains.”
He had to use his curtains. I love this guy
29 JAN 2010
OZZY OSBOURNE! YES, AGAIN!
OZZY OSBOURNE Interviewed On WRIF's 'Drew & Mike' Show; Audio Available 2010
Ozzy Osbourne was recently interviewed on the "Drew & Mike" show, which airs on Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM radio station. The chat is now available for streaming using the audio player below.
Osbourne doesn't think he's likely to play with BLACK SABBATH again since he and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne are involved in a lawsuit against guitarist Tony Iommi over the rights to the band's name. But Ozzy also told Rolling Stone that anything could happen, explaining, "I'm not gonna say I've written it out forever. But right now I don't think there is any chance. But who knows what the future holds for me? If it's my destiny, fine."
The original SABBATH lineup of Ozzy, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward has not toured together since the summer of 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 2006.
The group did try to record a new album 10 years ago, their first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. Ozzy said, "I tried and I couldn't do it . . . I've been away from SABBATH thirty-odd years. I was only with them for 10 years. I had girlfriends when I was younger and I would go 'Oh, I would really like to go back with Shirley,' and then you do and you go to yourself, 'What the fuck was I thinking?' You're never the same, you know."
Since 2007, Iommi and Butler have toured and recorded with latter-day SABBATH singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice under the name HEAVEN & HELL, while Ozzy has been working on a new solo record. When asked about Dio recently being diagnosed with and treated for stomach cancer, Ozzy said, "I'm sorry to hear about Ronnie having cancer. It must be really fucking scary for the poor boy."
Ozzy's first memoir, "I Am Ozzy", was published on Monday (January 25), with the singer launching a book-signing tour that same day. The book chronicles the metal icon's life from his working-class beginnings in Birmingham, England to his initial fame with SABBATH to his massive solo career and forays into television.
Ozzy Osbourne interviewed on the "Drew & Mike" show (click on player below to launch audio):
28 JAN 2010
Bon, il y a une news par minute concernant Ozzy! Mais le blog reste toujours fan avant tout de Black Sabbath !
BLACK SABBATH COLORED VINYL LP
(SUITE)
Voici une réédition en LP sympa de 'Paranoid' et 'Volume 4' version colorée qui nous arrive des USA, je pense vous en dire plus dès réception de ces derniers dans ma modeste collection. Edition limitée. Dans moins d'un mois, 'Black Sabbath' (l'album) aura officiellement 40 ans! Incroyable, mais vrai, ce disque reste néanmoins un classique absolu du Heavy Metal, imaginez combien de génération vont écouter ce disque? Nous ne seront plus là, pour le savoir! Car, ce disque ne va pas disparaitre des bacs, ou des téléchargements d'ici peu, aucun danger.
Alors comme promis dès réception des LP, dans le style 180 gr, bien épais, vinyle transparent 'clear vinyl'. Donc, il faut bien comprendre TRANSPARENT sans couleur, bon personnelement je savais à quoi m'attendre, même en import le prix reste correct pour une belle réédition pour fans complétistes, en ce moment chaque année représente une occasion de fêter un événement dans l'histoire de Black Sabbath, alors que va réserver les 40 ans de 'Black Sabbath', 'Paranoid' les trente ans de 'Heaven & Hell' et puis....malheureusement n'attendons rien de l'anniversaire de 'Tyr' puisque pour 'Headless Cross' c'était l'oubli total.
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE Interviewed By THE BOSTON PHOENIX; Audio Available
Lance Gould of The Boston Phoenix recently conducted an interview with Ozzy Osbourne. An excerpt from the chat follows below.
The Boston Phoenix: How has the perception of rock and roll behavior changed since you started out? In the 1960s, bad-boy rock 'n' roll behavior fed into a kind of anti-hero treatment of rock stars that helped fuel a cultural revolution. And then 20 years later, that same behavior just seemed like a bunch of assholes trashing a hotel room.
Ozzy: It's kind of like, if you want to be a success in rock and roll, do the rock 'n' roll that your parents love to hate. It's like, one thing about rock and roll, which has always helped me a lot: it's kept me young at heart, if you like. I have a great relationship with my son, I have a great relationship with my daughters, I mean, and it's not bad with the kids. Everybody gets a fair shake in this house. I mean, the kids say, "Dad, you were fucking out of order," and I go, "Okay, I'm sorry." It's not like, "Do what I tell you or shut the fuck up, I'm the boss." Rock-and-roll behavior — I mean, what other job, can you turn up to work absolutely shitfaced, and they go, "Oh, he's gonna be great — Ozzy's gonna be great tonight." I mean, can you imagine a fucking lawyer or a surgeon or a fucking, or whatever? You gotta be fucking joking.
The Boston Phoenix: Right, but there was one part in the book when you tossed a TV out the window [in Prague]. It was almost like your rock-and-roll bucket list, of things you want to do before you —
Ozzy: I meant exactly what I said in Prague. I just said, "You know what Zakk [Wylde, former guitarist in his solo band]," I said to him, "I've done every fucking thing in rock and roll — what you can do, what's expected of you — but, you know, I've never done this." He goes, "What's that?" And I said, "Throwing a TV out the window." Which was fuck — I was drunk, out of my face. But you know, most of the things that you would do, if you were stone-cold sober, I don't think you would — maybe you would, but I wouldn't do them when I was sober.
The Boston Phoenix: Was there any fallout from that? You didn't mention in the book if there was any fallout from the throwing the TV out the window.
Ozzy: Well, it cost me 35 grand for a new fucking window, which probably only cost 15 grand. I mean, the downside to urinating all over the Alamo a few years ago, I couldn't play San Antonio for fucking 20 years, I think.
The Boston Phoenix: Yeah.
Ozzy: And that cost me gigs. And it cost me, most times, people didn't get to see me for a while. . . . But I'm all right to go back [there] now.
The Boston Phoenix: That's funny. There's something almost Monty Python–esque about your life. Like when you went for a colonoscopy and the doctor couldn't put you under the drugs, because —
Ozzy: I went for a colonoscopy and the guy puts a syringe full of white stuff in me, and he goes, "So how long you been doing rock and roll?" And I'm talking to him, and he's talking to me, and he goes, "Why aren't you asleep yet?" [laughs] Well, no, I'm not bragging about it, because, you know what? I'm so fucking lucky I woke up every morning.
The 17-minute chat can be streamed using the audio player below.
OZZY OSBOURNE On CNN INTERNATIONAL's 'Connect The World'
Ozzy Osbourne appeared on CNN International's "Connect the World" program on Wednesday, January 27 as "Connector of the Day".
Hosted by CNN anchor Max Foster, "Connector of the Day" is an interactive segment of the program which encourages viewers to submit questions online, which are then asked by Max on air.
Watch the "Connector of the Day" segment featuring Ozzy below.
Ozzy Osbourne says his upcoming new album, the 10th solo studio effort of his career, will not be called "Soul Sucka" as first reported. The Prince of Darkness told RollingStone.com, "When we put that on the Internet none of my fan base liked the title. They were like, 'I can't imagine me walking around the fucking house with the words 'Soul Sucka' on my T-shirt.' So I was like, 'Fuck it. I've got to come up with something else!'" No matter what it's called, Ozzy told The Pulse of Radio what to expect. "It's very heavy. It's a cross between — it's kind of like a SABBATH/Ozzy album, you know. It's kind of, it wasn't meant to, I didn't plan on doing it but that's the way it unfolded. A lot of it's very, very heavy. I just hope people like it. I love it."
The new set is due out in July, with a fresh title yet to be announced. Ozzy's last solo project, "Black Rain", came out in 2007.
Ozzy also confirmed that Ozzfest will return this summer after taking a one-year break but did not reveal whether it would be a one-shot affair like the 2008 edition or go back to its roots as a traveling event. He also plans to head out on his own headlining arena tour next fall.
The new album and tour will introduce guitarist Gus G.Ozzy parted ways last year with axeman Zakk Wylde, who has played on every Ozzy album and almost every tour since 1988.
Ozzy's first memoir, "I Am Ozzy", arrived in bookstores this week.
OZZY OSBOURNE: 'I Have A Face Like A Baby's Butt'
Tara Murtha of Philadelphia Weekly recently conducted an interview with Ozzy Osbourne. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Philadelphia Weekly: Hey Ozzy. I loved the book ["I Am Ozzy"]!
Ozzy: The book is a lighthearted look at my life. I mean for every rock and roller, there's a book about the sex, the groupies, the rock and roll the drugs, the debauchery — which everybody knows about. But there's a downside to it as well, there's a tragic side. But most of all there's a humorous side. I always think, if you can laugh at your pain then you can get through anything really.
Philadelphia Weekly: How'd you do most of the research?
Ozzy: Chris [coauthor Chris Ayres] came out, I didn't have to actually do research, just had to jog my memory. So he'd come around and say, OK, what was it like from 15 to 25 and I'd talk and talk and talk, you know, I was married to my first wife, and so on. I was very mean to her. When I was a drunk I was very … coming along with success in rock and roll comes a thing called ego, and ego and alcohol don't really mix because it boosts up your ego to be out of control and you think everything you do is right and everybody agrees with you because you're a celebrity. So nobody goes, I think you're full of shit because everybody wants to be around a celebrity. I used to mistreat my first wife and mistreated by Sharon for a long while. But then you know, I tell my story and I'm not proud of having been a bully and having been egotistical or whatever but it's what happens … I felt a little important for a while.
Philadelphia Weekly: You were so forthcoming about admitting your personal faults. You didn't hesitate?
Ozzy: You know what, I said to Sharon, I can't write about this. And she'd say, if it's the truth, then write about it! If you don't want to write about it, then don't write about it. But on reflection, the overriding thing I tried to put in the book is the humor, but I wanted to tell the truth as well. So if you and I and a bunch of other people saw an accident, there's a good chance we'd all have a slightly different take on what we saw. Now people who were there are going to read my book and go, It never happened like that, he's just doing that because that's what he wants to say, he wants to be a big shot, this is what I remember happening… But that's only my angle on it. All I did was write the book how I remember it. If I'm wrong I'm wrong, if I'm right I'm right. I went in with an honest mind, with a open mind, because I didn't want to be all, I'm so fucking great, because the I-am-great attitude got me into a lot of shit, you know.
Philadelphia Weekly: I read that you recently discovered the importance of good facial moisturizer.
Ozzy: Sharon's guy says to me, you should [put] moisturizer on every morning and evening. I mean, guys don't fucking worry about it. But I started using it, because Sharon says, his face, his face, he's out in the weather all the time and doesn't take care of it. So I do it whenever I remember now… I have a face like a baby's butt.
When you see a line of black T-shirts snaking out of Border’s on Broad Street later this afternoon, it’s because the Prince of Darkness is coming to town to sign copies of I Am Ozzy--which is one of the best memoirs this memoir junkie has ever read, no joke.
Thick as a bible, I Am Ozzy is a lightning-read account of one man’s journey into and out of the sludgy bowels of the rock and roll beast. Pensive now at 61, I Am Ozzy is a (mostly) sober account of a very drunk and deluded time fueled by the time-honored collision course of inflatable egos and endless cocaine (back in the day, Black Sabbath didn’t even know who was paying for or sending the unmarked vans stacked with tidy boxes of wax-capped vials of medical grade powder).
All the expected hijinks and rumors are there, from biting bats to snorting ants to the kerfuffles caused by a controversial stage show that included stringing up a small person, as they’re called nowadays, by the neck in a noose and catapulting bloody raw meat and entrails onto the crowd.
But, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, like Tom Robbins books, the joy here, even for Sabbath fans, is less about the plot and all about the delivery. What I mean is, the book is hilarious. The Ozzy narrating the book isn’t the lunatic in a cape vacuuming drugs with his face or shooting chickens in a fit of paranoia, but more of a chilled out grandpa peering over those trademark dark Lennon-glasses, reading fairy tales aloud by the hearth. After all, Black Sabbath is a blokes’ Cinderella story of course, starring a motley group of misfits who escaped the factory grind by trying to make their 12-bar blues band “sound scary” after observing that people paid good money to see horror movies.
Despite being dyslexic, the Ozzy we meet in the book has got an Englishman’s way with words. Stage fright is “a bad case of the brown trousers.” Number two is “a cliffhanger of a Richard the Third down the pipe.” You get the idea. He has a little fun with it and stuffs the language with English-isms, he does.
As much as Ozzy's epic journey from a poor Beatles-loving troublemaker to Prince of Darkness to Master of Reality (TV) is owed to rock and roll, he says he can’t get behind perpetuating the myth that such a decadent lifestyle is all Bel Air and blow jobs. Professionally cultivating addiction comes at a heavy price, and Ozzy’s on the lifetime payment plan. He talks candidly about his medical issues and painful personal regrets—especially the guilt hitting over his first wife and, early on, Sharon. It’s the issue he addresses right away in the interview, too, which was unexpected and super cool considering how many young dudes worship the guy.
Hey Ozzy. I loved the book!
The book is a lighthearted look at my life. I mean for every rock and roller, there’s a book about the sex, the groupies, the rock and roll the drugs, the debauchery--which everybody knows about. But there’s a downside to it as well, there’s a tragic side. But most of all there’s a humorous side. I always think, if you can laugh at your pain then you can get through anything really.
How’d you do most of the research?
Chris [coauthor Chris Ayres] came out, I didn’t have to actually do research, just had to jog my memory. So he’d come around and say, OK, what was it like from 15 to 25 and I’d talk and talk and talk, you know, I was married to my first wife, and so on. I was very mean to her. When I was a drunk I was very … coming along with success in rock and roll comes a thing called ego, and ego and alcohol don’t really mix because it boosts up your ego to be out of control and you think everything you do is right and everybody agrees with you because you’re a celebrity.
So nobody goes, I think you’re full of shit because everybody wants to be around a celebrity. I used to mistreat my first wife and mistreated by Sharon for a long while. But then you know, I tell my story and I’m not proud of having been a bully and having been egotistical or whatever but it’s what happens … I felt a little important for a while.
You were so forthcoming about admitting your personal faults. You didn’t hesitate?
You know what, I said to Sharon, I can’t write about this. And she’d say, if it’s the truth, then write about it! If you don’t want to write about it, then don’t write about it.
But on reflection, the overriding thing I tried to put in the book is the humor, but I wanted to tell the truth as well. So if you and I and a bunch of other people saw an accident, there’s a good chance we’d all have a slightly different take on what we saw. Now people who were there are going to read my book and go, It never happened like that, he’s just doing that because that’s what he wants to say, he wants to be a big shot, this is what I remember happening… But that’s only my angle on it. I
All I did was write the book how I remember it. If I’m wrong I’m wrong, if I’m right I’m right. I went in with an honest mind, with a open mind, because I didn’t want to be all, I’m so fucking great, because the I-am-great attitude got me into a lot of shit, you know.
What made you choose now to finally write it?
I kept putting it off and putting it off, and Sharon said, this is the only year you’re going to have any downtime to do something like that and I said OK then, I’ll have a go.
So you’re releasing an album this summer.
I was going to call it “Soul Sucka,” but on my website, my fans said it reminded them of a rap song or whatever.
That would be the sucka part.
I don’t understand what that means. Why is that?
Why does it sound like a rap song? Because sucka is used in rap songs; it’s rap lingo. Sucka MC.
[Laughs] That was a complete innocent mistake because I don’t listen to rap, I don’t understand rap. It’s someone reading a fucking poem to a rhythm, you know.
Well you laid that rap down with Madonna as a back-up singer!
Well you know what? Sharon goes to me, you gotta do this, you gotta do that, Busta Rhymes. Busta Rhymes is a nice guy, but that’s the only rapper that I get … believe me, you’re not going to hear rap on my album.
OK, so you’re not listening to rap. What are you listening to?
Nothing. Well, I listen to old stuff. Every Christmas, I listen to what I get. So first it was the Beatles anthology, then there’s the re-mastered fucking Beatles catalog. I’m still a McCartney, Lennon, Harrison, Ringo fan.
Did you get the Beatles Rock Band also? The video game?
Oh no no no, I’ve got my own! [laughs]
So you’re performing soon.
The album comes out, I’m doing Ozzfest, then I’m doing an arena tour, then I’m doing a world tour, then I’ll do a fucking stint in a lunatic asylum I think.
In the book you wrote that when you were starting out, “What I lacked in technique, I made up for in enthusiasm.” That was decades ago. How do you keep your enthusiasm high?
It’s called a shopaholic wife.
Right, the houses. The Osbournes renovate the Western hemisphere one house at a time.
Oh yes she’s, I mean, I buy these houses and I go, Sharon, look. I don’t want to move. She goes, this house is the best house, it doesn’t need a fucking thing done to it. I go, you’re sure? And I guarantee we’ll move. I’ll tell you what, I’ve rented or bought, in the last 28 years, 27 houses.
But you would just stay in the same place forever if it was up to you.
Of course! Men! Women! But my wife loves decorating houses.
I wanted to ask you, you wrote at length about how the Satanists never fucked off and never stopped bothering you because they believed Black Sabbath was all about Satanism. What I don’t understand, is that you listen to a song like After Forever, and it’s practically Christian propaganda.
Once you call it Black Sabbath or Ozzy Osbourne or Tony Iommi whatever, people go heavy metal! Satan! But where it all started was that way back when we first started, we used to rehearse in a community center across the road from a movie theater when we lived in Aston, Birmingham. Tony one day said, isn’t it weird how people pay money to get frightened? Why don’t we start writing scary music? And it came from that really; you can’t write a scary song about Jesus.
Well, you can I guess, you did. But the thing is if those fans had listened to some of the lyrics, it was very clear you weren’t into Satanism.
That was Geezer. Geezer came up with some amazing lyrics. If you’ve got good lyrics you’ve got a good album. Geezer was fucking amazing with lyrics.
So do any of those types of fans still bother you?
Nah, they’ve probably all grown up and become fucking lawyers now.
So what’s the coolest or weirdest thing a fan’s ever sent you?
When you see a fan come up to you with a tattoo of your face on their arse or back or whatever, it’s like, every time he looks in a mirror for the rest of his life, he’s going to need to look at a picture of me, and that’s unbelievable. I’m not trying to say I want everyone to do that, because I really don’t. If you ever get a tattoo, you’ve got to really ask yourself, Am I prepared to look at that the rest of my life? Because even if you get it covered up with another tattoo or removed, it’s going to be a scar.
You would know! OK, so this is totally goofy, but I read that you recently discovered the importance of good facial moisturizer.
Sharon’s guy says to me, you should moisturizer on every morning and evening. I mean, guys don’t fucking worry about it. But I started using it, because Sharon’s says, his face, his face, he’s out in the weather all the time and doesn’t take care of it. So I do it whenever I remember now… I have a face like a baby’s butt.
Finally, I have to ask you since I’m sitting here in Philadelphia, I have ask you what memories come to mind of Philadelphia.
The Spectrum was always a great gig. Always, always a great fucking rock and roll show for me. I love Philadelphia fans, I really do love them.
Ozzy’s Guide to the Music Industry (Excerpts from I Am Ozzy.)
On folk music: “The hippy dippy shit that was all over the radio after I got out of Winston Green was also winding me up, big time. All these polo-necked wankers from grammar schools were going out and buying songs like, “San Francisco (Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair).’ Flowers in your hair? Do me a fucking favor.”
On getting Geezer to learn the bass so he could be in Black Sabbath: “How hard can that be, eh? There’s only four fucking strings.”
On prog rock: “If you don’t have a sense of humor when you’re in a band, you end up like Emerson, Lake and Palmer, making eight-disc LPS so you can all have you own three-hour fucking solos. And who wants to listen to that bullocks?”
On studio time: “I don’t care if you’re making the next Bridge Over Troubled Water—taking five or ten or fifteen years to make an album, like Guns N Roses did, is just fucking ridiculous, end of story.” On legal representation: “Lawyers. They grease you down and stick their fist up your arse.”
On public relations: “Look mate, the only evil spirits I’m interested in are called whiskey, vodka and gin … The good thing about all the Satanic stuff was that it gave us endless free publicity.” On reviews: “One of the good things about being dyslexic is that when I say I don’t read reviews, I mean I don’t read reviews.”
OZZY OSBOURNE Says New Album Is 'Very, Very Heavy'
According to The Pulse of Radio, Ozzy Osbourne says his upcoming new album, the 10th solo studio effort of his career, will not be called "Soul Sucka" as first reported. The Prince of Darkness told RollingStone.com, "When we put that on the Internet none of my fan base liked the title. They were like, 'I can't imagine me walking around the fucking house with the words 'Soul Sucka' on my T-shirt.' So I was like, 'Fuck it. I've got to come up with something else!'" No matter what it's called, Ozzy told The Pulse of Radio what to expect. "It's very heavy. It's a cross between — it's kind of like a SABBATH/Ozzy album, you know. It's kind of, it wasn't meant to, I didn't plan on doing it but that's the way it unfolded. A lot of it's very, very heavy. I just hope people like it. I love it."
The new set is due out in July, with a fresh title yet to be announced. Ozzy's last solo project, "Black Rain", came out in 2007.
Ozzy also confirmed that Ozzfest will return this summer after taking a one-year break but did not reveal whether it would be a one-shot affair like the 2008 edition or go back to its roots as a traveling event. He also plans to head out on his own headlining arena tour next fall.
The new album and tour will introduce guitarist Gus G.Ozzy parted ways last year with axeman Zakk Wylde, who has played on every Ozzy album and almost every tour since 1988.
Ozzy's first memoir, "I Am Ozzy", arrived in bookstores this week.
OZZY OSBOURNE And Family To Guest On 'The Ellen Degeneres Show'
Ozzy Osbourne and his family — wife/manager Sharon, son Jack and daughter Kelly — are scheduled to guest on "The Ellen Degeneres Show" on Friday, February 4. Check your local listings for air times.
Osbourne doesn't think he's likely to play with BLACK SABBATH again since he and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne are involved in a lawsuit against guitarist Tony Iommi over the rights to the band's name. But Ozzy also told Rolling Stone that anything could happen, explaining, "I'm not gonna say I've written it out forever. But right now I don't think there is any chance. But who knows what the future holds for me? If it's my destiny, fine."
The original SABBATH lineup of Ozzy, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward has not toured together since the summer of 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 2006.
The group did try to record a new album 10 years ago, their first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. Ozzy said, "I tried and I couldn't do it . . . I've been away from SABBATH thirty-odd years. I was only with them for 10 years. I had girlfriends when I was younger and I would go 'Oh, I would really like to go back with Shirley,' and then you do and you go to yourself, 'What the fuck was I thinking?' You're never the same, you know."
Since 2007, Iommi and Butler have toured and recorded with latter-day SABBATH singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice under the name HEAVEN & HELL, while Ozzy has been working on a new solo record. When asked about Dio recently being diagnosed with and treated for stomach cancer, Ozzy said, "I'm sorry to hear about Ronnie having cancer. It must be really fucking scary for the poor boy."
Ozzy's first memoir, "I Am Ozzy", was published on Monday (January 25), with the singer launching a book-signing tour that same day. The book chronicles the metal icon's life from his working-class beginnings in Birmingham, England to his initial fame with SABBATH to his massive solo career and forays into television.
GLENN HUGHES
GLENN HUGHES Talks About BLACK COUNTRY; Video Available
A short video message from Glenn Hughes (BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE) about BLACK COUNTRY, his new supergroup with Jason Bonham, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian, can be viewed below.
BLACK COUNTRY takes its name from the industrial area in England from which Bonham and Hughes both hail. The band is currently in the studio with producer Kevin Shirley (BLACK CROWES, AEROSMITH, LED ZEPPELIN) cutting tracks for an upcoming album to be released in late 2010 or early 2011.
With Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER) on drums, Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, BILLY IDOL, ALICE COOPER) on keyboards, Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE) on bass and vocals and Bonamassa on guitar and vocals, the band already has six tracks cut. The next recording session will take place in March and the band hopes to finish recording in early April. Shirley made the announcement on his web site: "So there it is folks — the cat is out the bag! This is BLACK COUNTRY. The songs are all original and what a lineup. They are all the very best players in the world, for my money!"
Shirley added, "Jason Bonham is a totally unique drummer and a supreme, yet oh-so-tasty powerhouse. Derek Sherinian is super versatile, and is playing mostly overdriven Hammond organ in this ensemble and is the color on the palette. Glenn Hughes plays bass and sings with a range very, very few can even get close to, and Joe Bonamassa, perhaps the best blues rock guitarist around, plays hard riffing guitar as well as adding his signature vocals alongside Glenn. You'll just have to wait — we're planning to get this out late summer, and it's promising to be phenomenal!"
Recently named "The Blues Rock Titan" by Guitar World magazine, Bonamassa's new solo album, "Black Rock", will be arriving March 23, 2010. Produced by Shirley, who has produced Bonamassa's last six solo albums, it will be released on Bonamassa's own J&R Adventures label.
26 JAN 2010
BILL WARD
BLACK SABBATH Drummer Previews January 'Rock 50' Show
BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has issued the following update on the January 2010 edition of his "Rock 50" monthly radio show, which airs between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. PST on WPMD, a college radio station at Cerritos College in California:
"Our first radio show of the year will have a new format included. Instead of the 'show within a show,' which played classic/hardcore metal, we'll be playing a featured artist or band. This new segment takes place after the noon break, as did the 'show within a show.'
"We'll be playing artists from the '60s through to today.
"Please let us know if you like the new segment.
"Featured band this month is CREAM. Also appearing on the show: ARCH ENEMY, SKELETONWITCH, TYPE O NEGATIVE and SLIPKNOT.
"The show airs 11 a.m. (Pacific Time), Saturday, January 30th. I hope you can join us."
"Rock 50", featuring its regular host Mike Stark, is broadcast over the Internet every Saturday. You can listen to the show live online at this location.
For more information about Bill Ward's monthly "Rock 50" radio show, click here.
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE To Guest On 'The Howard Stern Show', 'Opie And Anthony'
Continuing on his "I Am Ozzy" book tour, Ozzy Osbourne will descend upon "The Howard Stern Show" tomorrow morning (Tuesday January 26). Following that interview, you can catch Ozzy on the "Opie and Anthony" radio program as well. Then later tomorrow evening Ozzy will hold his third U.S. book signing at Borders at 10 Columbus Circle in New York City at 7:00 p.m.
In other news, Elliot Levin of the NY Hard Rock Music Examiner has posted a report and photos from Ozzy's January 25 signing session at Barnes And Noble. Check it out at this location.
As previously reported, Ozzy will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, February 3 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Ozzy by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The program will be rebroadcast on Monday, February 8.
"I Am Ozzy", which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, has just been released in the U.S. via Sphere Publishers (the book was published in the U.K. on October 1, 2009).
"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.
Ozzy's wife/manager Sharon Osbourne published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.
Ozzy's next album, his first since 2007's "Black Rain", is tentatively slated to come out in July and will feature songs such as "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and the title track. The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"Black Rain" was Ozzy's first all-new solo effort in six years and debuted on the Billboard album chart at No. 3.
OZZY OSBOURNE Completes Filming 'Wreckage Of My Past' Documentary
Filming for "Wreckage Of My Past", the forthcoming film documenting the life of music icon Ozzy Osbourne as he approaches his 60th birthday, has apparently been completed. The documentary is being directed by Mike Piscitelli and is written and produced by Jordan Tappis. It will be the first release from Jacko Productions, a company started by Ozzy's son Jack.
A brief Twitter message from Piscitelli, posted this past Friday (January 22), reads, "My last shoot day with Ozzy..."
Newly sober, Ozzy has finally reached a point of clarity as he looks back on a lifetime of unresolved issues, unparalleled success, misdiagnosed diseases, severed ties, and a recurring dependency on drugs and alcohol. Due in theaters later in 2010, "Wreckage Of My Past" is a film about reconciling the past and looking toward the future.
Jack Osbourne is executive-producing "Wreckage Of My Past" along with his mother, Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's longtime manager.
Jack and Sharon are financing the film themselves.
Filming for "Wreckage Of My Past" began in January 2008. The documentary will reportedly include interviews with all the principal members of BLACK SABBATH, the various incarnations of Ozzy's solo band, family and friends. But the trick, Jack said, was getting them to be truthful. "The hard thing is getting people to be honest and not have it be a fluff piece, because that's not what we're trying to do," he told RollingStone.com. "I'm trying to paint a realistic picture of who my father is. I think 'The Osbournes', to a degree, tarnished the public's perception of my dad as a bit of a senile, funny, bumbling guy. Yeah, my dad can be that guy, but it's not him. I think that almost discredited who he is as an artist. My dad's not an idiot — he's nothing short of a genius, in my opinion. He does have huge flaws, and we're trying to really paint an honest picture of that."
According to Variety, Jack Osbourne filmed several of his father's concerts, compiled early archive footage, and was hoping to secure an interview with Ozzy's first wife. He was planning to put the footage together with Piscitelli and Tappis before talking to distributors.
"I want people to see John Osbourne as the guy I grew up with, the tormented, complex musician whose personal demons manifest themselves in so many crazy, unique ways," Osbourne said. "He's agreed to it but is putting up his guard, massively afraid of putting his true self out there on display for people to see."
Ask OZZY OSBOURNE ?
Do you have a question for Ozzy Osbourne?
You can submit your questions for Ozzy at this location and then read the interview in an upcoming issue of Time magazine.
Osbourne doesn't think he's likely to play with BLACK SABBATH again since he and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne are involved in a lawsuit against guitarist Tony Iommi over the rights to the band's name. But Ozzy also told Rolling Stone that anything could happen, explaining, "I'm not gonna say I've written it out forever. But right now I don't think there is any chance. But who knows what the future holds for me? If it's my destiny, fine."
The original SABBATH lineup of Ozzy, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward has not toured together since the summer of 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 2006.
The group did try to record a new album 10 years ago, their first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. Ozzy said, "I tried and I couldn't do it . . . I've been away from SABBATH thirty-odd years. I was only with them for 10 years. I had girlfriends when I was younger and I would go 'Oh, I would really like to go back with Shirley,' and then you do and you go to yourself, 'What the fuck was I thinking?' You're never the same, you know."
Since 2007, Iommi and Butler have toured and recorded with latter-day SABBATH singer Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice under the name HEAVEN & HELL, while Ozzy has been working on a new solo record.
25 JAN 2010
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE On NBC-TV's 'Today Show'; Video Available -
Ozzy Osbourne was a guest on this morning's edition of NBC-TV's "Today Show" in support of his long-awaited memoir, "I Am Ozzy". Watch his appearance below.
Ozzy will drop by the program again on Wednesday (January 27), when his wife/manager Sharon co-hosts the latter part of the show.
As previously reported, Ozzy will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, February 3 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Ozzy by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The program will be rebroadcast on Monday, February 8.
"I Am Ozzy", which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, has just been released in the U.S. via Sphere Publishers (the book was published in the U.K. on October 1, 2009).
"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.
In a statement, he revealed what fans can expect from the bio, explaining: "They've said some crazy things about me over the years. I mean, okay: 'He bit the head off a bat.' Yes. 'He bit the head off a dove.' Yes. But then you hear things like, 'Ozzy went to the show last night, but he wouldn't perform until he'd killed fifteen puppies…' Now me, kill fifteen puppies? I love puppies. I've got eighteen of the fucking things at home. I've killed a few cows in my time, mind you. And the chickens. I shot the chickens in my house that night.
"It haunts me, all this crazy stuff. Every day of my life has been an event. I took lethal combinations of booze and drugs for thirty fucking years. I survived a direct hit by a plane, suicidal overdoses, STDs. I've been accused of attempted murder. Then I almost died while riding over a bump on a quad bike at fucking two miles per hour.
"People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, which one of us would end up with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and Beverly Hills, I wouldn't have put money on me, no fucking way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time.
"A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. I've always been drawn to the dark side, me. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time."
Sharon Osbourne published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.
Ozzy's next album, his first since 2007's "Black Rain", is tentatively slated to come out in July and will feature songs such as "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and the title track. The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"Black Rain" was Ozzy's first all-new solo effort in six years and debuted on the Billboard album chart at No. 3.
Rien à voir avec Sabbath, mais une nouvelle incroyable! La retraite de Scorpions!
Wind of Change, Still Loving You... le groupe Scorpions annonce sa prochaine retraite Le groupe de rock allemand Scorpions a annoncé dimanche vouloir mettre fin à quarante ans de carrière musicale après un dernier album et une ultime tournée en préparation. Leur ballade Wind of Change (Vent du changement), sortie en 1990 et qui devait symboliser la chute du mur de Berlin, devint un tube international, au point d'être en 1991 la chanson la plus vendue au monde. Et son statut de "bande originale" de la chute du Mur est consacré en 1999 : lors des cérémonies pour le dixième anniversaire, les rockeurs jouent leur tube accompagnés de 160 violoncellistes, sous la baguette de Rostropovitch.
"Oui, nous arrêtons", a annoncé le fondateur du groupe, le guitariste Rudolf Schenker, 61 ans, dans le quotidien populaire Bild am Sonntag. "Nous travaillons en ce moment sur notre dernier disque et préparons notre dernière tournée" qui durera deux ou trois ans, a-t-il ajouté, expliquant que cette retraite était dictée par l'âge des membres du groupe. "Nous ne voulons pas que cela devienne indigne", car "un jour, le corps ne fournit plus ce que l'on veut. On devrait s'en aller avant que cela ne se produise", a-t-il souligné.
"Nous ne rajeunissons pas" et "nous préférons partir avec un album qui décoiffe", a reconnu aussi Klaus Meine, 61 ans et 40 ans passés au micro du groupe ( Wind of Change, Still Loving You ). "Nous voulons vraiment faire sauter les bouchons pour la finale et terminer cette carrière avec un album fort et une tournée spectaculaire", a ajouté cet ami de l'ancien chancelier social-démocrate Gerhard Schröder. "Par bonheur, l'amitié qui soude le groupe n'est jamais restée en rade", selon lui, même si la bande de rockeurs en blousons noirs dit avoir traversé une période désorientée à la fin des années 1990. Le guitariste Matthias Jabs, 54 ans, est convaincu qu'"il y aura des sensations de manque".
Le groupe, fondé en 1965, comprend aujourd'hui cinq musiciens, dont le bassiste polonais Pawel Maciwoda, 42 ans, et le batteur américain James Kottak. Son vingt-deuxième et dernier album doit s'intituler, Sting in the Tail et sortir le 19 mars, selon Bild . Quelque 200 concerts sont prévus pour une ultime tournée qui débutera le 7 mai à Leipzig (est de l'Allemagne).
Bolder Damn - Dead Meat , taken from "Mournin' " album (1971)
In a early stage had Bolder Damn a mad and theatrical liveshow that got a reaction in those days cause neither Alice Cooper or Ozzy Osbourne had turned up, the band reached a good fanbase cause of their liveshow. On the cause the fans wanted an album so the band went into the studio in the summer of 72 recorded Mourning in just 4 hours (!!!) with hardly no overdubs. Now over 30 years after, I am still amazed over the powerhouse soundpicture that this album has. The pre-creation of the cd is different to the repressed vinyl, here Rockadelic were trying to find the analog mastertapes, they were gone completely but guitarist Glen Eaton saved the situation by his personal tapecollection along with the support from the rest of the lineup.
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE Scraps Album Title, Says OZZFEST Will Return This Summer
Ozzy Osbourne has scrapped "Soul Sucka" as the working title of his new solo album. "When we put that on the Internet none of my fan base liked the title," Osbourne tells RollingStone.com. "They were like, 'I can't imagine me walking around the fucking house with the words 'Soul Sucka' on my T-shirt.' So I was like, 'Fuck it. I've got to come up with something else!'" The now-untitled set is due out in July, the same month Osbourne says that Ozzfest will return after a one-year break. "After Ozzfest I'm doing the most extensive tour of my life," he says. "It'll be something like, 3,025 dates."
Ozzy's next album, his first since 2007's "Black Rain", will include such songs as "Let It Die" and "Diggin' Me Down" and "Soul Sucka". The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"People are going to say, 'Oh, you're falling out with Zakk,'" Ozzy tells RollingStone.com. "No, I haven't fallen out with Zakk. I mean, he does need me anymore, Zakk. He actually has his own fucking thing, you know. I knew I had to get another guitar player for a while. I just kept putting it off and putting it off."
"Black Rain" was certified gold on December 14, 2007 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.
"Black Rain" was reissued on November 20, 2007 as a "Special Limited-Edition Tour Package" featuring a bonus CD of live tracks and B-sides. The bonus CD includes the following cuts:
01. I Don't Wanna Stop (live) 02. Not Going Away (live) 03. Here For You (live) 04. Nightmare 05. Can't Save You 06. Love To Hate
"Black Rain" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart, with first-week sales of 152,000 copies.
Ozzy Osbourne may not be planning a Black Sabbath reunion, but he is in the final stages of recording his next solo album. The disc was originally titled Soul Sucka, but Ozzy recently changed his mind about that. “When we put that on the Internet none of my fan base liked the title,” says Osbourne. “They were like, ‘I can’t imagine me walking around the fucking house with the words ‘Soul Sucka’ on my T-shirt.’ So I was like, ‘Fuck it. I’ve got to come up with something else!’ ” The now untitled set is due out in July, the same month Osbourne says that Ozzfest will return after a one-year break. “After Ozzfest I’m doing the most extensive tour of my life,” he says. “It’ll be something like, 3,025 dates.”
The new album will be Osbourne’s first without Zakk Wylde since the guitarist joined the band in 1988. Taking his place is Greek guitarist Gus G. “People are going to say, ‘Oh, you’re falling out with Zakk,’ ” says Ozzy. “No, I haven’t fallen out with Zakk. I mean, he does need me anymore, Zakk. He actually has his own fucking thing, you know. I knew I had to get another guitar player for a while. I just kept putting it off and putting it off.”
Even though he recently turned 61, Ozzy says he has no plans to retire. “I’m sure at some time I’ll be face down in a box with a pine door closing over me,” he says. “In the meantime, this is what I do. Sometimes I’m OK, sometimes I have a good time, and sometimes my voice blows out, but I still have fun. It’s not like a fucking job. I mean, I’m talking to you from Hawaii right now!”
In the new issue that’s on sale now, Ozzy Osbourne tells Rolling Stone about some of the most incredible stories in his new memoir I Am Ozzy, from freaking out Betty Ford to the worst days after his reality show. Since today is the anniversary of one of Ozzy’s most infamous moments — he bit the head off a bat onstage in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 20, 1981 — we asked him to reach back into his memory banks again, to discuss Black Sabbath. The group hasn’t toured with Ozzy since the summer of 2005, but has recently been battling over the band’s name rights. Despite the ongoing lawsuit, is another reunion possible? “I’m not gonna say I’ve written it out forever,” says Osbourne. “But right now I don’t think there is any chance. But who knows what the future holds for me? If it’s my destiny, fine.”
Ten years ago the group entered the studio and tried to record their first album together since 1978’s Never Say Die. “I tried and I couldn’t do it,” says Ozzy. “When we were kids we used to smoke dope, we all used to get drunk, we all used to do fucking cocaine, and any other fucking pill in the arsenal. It would stall all our fucking inhibitions. And I’ve changed now that I’ve been away from Sabbath thirty-odd years. I was only with them for 10 years. I had girlfriends when I was younger and I would go ‘Oh, I would really like to go back with Shirley,’ and then you do and you go to yourself, ‘What the fuck was I thinking?’ You’re never the same, you know.”
In the past few years Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler have toured with early 1980s Sabbath vocalist Ronnie James Dio under the moniker Heaven and Hell. Although Dio is currently undergoing chemotherapy for stomach cancer in Houston, his Website reports the cancer was identified in its early stages and his chances for a complete recovery are good. Heaven and Hell even have European shows booked this summer. “I’m sorry to hear about Ronnie having cancer,” says Ozzy. “It must be really fucking scary for the poor boy.”
OZZY OSBOURNE DVD!
OZZY OSBOURNE: New Concert DVD To Feature Previously Unseen RANDY RHOADS-Era Footage
Ozzy Osbourne is planning on releasing a concert DVD later this year featuring never-before-seen footage of his band — including late guitarist Randy Rhoads — performing in 1981. Ozzy wrote yesterday (Friday, January 22) on his Twitter profile after viewing the Randy-era material, "I'm speechless."
Osbourne is currently recording his new studio album for a tentative July release. Bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholsontweeted on Friday, "Been in the studio all week tracking the new Ozzy record. Should be done with my parts by Sunday."
Ozzy's next album, his first since 2007's "Black Rain", will include such songs as "Let It Die" and "Diggin' Me Down" and "Soul Sucka". The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"People are going to say, 'Oh, you're falling out with Zakk,'" Ozzy tells RollingStone.com. "No, I haven't fallen out with Zakk. I mean, he does need me anymore, Zakk. He actually has his own fucking thing, you know. I knew I had to get another guitar player for a while. I just kept putting it off and putting it off."
"Black Rain" was certified gold on December 14, 2007 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for shipments in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.
The album was reissued on November 20, 2007 as a "Special Limited-Edition Tour Package" featuring a bonus CD of live tracks and B-sides.
"Black Rain" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart, with first-week sales of 152,000 copies.
PRET A FLAMBER?
CURRENT BID : US $2,191.60 !!! READY FOR MORE? TIME LEFT FOR THE BID: 6 DAYS!
Aucune nouvelle complémentaire ne filtre concernant l'état de forme de RJ Dio, et cette nouvelle mini-tournée des festivals qui s'annoncent pour 2010. Autre question, que va devenir le groupe 'DIO' qui devait présenter une nouvelle chanson lors de la tournée suprimée fin 2009? Ce projet (peut-être celui de trop) semble tomber cette fois à l'eau. Nous espérons que Ronnie va définitivement consacrer son temps à la collaboration avec Tony, Geezer et Vinny. Aux dernières nouvelles Vinny se remet aussi de son opération. Iommi semble attendre les festivals, car j'ai franchement des doutes sur sa 'rencontre' avec Gillan fin 2009, que cette dernière puisse apporter un projet studio.
Geezer? Un peu comme d'hab, il doit profiter du bon temps, puisque c'est le seul à être en forme après la tournée 'The Devil You Know'. Autre absent des nouvelles, c'est Bill Ward, la séparation sans panache de Iommi & Ozzy donne à Bill une retraite dorée d'office, voici 5 ans que ce dernier à quitté la scène. Heureusement que j'ai fait le déplacement à Nijmegem en 2005, car réunir Iommi / Ozzy / Geezer / Bill pour une tournée, c'est assez difficile et finalement peu souhaitable, avec aucun album studio durant cette collaboration. Ozzy, prépare son 'come-back' pour une lonnnggguuueee tournée, lui qui devait prendre sa retraite en 1992! Ah,ah! Sacré Ozzy! Attendons aussi un projet plus consistant pour Tony Martin, qui semble ramer depuis quelques temps, même avec un tel talent vocal. Triste, mais vrai. L'anniversaire d'Headless Cross, totalement loupé, aucune évocation, aucune réédition, 20 ans après, le néant, pour l'album de Black Sabbath qui s'est le plus vendu en Allemagne! 2010, c'est le quarantième anniversaire de 'Black Sabbath' (l'album), puis dans quelques mois celui de 'Paranoid', le trentième anniversaire de 'Heaven and Hell', et celui qui passera totalement outre, c'est le vingtième anniversaire de 'TYR', qui va s'en soucier??? Alors Dio/Iommi/Butler/Appice vont-ils réserver une set-liste nouvelle pour cette occasion? Jouer entièrement 'H&H' sur scène? Hum, j'ai un vieux doute!
See You Soon!
21 JAN 2010
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE To Guest On 'Rockline'
Ozzy Osbourne will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, February 3 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Ozzy by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The program will be rebroadcast on Monday, February 8.
Ozzy's long-awaited memoir, "I Am Ozzy", which was originally slated to arrive almost two years ago but was delayed twice, will be released in the U.S. on January 24 via Sphere Publishers (the book was published in the U.K. on October 1).
"I Am Ozzy" chronicles the star's humble beginnings in the U.K. to his current position as international music and TV celebrity.
In a statement, he revealed what fans can expect from the bio, explaining: "They've said some crazy things about me over the years. I mean, okay: 'He bit the head off a bat.' Yes. 'He bit the head off a dove.' Yes. But then you hear things like, 'Ozzy went to the show last night, but he wouldn't perform until he'd killed fifteen puppies…' Now me, kill fifteen puppies? I love puppies. I've got eighteen of the fucking things at home. I've killed a few cows in my time, mind you. And the chickens. I shot the chickens in my house that night.
"It haunts me, all this crazy stuff. Every day of my life has been an event. I took lethal combinations of booze and drugs for thirty fucking years. I survived a direct hit by a plane, suicidal overdoses, STDs. I've been accused of attempted murder. Then I almost died while riding over a bump on a quad bike at fucking two miles per hour.
"People ask me how come I'm still alive, and I don't know what to say. When I was growing up, if you'd have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of 60, which one of us would end up with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and Beverly Hills, I wouldn't have put money on me, no fucking way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time.
"A lot of it ain't gonna be pretty. I've done some bad things in my time. I've always been drawn to the dark side, me. But I ain't the devil. I'm just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time."
Ozzy's wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, published her own best-selling memoir in 2005, called "Extreme: My Autobiography". A second volume was rushed out in 2008 after Ozzy's book was delayed.
Ozzy has chosen "Soul Sucka" as the title of his next album. The disc, Ozzy's first since 2007's "Black Rain", is tentatively slated to come out in June and will feature songs such as "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and the title track. The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
"Black Rain" was Ozzy's first all-new solo effort in six years and debuted on the Billboard album chart at No. 3.
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Title: Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
Label: NEMS/Planet Records
Cat.No: NEL 6004
Studio: Trident Recording Studios
Date: 7-Oct 1980
Format: Ampex 456 1/4" Reel to Reel Tape
Quantity: 2 Tapes, one for each LP Matrix
(Infos by the seller)
Of course this is not the original masters from 1971! Only reissue from 1980.
BLACK SABBATH: 'Master Of Reality' Master Tapes Being Auctioned -
An original BLACK SABBATH "Master Of Reality" master tape set consisting of two Ampex 456 quarter-inch tapes in good condition is being auctioned via eBay. According to a posting on the auction page, "These are the real deal from a Swedish private collection and a rare opportunity to own a piece of music history."
BLACK SABBATH's third album, "Master of Reality" was released in 1971. The LP's "darker" or "heavier" sound was a significant influence on the metal sub-genres known as doom metal and stoner rock.
"Master of Reality" was recorded at Island Studios in London, U.K. between February and April 1971. The album was produced by Rodger Bain, who had also helmed the band's preceding two efforts.
"Master of Reality" was certified double platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of two million copies in the U.S.
Some comments about this stuff:
This belongs in a museum or in Tony's possession. One of the greatest hard rock albums of all time. I still listen to it to this day, front to back. It still smokes anything that is out there.
These tapes are the masters for the release, they're not multitrack tapes or anything of the sort. I guess the one cool thing would be having the "Masters of 'Masters of Reality,'" but that's about it.
These are actually quite common transfer tapes used to make LPs and now CDs in foreign countries. Black Sabbath actually has a long standing legal dispute with NEMS for releasing CDs without their permission. Some of the CDs are actually worth a few $$$'s too. Dub tapes such as these are run off fairly commonly. It's a piece of history in the sense that it's a pretty good copy, if you have a player to play it on and collect tape from other countries. Actual Original Master Tapes - $150.000. These tapes - $1,500 max. The tapes themselves really don't do anyone but a collector any good as you certainly can't run-off a few hundred CDs and sell them without incurring the legal wrath of Black Sabbath. No reason to get you panties in a bunch over this auction.
it's not the "original master" it's clearly labeled on the box as "1:1 transfer"
These reels are just a transfer copy done in 9 years after the recording...
ROCK'N'ROLL MERCENARIES
DIO, NIKKI SIXX, GLENN TIPTON, DORO PESCH Featured In 'Rock 'N' Roll Mercenaries' Book - Jan. 18, 2010
Celebrating almost a decade of rock writing, author Neil Daniels has compiled a selection of interviews with some of the world's most famous rock and heavy metal artists. Amongst the thirty-plus interviews included in "Rock 'N' Roll Mercenaries - Interviews With Rock Stars: Volume I" are Ronnie James Dio talking about his solo career and HEAVEN & HELL, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx on his controversial book "The Heroin Diaries", MAGNUM vocalist Bob Catley on his fantastic solo work, THUNDER on their post-reunion albums, JUDAS PRIEST's Glenn Tipton on his solo endeavours, Doro Pesch on her role as one of metal's leading ladies and FOREIGNER on their success in the first decade of the 21st century. "Rock 'N' Roll Mercenaries" not only supports the big names but up-and-coming bands too, including the British metal band NEX, the Swedish AOR group WORK OF ART and the Canadian melodic rock outfit SONIC X.
Featured interviews:
AL ATKINS ANNIHILATOR BEYOND FEAR BOB CATLEY BROKEN TEETH BUMBLEFOOT DORO FOREIGNER FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND GLENN TIPTON HEAVEN'S BASEMENT HONEYMOON SUITE ICED EARTH JIMI JAMISON JOURNEY K.K. DOWNING KROKUS NEX NIKKI SIXX POWERWOLF PRIMAL FEAR QUEENSRŸCHE RONNIE JAMES DIO ROSE HILL DRIVE SAMMY HAGAR SAXON SCORPIONS SONIC X STONE GODS TERRAROSA THUNDER WORK OF ART YOUNG HEART ATTACK
Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes, Derek Sherinian, and Joe Bonamassa Form New Super Group BLACK COUNTRY
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- A new super group has been formed with Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian. They are calling themselves Black Country, taking their name from the industrial area in England from which Bonham and Hughes both hail. The band is currently in the studio with producer Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin) cutting tracks for an upcoming album to be released in late 2010 or early 2011.
With Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) on drums, Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper) on keyboards, Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze) on bass and vocals and Bonamassa on guitar and vocals, the band already has six tracks cut. The next recording session will take place in March and the band hopes to finish recording in early April. Shirley made the announcement on his website: "So there it is folks - the cat is out the bag! This is Black Country.The songs are all original and what a lineup. They are all the very best players in the world, for my money!"
Shirley added, "Jason Bonham is a totally unique drummer and a supreme, yet oh-so-tasty powerhouse. Derek Sherinianis super versatile, and is playing mostly overdriven Hammond organ in this ensemble and is the color on the palette. Glenn Hughes plays bass and sings with a range very, very few can even get close to, and Joe Bonamassa, perhaps the best Blues Rock guitarist around, plays hard riffing guitar as well as adding his signature vocals alongside Glenn. You'll just have to wait - we're planning to get this out late summer, and it's promising to be phenomenal!"
Recently named "The Blues Rock Titan" by Guitar World Magazine, Bonamassa's new solo album, Black Rock, will be arriving March 23, 2010. Produced by Shirley, who has produced Bonamassa's last six solo albums, it will be released on Bonamassa's own J&R Adventures label.
Pour les plus branchés, aux débuts des années 2000 sortait une compil bootleg, avec soit disant des titres rares de Sabbath 'ultimates rareties vol 01' et dans cette dernière, une sacrée farce du bootleger qui voulait vendre un produit bien magouillé, une sacrée merguez ce disque 'Electric Sleep' titre de sHeavy était présenté comme une chanson inédite de Black Sabbath! Oui, une belle magouille qui vendait ce morceau comme étant une démo de 1971, enregistrée entre 'Paranoid' et 'Master Of Reality', un argument de vente qui a bien fonctionné pour les néophites! Cette affaire a fait une bonne pub à sHEAVY qui s'est visiblement vu flatté de cette confusion qui sonne plus comme un compliment pour le groupe! Alors attention, ce titre démo, n'est qu'une 'simple' chanson de sHEAVY! Mais dans le business du bootleg, il n'y a aucune loi.
home movies of The Electric Sleep & Celestial Hi-Fi recording sessions (mid 90's) in St. John's Newfoundland Canada with Don Ellis. - the video is cut to an alternate audio version of the song 'Electric Sleep'. this version of the song did not appear on the album.
+ some live footage from the year 2000, recorded at The Cornerstone, St' John's. nfld. wurd.
Apocalypse - Life is Your Profession (1971) Rien à voir avec Black Sabbath, mais je trouve ce groupe assez délirant et ce morceau s'inscrit bien dans l'année de 1971. Un morceau très psyché avec une guitare allumée. Une curiosité qui mérite un coup d'oreille!
18 JAN 2010
C'est avec regrets que nous pouvons constater qu'il n'y a plus vraiment un site web digne de ce nom pour relater les dernières news de notre groupe et artistes fétiches. En effet, plus aucune centralisation de l'info, avez-vous vu un site officiel commenter la rencontre de Iommi & Gillan fin 2009? L'interview de Iommi avec Rick Wakeman en 2009? Les nouvelles publications de disques, les enregistrements bootlegs. Alors ici, je cuisine comme je peux une mixture qui mélange les nouvelles des concerts, des disques et aussi des autres événements du groupe et de ses artistes.
UN LIVRE EDITE EN 1969, RIEN A VOIR AVEC LE GROUPE
MAIS ETRANGE TITRE!
BLACK SABBATH RARE 'SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH' LP
BLACK SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH 1974 UNIQUE EXYU PRESS LP For sale is very rare 1974 exYugoslavian pressing LP: BLACK SABBATH – SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH (RTB LP 5825).
17 JAN 2010
BLACK SABBATH COLORED VINYL LP
Voici une réédition en LP sympa de 'Paranoid' et 'Volume 4' version colorée qui nous arrive des USA, je pense vous en dire plus dès réception de ces derniers dans ma modeste collection. Edition limitée. Dans moins d'un mois, 'Black Sabbath' (l'album) aura officiellement 40 ans! Incroyable, mais vrai, ce disque reste néanmoins un classique absolu du Heavy Metal, imaginez combien de génération vont écouter ce disque? Nous ne seront plus là, pour le savoir! Car, ce disque ne va pas disparaitre des bacs, ou des téléchargements d'ici peu, aucun danger.
16 JAN 2010
(thanks JCG)
RONNIE JAMES DIO INFOS:
RONNIE JAMES DIO Undergoes Third Chemo Treatment
Legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW) was diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer and is currently receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic. His wife/manager Wendy Dio has issued the following update on Ronnie's condition:
"After a few hiccups between Christmas and New Year's, such as a blood clot, a trip to the emergency room, and a three-day stay at the hospital, we had a quiet holiday spent with family and close friends.
"Ronnie and I just returned from Houston, where Ronnie had his third chemo treatment, and all seems to be going well.
"Ronnie and Simon Wright [DIO/ex-AC/DC drummer] went to see 'Avatar', which [Ronnie] thought was amazing! He has also been writing more chapters for his book.
"While at M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre on his second trip, [Ronnie] met a DIO fan named Carmen who has been having treatment every other day for a year, and is eagerly awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Ronnie and Carmen have become fast friends.
"Carmen is a very positive happy person whose existence, like Ronnie's, depends heavily on music and sports.
"On the third trip, we also met his mom and sister, whose total support is so important to all cancer patients. They have become part of our family as well.
"The support we get from all of our friends and fans is such a blessing to Ronnie and I.
"Ronnie, [along with fellow HEAVEN & HELL members] Geezer [Butler], Tony [Iommi] and Vinny [Appice] will be doing some interviews in the upcoming weeks to be included in the new 30th anniversary BLACK SABBATH'Heaven And Hell' DVD, due out sometime this year.
"We would like to thank Simon Wright, who has been such a help with everything and a good, good friend, of course our doctor at MD Anderson, Dr. Ajani, and especially our family doctor, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, without whose quick diagnosis and help with all the nurses and hospitals, we would be lost. His care and compassion is unwavering.
"Thanks again to all of Ronnie's friends and fans, and — by the way — Ronnie has not lost any hair yet!"
According to a posting on the BLACK SABBATH fan site Black-Sabbath.com, fans can send get-well cards to Ronnie James Dio through the official fan club address:
Dio Fan Club 12400 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 624 Studio City, CA 91604
Additionally, if you'd like to send an email to Ronnie, you can do so via getwellronnie@black-sabbath.com. After a short time, Black-Sabbath.com webmaster Joe Siegler will print them out and pass them over to Ronnie and his wife/manager Wendy Dio.
Dio, 67, has performed with ELF, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, and his own band DIO. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser "Hear 'n Aid". He is widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice and for popularizing the "devil's horns" hand gesture in metal culture. He is currently involved with HEAVEN & HELL, a project which also includes Iommi and other former BLACK SABBATH bandmates Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice. Their first studio album, "The Devil You Know", was released on April 28, 2009.
TONY IOMMI
TONY IOMMI And MONITOR AUDIO Join Forces To Promote Superior Sound
Tony Iommi, the founding member of metal gods BLACK SABBATH, and Monitor Audio, the award-winning, quality audio innovators have united for an advertising campaign which is sure to strike a chord with rock fans all over the globe.
Michael Johnson, marketing manager of Monitor Audio said, "We were looking for a new creative to showcase some of the technological audio advances we have made at Monitor Audio since the company was formed. We were keen to work with a musician and what better way than to team up with the inventor of some of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock history?"
"I'm delighted to be associated with Monitor Audio and I'm a huge fan of their products," said Tony Iommi. "Monitor Audio have certainly been responsible for many great audio innovations over the last 35 years and I'm really pleased to have helped to make this happen."
Look out for the new Monitor Audio advertisement which shows Tony Iommi standing next to a Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 speaker beneath the words "In 1971 Tony Iommi took rock from E to C-sharp and invented the sound of heavy metal. His de-tuned SG injected every SABBATH riff with a darker, more penetrating intensity, inspiring generations to pursue the perfect tone."
Tony uses Monitor Audio's flagship Platinum PL300 speakers in a 2-channel system along with a mix of Radius HD and GS10 speakers for home cinema and studio duties respectively.
"The performance of Monitor Audio products is outstanding," adds Iommi. "Each part of the range is also incredibly versatile and they look great too."
Monitor Audio is a wholly British-owned designer and manufacturer of high-quality and award-winning range of loudspeakers.
Since 1972 Monitor Audio has been world's leading exponent and innovator of metal driver technologies. It is world-renowned for exemplary performance, construction and finish.
JASON BONHAM Joins Forces With GLENN HUGHES In BLACK COUNTRY
Drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) has joined forces with legendary bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH) and guitarist Joe Bonamassa in a brand new project tentatively dubbed BLACK COUNTRY.
"I just literally went into the studio last week for two days with one person I'd done an album with before, very quickly, and then the other was a friend of my father's I got to meet later on, Joe Bonamassa and Glenn Hughes, and we're working on a new project with a working title of BLACK COUNTRY," Bonham tells Spinner.com. "We just went in with [producer] Kevin Shirley [LED ZEPPELIN, JOURNEY, IRON MAIDEN, DREAM THEATER] and played riffs and just jammed for two days. And that's really exciting."
Bonham tells Spinner.com that the new group, which takes its name from the industrial area in England that he and Hughes come from, is in fact a band. "We're actually recording an album, literally in that process of jamming it out and editing and putting together and going, 'Yeah, that's really cool,'" he says.
"I'm like the one up there representing the Bonham family. that's kind of how I should look at it," Jason Bonham told Spinner backstage at L.A.'s Wiltern, where he would later honor his iconic father, John Bonham, as part of Guitar Center's Drum-Off last weekend. The event is a competition for aspiring stickmen and showcases some of the world's greatest drummers, including Tommy Lee, Tool's Danny Carey and Billy Cobham, among others.
There's no question, Led Zeppelin is part of his family and legacy, an inheritance he proved worthy of when he so successfully filled in for his father at the band's O2 reunion show in December of 2007. But he says, breaking the hearts of millions of fans, that part of his life is indeed over. "As far as the big question, the big one, I think that one's come and gone now. But it was a lot of fun while it lasted," he says, echoing Jimmy Page's sentiments in recent interviews that the Zep reunion is not going to happen.
And like his bandmates that night, Bonham is moving on to new music. "I just literally went into the studio last week for two days with one person I'd done an album with before, very quickly, and then the other was a friend of my father's I got to meet later on, Joe Bonamassa and Glenn Hughes, and we're working on a new project with a working title of Black Country," Bonham says. "We just went in with [producer] Kevin Shirley and played riffs and just jammed for two days. And that's really exciting."
Bonham says the new group, which takes its name from the industrial area in England that he and Hughes -- best known for his work with both Deep Purple and Black Sabbath) come from -- is in fact a band. "We're actually recording an album, literally in that process of jamming it out and editing and putting together and going, 'Yeah, that's really cool,'" he says. " Joe just wanted to play guitar so with Glenn on bass and vocals, it's a power trio."
12 JAN 2010
BLACK SABBATH Magazine Book Guide OZZY OSBOURNE Strange Days 2007 April
OZZY OSBOURNE
OZZY OSBOURNE Planning 18-Month Tour In Support Of New Album -
According to U.K.'s The Sun, Ozzy Osbourne is planning to go on an 18-month music tour in support of his new album, "Soul Sucka". The disc, Ozzy's first since 2007's "Black Rain", is tentatively slated to come out in June and will feature songs such as "Let It Die", "Diggin' Me Down" and the title track. The record will be the first to feature Ozzy's new guitarist, Greek native Gus G., who replaced longtime axeman Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's band last year.
Ozzy, who works out every day, doesn't drink or smoke, tells The Sun, "Someone recently asked me what I hoped to be doing in ten years — I just hope I'm still alive, you know? I'm 61 now and you get to the age where your friends start dying.
"I don't know where time goes. Sharon [Ozzy's wife/manager] and I have been married nearly 30 years. We hardly row any more because we're too knackered.
"The thing is, I don't know how 61 is meant to feel. Physically I can't do as much as I did but my mind doesn't feel my age.
"The good thing about being in entertainment is you don't have to retire just because you reach a certain age. Life doesn't end when you get to 65. I'm just going to keep fucking going, you know?"
Hell-o to all! I would like to thank all the fans, friends, family for the kind wishes for my shoulder surgery recovery. Its been 5 weeks and I am feeling stronger each day. I should be hitting those drums soon!! I want to wish my best friend in the world Ronnie a speedy and healthy recovery and hear his voice screaming thru my monitors again soon! Vinny
Je me sens bien jeune pour ma première venue au Casino de Paris avec une affiche de ce niveau. Si on retrouve les jeunes de Black Stone Cherry en première partie, c'est bien un public à l'age pour le moins avancé qui a fait le déplacement ce soir. Ce qui n'empêchera pas les petits jeunes d'apprécier la soirée bien au contraire. D'abord un petit mot sur la salle qui ressemble énormément à La Cigale. Il y des balcons très proches de la scène, une fosse en légère descente qui permet à tout le monde de voir le spectacle et une acoustique vraiment excellente.
C'est sur les coups de vingt heures que les Black Stone Cherry font leur entrée en scène pour un set particulièrement Metal ce soir. Même en étant aveugle, il faut savoir reconnaître que les petits loups, bien aidés par un son pas trop mal, maitrisent complètement leur sujet musicalement avec un super chanteur guitariste. Le groupe du Kentucky nous fera deux soli de guitare (par chacun des guitaristes) à mon grand désarroi. Pourquoi foutre des soli qui en plus ne m'ont pas vraiment toucher, dans un set de trente minutes plutôt que de jouer un morceau en plus ? Néanmoins le groupe est rodé sur scène et ça se sent avec tous ces jeux entre les musiciens : Vas y qu'on joue tous ensemble avec nos instruments derrière la tête, vas y que moi, batteur, je tape avec mes baguettes sur la basse que me tend mon camarade pour démarrer un morceau. Le problème c'est que de voir tout le monde sauter dans tous les sens, ça donne une impression que Black Stone Cherry en fait vraiment trop et notamment son guitariste rythmique qui saute vraiment pour sauter. Vu la durée du set, je pense que le groupe a joué le même set qu'au Hellfest (désolé, j'étais devant Hacride à ce moment là) qui s'avère bon mais pas top malgré l'accueil du public qui s'il ne joue pas vraiment avec le groupe pendant les morceaux, lui offre une belle ovation à la fin du set.
Une demi heure après la fin du set, Black Sabb... Euh pardon, je veux dire Heaven And Hell entre sur scène avec comme introduction, « E5150 » pour embrayer sur la mythique « Mob Rules ». Je dis mythique pour cette chanson mais toutes les chansons jouées peuvent être qualifiées avec ce terme. Le set ressemble sur pas mal de points à celui du Hellfest quatre jours plus tôt avec la même mise en scène et ses barrières cachant les amplis surplombés de boules de lumières mais avec cette fois ci un écran derrière présentant des petits clips et une setlist qui se rapprochera de celle du festival sauf qu'elle sera rallongé d'une bonne demi heure. Le son m'a semblé un peu moins bon qu'au Hellfest néanmoins mais peut être est-ce parce que j'avais oublié mes boules quies . Concernant les musiciens, on ne peut être que bluffé par chacun des quatre. Geezer Butler est un des rares rares bassistes qui m'a plus impressionné par sa main droite que par la gauche. On dirait qu'il touche toutes les cordes avec ses gros doigts alors que tout est fait avec une précision d'horloger. Il était d'ailleurs très bien mixé. Vinnie Appice maîtrise aussi son sujet et nous gratifiera d'un solo de batterie qui pour une fois ne m'a pas fait chier qui se terminera par des sortes de blasts qui m'ont semblé, quand même, bien crispés. Le bougre frappe par moment tellement fort qu'il fait tomber à plusieurs reprises certains de ses toms mal fixés. Tony Iommi, peu marqué par le temps, dégage quelque chose dans chacun de ses faits et gestes alors qu'il ne parle pas et que dire de ses soli qui ne tombent jamais dans la démonstration et qui font ressentir des choses. Et chose énorme pour un guitariste de ce standing, il garde toujours le sourire et semble rester humble même si son accoutrement pourrait laisser penser le contraire (les croix sur les frettes et son nom marqué sur la sangle de sa guitare). Gardons le meilleur pour la fin avec Ronnie James Dio. Alors ce monsieur est un tout petit bonhomme qui doit faire un mètre soixante cinq à tout casser pour une cinquantaine de kilos mais alors quelle prestance et quel chant pour un homme de soixante sept ans, doit-on le rappeler. Je me suis d'ailleurs senti comme un gamin (je ne pense pas être le seul) quand le Monsieur est venu proche du premier du rang et nous a tapé dans la main. Vous l'avez compris, Dio malgré son statut reste très proche du public même si ses speechs sont les même qu'au Hellfest. Pendant l'heure et demi de ce concert, on n'a pas vu le temps passer car il n'y a jamais eu de temps morts et ce même sur les soli de batterie et de guitare ou sur « Heaven And Hell » qui a été rallongé d'une bonne dizaine de minutes. Tous les morceaux sont terriblement dansants et prenants à tel point que certains « vieux » finiront par slammer lors de ce titre. Une superbe ambiance dans la salle dont le paroxysme sera évidemment une nouvelle fois la chanson éponyme avec ses « ohohoh » repris par le public. Ahlala, que de frissons lors de cette soirée. Mais j'ai tout de même deux choses à déplorer. Il faudrait une seconde guitare pour ne pas perdre l'intensité présente sur les albums notamment lors des soli ou de l'intro de « Bible Black » amputée de son petit solo. Il est vrai que cela s'est moins ressenti ce soir là qu'au Hellfest où cela m'avait choqué. Je peux aussi reprocher de n'avoir vu jouer que trois morceaux de l'excellent dernier album The Devil You Know alors qu'il y a tout un tas de bombes sur l'album telles « Atom & Evil » et « Eating The Cannibals ». Mais à part ça c'était une nouvelle fois un grand concert de la part des grands musiciens n'ayant plus rien à prouver à personne.
« And It Goes On And On And On HEAVEN AND HELL! »
Setlist Heaven And Hell: E5150 The Mob Rules Children Of The Sea I Bible Black Time Machine Solo de batterie Fear Falling Of The Edge Of The World Follow The Tears Solo de Tony Iommi Die Young Heaven And hell
Rappel Counrty Girl/Neon Knights
Message From Tony!
Wishing you all a very happy 2010 and I’m looking forward to seeing you all later this year!
09 JAN 2010
THE DEVIL'S MUSIC (!!)
The Devil's Music
By Finlo Rohrer BBC News Magazine
The Devil is said to have the best tunes, but what do they sound like? A new film about the history of heavy metal highlights the so-called Devil's Interval, a musical phenomenon suppressed by the Church in the Middle Ages.
On the surface there might appear to be no link between Black Sabbath, Wagner's Gotterdammerung, West Side Story and the theme tune to the Simpsons.
But all of them rely heavily on tritones, a musical interval that spans three whole tones, like the diminished fifth or augmented fourth. This interval, the gap between two notes played in succession or simultaneously, was branded Diabolus in Musica or the Devil's Interval by medieval musicians.
A rich mythology has grown up around it. Many believe that the Church wanted to eradicate the sounds from its music because it invoked sexual feelings, or that it was genuinely the work of the Devil.
It is a mythology much beloved of long-haired guitar wizards.
In the newly-released documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, bassist Alex Webster of death metal act Cannibal Corpse pays tribute to the effect of the forbidden "Devil's note" on heavy metal.
And rock producer Bob Ezrin pronounces: "It apparently was the sound used to call up the beast. There is something very sexual about the tritone.
"In the Middle Ages when people were ignorant and scared, when they heard something like that and felt that reaction in their body they thought 'uh oh, here come the Devil'."
It all sounds a little like the plot of a far-fetched Da Vinci Code sequel.
But Professor John Deathridge, King Edward professor of music at King's College London, says the tritone had been consistently linked to evil.
"In medieval theology you have to have some way of presenting the devil. Or if someone in the Roman Catholic Church wanted to portray the crucifixion, it is sometimes used there."
But there were musical treatises and sets of rules produced that did come to forbid the use of the interval, which was seen as wrong when it came up in choruses of monks.
"There are strict musical rules. You aren't allowed to use this particular dissonance. It simply won't work technically, you are taught not to write that interval. But you can read into that a theological ban in the guise of a technical ban."
Wagner a fan
The Devil's Interval enjoyed great popularity among composers in the 19th Century, when "you have got lots of presentations of evil built around the tritone".
It just sounded right - I didn't think I was going to make it Devil music
Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi
"It can sound very spooky. It depends on how you orchestrate. It is also quite exciting," says Professor Deathridge. "[Wagner's] Gotterdammerung has one of the most exciting scenes - a 'pagan', evil scene, the drums and the timpani. It is absolutely terrifying, it is like a black mass.
"There is a big connection between heavy rock music and Wagner. They have cribbed quite a lot from 19th Century music."
A more modern advocate of the tritone is Black Sabbath - the rock outfit led by Ozzy Osbourne - particularly in their signature song, Black Sabbath, a milestone in the genesis of heavy metal.
But this link between heavy metal and musical conjuring of the Devil in the Middle Ages comes as a bit of a surprise to the band's guitarist, Tony Iommi.
"When I started writing Sabbath stuff it was just something that sounded right. I didn't think I was going to make it Devil music," Iommi tells the Magazine.
'False music'
He says he was aiming for "something that sounded really evil and very doomy" but admits he may have been unconsciously influenced by other music and was certainly not aiming to summon the Devil.
Sabbath's Tony Iommi was not attempting to invoke the Devil
"Beforehand [we were doing] jazzy blues. It certainly wasn't something I thought about - I didn't read music. I had no terms for anything
"I like all sorts of classical stuff - various sorts of music, jazz, blues, to classical played a big part in my writing."
There are, however, plenty of bands who consciously use tritones, including the notorious metal act Slayer, who offered their tribute in an album simply entitled Diabolus in Musica.
But Anthony Pryer, who runs a postgraduate course in historical musicology, believes heavy metal bands have got the wrong end of the stick "firmly with both hands".
"It was recognised to be a problem in music right back to the 9th Century. It is a natural consequence, and so they banned it. They had rules for getting around it.
DEVILISH EXAMPLES
Beethoven's Fidelio
Wagner's Gotterdammerung
West Side Story's Maria
Simpsons theme tune
Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze
"It was called Diabolus in Musica by two or three writers in the medieval or renaissance [period]. It was 'false music', the intervals weren't natural.
"They may have thought it was devilishly hard to teach the singers not to sing it. I don't think they ever thought of it as the Devil dwelling in music.
Now the Devil's Interval has a natural home in many genres, particularly film music, jazz and blues, where, says Mr Pryer, it is "quite common because of its association with tension and sinister things".
"A lot of films have what musicians call Captain Tritone in them. As soon as there is a [baddie such as a] foreign officer out comes the Tritone. It's a sort of badge - here's Mr Nasty. What's going to happen?"
Spooky feel
Dissonance does provoke a strange feeling, Mr Pryer says, but it is nothing to do with Satan.
Wagner provided the inspiration for some heavy metal
"[Dissonance] is something that yearns to be resolved. A very good example would be the opening of West Side Story, Maria. It wants to resolve into the next note. It is a special kind of tension. It gives that angular, edgy, spooky feel. Film music is often extremely sophisticated at signalling to a listener here is a particular kind of character. It is a leitmotif, first used by Wagner."
Whatever the real story of the Devil's Interval, the romantic linkage between Lucifer and popular music will continue, and stretches back from heavy metal through the Rolling Stones to Robert Johnson and beyond.
Mr Pryer cites Giuseppe Tartini, an 18th Century violin virtuoso who composed the Devil's Trill Sonata, a piece so complicated many modern players struggle to master it.
"He did this incredibly difficult [piece] and claimed in a dream he had heard the devil giving him instructions how to do it.
"Two centuries later, he would probably have been in a heavy metal band."
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is in cinemas from Friday, 28 April.
Below is a selection of your comments:
When I was having voice lessons I learned the augmented 4th by remembering "Maria" from West Side Story, so I am glad this was mentioned. Incidentally, West Side Story is also useful for other intervals, notably min.7th ("There's A place for us..."). Lucy Jones, Manchester
The church, in the days when sacred music was the only tolerated kind even before troubadours 'secularised' it, was very strict on all parts of music. Much of this, as in this case, was based on the premise that certain intervals, chord progressions etc were not compatabile with holiness. The article doesn't mention the fact that this interval, when used in Wagner's case, was known as the Tristan Chord (since it was used in his Tristan und Isolde). Its inability to defined in conventional, diatonic harmony meant it was dubbed 'the breakdown of tonality', eventually leading to serialism and other forms of music not centred in a key. Andy, Nottingham
My heavy metal heritage reminds me that "Black Sabbath" the song starts with (after the rain & the doom-laden church bells, naturally) a dirge-like riff that goes from G to G an octave above to C#. G & C# are the diabolic three whole tones apart and thus playing these notes at extreme amplification on an electric guitar can result one or all of the following; 1/ The appearance of Lucifer 2/ Be-denimed and patchoulied hordes raising their hands and making the "devil's horns" in the general direction of the artist 3/ An ASBO; and most amusingly (I witnessed this myself at a Black Sabbath gig in the early 80's) 4/ The explosive malfunction of a dry ice machine resulting in a lump of dry ice being deposited down the back of the drummer's shorts David Birch, London
08 JAN 2010
'PARANOID' SINGLE
Vu sur E-bay
ARTIST = BLACK SABBATH
A Side = PARANOID
B side = THE WIZARD
LABEL = VERTIGO
Cat No = 6059 010
RARE ORIGINAL MULTI-COLOURED 7" VINYL from LEBANON
Une piéce INDISPENSABLE pour les collectionneurs de 45t du groupe, je n'imagine même pas un fan sérieux passionné des singles ne pas le possèder! Seul hic, comme toute chose rare, c'est TERRIBLEMENT cher! Alors parfois, il faut de la patience.
07 JAN 2010
WINTER TIME!
Pour le moment aucune nouvelle complémentaire de l'état de forme de Ronnie James Dio ou de Vinny Appice. Ozzy se concentre sur son nouvel album et son nouveau guitariste, les festivals d'été annoncent à grand renfort de pub leurs affiches démentes. Un doute quand même persistera sur la réelle participation de H&H à ces derniers. En attendant la nouvelle loi de SarkOZZY sur la traque aux téléchargements des pirates de Sabbath (par exemple!), la GRAANNNDDEE peste H1N1 que nous annonce depuis des mois notre charmante Roselyne Babache (un effort les gars pour vider son stock), et sans oublier la future taxe sur le carbonne (car chacun peut constater en ce moment Ô combien le réchauffement climatique est bien palpable avec des températures glaciales records depuis plus de 30 ans!)....et bien, oui, en attendant de nous faire gober ces fables.... écoutons un petit CD de Black Sabbath officiel ou bootleg, peu importe, mais cela réchauffe!
06 JAN 2010
BLACK SABBATH 'AFTER FOREVER'
Une belle pièce que ce 45t pirate qui vient de voir le jour, tiré du show de Sheffield au City Hall, Angleterre, enregistré le 14 Janvier 1971. Deux titres gravés sur le vinyle 'After Forever' et 'Into The Void', belle pochette, bien cartonnée et glacée, en couleurs, avec un insert cartonné également. Une belle présentation pour ce format 45t qui se lira en 33t sur vos vieilles platines! C'est le grand retour du vinyle bootleg! Alors bien entendu, il y a encore des malins qui veulent se faire plus de fric sur cette affaire, je conseille aux fans d'Ebay, de ne pas claquer plus de 15 euros pour cette affaire (hors port). J'ai même vu un rigolo qui en voulait plus de 69 euros! NON! Il y a aussi une enchère à 27 euros en ce moment, c'est de l'arnaque! Il vaut mieux attendre, je n'ai aucune idée sur le nombre de copie de cette affaire, mais certainement de quoi attendre un meilleur prix.
Idem, pour 'Walpurgis' ce nouveau 33t bootleg, le prix raisonnable est de 15 euros, certains tentent de le vendre le double! Pour 'Alernative Versions 69-71' le prix est aussi de 15 euros voire maxi 20 euros, au delà, vous vous faites rouler!
Pour 'Eternal Void Of Doom' (Copenhagen 1971), sur Ebay, ils vendent l'affaire un à un, pour des prix aux enchères prohibitives! Alors, qu'il existe plus de 500 copies de ce LP (en vinyle 'black'), qui est vraiment vendu sous le manteau, par des fans qui veulent juste se faire du fric, ils évitent bien ce coup là, de pondre une édition enCD! Alors, sachez qu'il existe d'autres couleurs de vinyle pour ce dernier, mais ils sont réservés aux bons 'clients' et autres! Je félicite plus les réalisations comme 'Walpurgis' et 'Alternative versions 69-71' qui sont dispo facilement à un prix abordable, et qui ne sont pas là, pour égorger le fan de base. Alors un conseil, il faut attendre pour le Copenhagen 71, il va bien falloir écouler ce gros stock! wait and see....
05 JAN 2010
TONY IOMMI & RICK WAKEMAN (more infos)
TONY IOMMI Goes 'Face To Face' With RICK WAKEMAN
In one of the most revealing and candid musician-to-musician interviews ever recorded, "Face To Face" host Rick Wakeman holds court with his longtime friend, the guitar icon Tony Iommi, who is best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH. Although it was over 30 years ago when Wakeman was asked to contribute his keyboard skills on BLACK SABBATH's legendary "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath" album, the pair reminisce with ease, as Rick gathers the evidence on why Tony Iommi is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential guitarists in rock music. He is, after all, considered to be the man who, more or less, single-handedly invented the heavy metal riff.
Some phenomenal rock and roll anecdotage follows; recalling tales of his school years with Ozzy Osbourne, their evolving friendship, his early influences and the formation of SABBATH. Iommi explains some of the more unknown mechanics behind their writing and recording methods, right from their initial explosion into the industry, through to the relentless touring across the world, the drink, the drugs, the highs, the lows, the boozing on aeroplanes and the hedonistic happenings surrounding the departure of Ozzy from SABBATH in 1979.
Tony Iommi sets the record straight on some of the myths surrounding Ozzy's exit and the subsequent survival and success for SABBATH during the years before they reunited with him in the '90s. Iommi delivers the hilarious account of when he witnessed the unique meeting of Brian Wilson of the BEACH BOYS and Ozzy backstage at Buckingham Palace (a concert to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002) and brings us up to speed on how it feels to be working with Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice in the acclaimed HEAVEN & HELL band.
Voir la suite à la date du 04 Janvier. See the others videos at the 04 jan.
Stockholm 07 August 2010
Pori, 7-8 August 2010
24/25 July 2010 london.
HEAVEN AND HELL LIVE IN LONDON
Heaven and Hell to Appear at the High Voltage Festival on Saturday 24th July - Victoria Park, London
Heaven and Hell will appear on the Main Stage at this years High Voltage Festival on Saturday 24th July.
Les prémices de 'The Shining' sous la version chantée par David Donato en 1984. Restera dans les cartons de Tony Iommi!
Line-up: David Donato (V), Tony Iommi (G), Geezer Butler (B), Bill Ward (D), Geoff Nicholls (K).
'The Shining' Version chantée par Ray Gillen (1987) Superbe version qui restera uniquement disponible en pirate.
Line-up: Ray Gillen (V), Tony Iommi (G), Bob Daisley (B), Eric Singer (D), Geoff Nicholls (K).
Tony Martin sera le chanteur qui va rendre populaire cette chanson qui va relancer la carrière du groupe et amener une nouvelle génération de fans (comme moi!) Fin 1987 'The Shining' innonde la télé française.
Line-up: Tony Martin (V), Tony Iommi (G), Bob Daisley (B), Eric Singer (D), Geoff Nicholls (K).
04 JAN 2010
TONY MARTIN - GEOFF NICHOLLS 'HEADLESS CROSS'
TONY IOMMI INTERVIEW WITH RICK WAKEMAN
Rick Wakeman Face To Face TV Show With Tony Iommi More info: www.rockondigital.com
03 JAN 2010
HEAVEN AND HELL - BIBLE BLACK, GREAT FAN CLIP!
This is a fan-made music video to Bible Black, one of the many kickass songs from Black Sabb...er, Heaven and Hell's latest album, The Devil You Know.
This video is FAN-MADE. I intend to make no profit. It is a celebration and appreciation of the Dio-era. Bible Black and footage from Heaven and Hell - Live at Radio City Music Hall are copyright to Heaven and Hell and Rhino Records.
All other footage is copyright to Steven King and the visual effects sequences are copyright to Adam Childs
Sabbath Forever.
BLACK SABBATH - EAR IN THE WALL-
This is a fan-made music video to the brand new Black Sabbath track, Ear in the Wall. This was done as a college assignment. I spliced my own footage together with archive footage of the band and vintage horror films. Enjoy!
I put it again on the blog, it's simply a great work!
Tenacious D feat Dio - kickapoo
Jack Black feat Dio singing kickapoo in the begining of the movie Pick Of Destiny
BLACK SABBATH STORY BOX (DVD & CD) NOT OFFICIAL
Un coffret qui contient un DVD et un CD, le tout avec deux énormes booklets, une belle présentation pour un contenu audio et vidéo sans grande originalité, puisque une sorte de 'story', n'attendez rien de plus de ce box, non officiel (of course). Pour fans ultimes de Black Sabbath.
Reviews
Synopsis
Black Sabbath went through numerous personnel changes on its way to becoming the most influential metal band of all time. This collection offers unparalleled insight into the band's career through behind-the-scenes archival footage, rare live-performance clips, and interviews with band members Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Iommi, geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio, Neil Murray, Bobby Rondinelli, and Glenn Hughes.
Black Sabbath is the band that created some of the most startling headlines in rock history. This unique film draws on rare archive footage of Black Sabbath on stage alongside the candid reflections of Ozzy Osbourne Tony Iommi Geezer Butler Ronnie James Dio Neil Murray Bobby Rondinelli and Glenn Hughes stripping away the rumours and half truths and produce the ultimate critical review of Black Sabbath drawn exclusively from the band's own words to the media then and now. This unique book and CD review draws on archive concert audio of Black Sabbath in performance and documentary footage from television and radio archives around the world. We also hear the first hand accounts from band members Tony Iommi Glenn Hughes and Geezer Butler backed up by leading journalists and musicians including Neil Murray bass player for Whitesnake and Black Sabbath who help strip away the layers of sensationalism and half truths to produce the ultimate insight into Black Sabbath up close and personal. The 72-page book features interviews of the band with Steven Rosen as well as rare photographs from throughout their career
Rubriques
BLACK SABBATH SINGERS
NEWS
NEWS
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It just sounded right - I didn't think I was going to make it Devil music 
