Black Sabbath - *The official thread*

when I say Dio's sound I refer to his vocal style, he definitely sounds different than Ozzy but through it all I think Iommi is a phenomenal guitarist

In the liners for the Dio-era reissues, Iommi talks about how the songs ended up going in different directions because Ozzy would tend to sing along the rift where Dio would just invent counter-melodies and the like. So, you're not wrong on the front about his voice being a huge player in it. It just struck me that Iommi being able to play with so many VERY different singers is a huge gold star on his record as a writer/performer.

The sound of the band after Dio joined is different, also classic, but I can't say "better", not when the original lineup is one of the most influential bands in the history of rock music and is still inspiring people 45 years later. So I'm going to stick with different.

Iommi himself said that writing for Dio was very different and allowed him to try things that wouldn't work with Ozzy in the band. The best musicians tailor their sound to fit with the other members of the band, if somebody new comes in, you work that new personality into the equation and evolve your sound accordingly. That's exactly what Iommi did on the Dio records, Born Again, etc. Dio never really sounded right singing the Ozzy material, there's a reason for that, it wasn't written with him in mind.

Most bands achieve one classic lineup in their careers, Sabbath is one of the few that managed two.

Anyone else wish that there was more than one song with Dave Walker?

I really like that guy's voice

No. It just didn't work. Junior's Eyes was much improved on the studio album.

S.D. wrote:

No.  It just didn't work.  Junior's Eyes was much improved on the studio album.  

It was superior but it was a much developed song from what sounds like a really hastily put together performance of a half finished song as a meet the new guy type deal, they had songs that were written for him ready to record and they got binned when Ozzy breezed back in and refused to use them, I would at least like to have known what they would have sounded like.

Can't be any worse than the Dave Donato demos!! 

How many bands can you think of that had 2 failed vocalist attempts...both named Dave.

"Dave's not here...man."

Black Sabbath announce final tour...

Quote :

"It's the Beginning of THE END.

"It started nearly five decades ago with a crack of thunder, a distant bell ringing and then that monstrous riff that shook the earth. The heaviest rock sound ever heard.

"In that moment Heavy Metal was born, created by a young band from Birmingham, England barely out of their teens.

"Now it ENDS, the final tour by the greatest Metal Band of all time, BLACK SABBATH. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler close the final chapter in the final volume of the incredible BLACK SABBATH story.

"BLACK SABBATH's farewell tour, 'The End', begins on January 20, 2016 and it promises to surpass all previous tours with their most mesmerizing production ever.

"When this tour concludes, it will truly be THE END,

"THE END of one of most legendary bands in Rock 'n Roll history…"

BLACK SABBATH "The End" tour dates:

North America

Jan. 20 - Omaha, NE @ Centurylink Center
Jan. 22 - Chicago, IL @ UNited Center
Jan. 25 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
Jan. 28 - Saskatoon, SK @ Sasktel Centre
Jan. 30 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Centre
Feb. 01 - Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
Feb. 03 - Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Feb. 06 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
Feb. 09 - San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
Feb. 11 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
Feb. 13 - Das Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
Feb. 15 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
Feb. 17 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
Feb. 18 - Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Feb. 21 - Hamilton, ON @ Firstontario Centre
Feb. 23 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Feb. 25 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Australia and New Zealand

Apr. 15 - Perth, @ Perth Arena
Apr. 17 - Adelaide @ Entertainment Centre
Apr. 19 - Melbourne @ Rod Lave Arena
Apr. 23 - Sydney @ Allphones Arena
Apr. 25 - Brisbane @ Entertainment Center
Apr. 28 - Auckland @ Vector Arena
Apr. 30 - Dunedin @ Forsyth Barr Stadium

No mention of a final album to coincide with said tour. Here's hoping!

Considering the tour is kicking off in January I'm doubting another album, unless they've already secretly been working on it. My guess is either after the tour or not at all.

S.D. wrote:

Considering the tour is kicking off in January I'm doubting another album, unless they've already secretly been working on it.  My guess is either after the tour or not at all.  

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

My question: is this really the final tour?

Well, I think it will be the final tour with Ozzy...who knows what Tony & Geezer will do if they remain healthy.

S.D. wrote:

Well, I think it will be the final tour with Ozzy...who knows what Tony & Geezer will do if they remain healthy.  

I'd be cool with a T&G project. Hell, aren't Bill and Ozzy the only two in that band with a beef? T&G&B. Fuuuuck yeah.

I would like to see Tony and Geezer move on with a new project. The Sabbath name needs to be put to rest. Sharon sucked the band dry, and now she wants Ozzy to tour solo so she won't need to share the money with anyone. And besides... without Bill Ward, It just isn't the same anyway. Although I do like Vinny Appice too.

If I had to choose someone to play with Sabbath on this last tour and final album (since Bill won't be joining them) it would be Nicko McBrain. They could've done a lot better than Brad Wilk. The dude is a bit on the bland side IMO.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Black Sabbath announce final tour...

Quote :

"It's the Beginning of THE END.

"It started nearly five decades ago with a crack of thunder, a distant bell ringing and then that monstrous riff that shook the earth. The heaviest rock sound ever heard.

"In that moment Heavy Metal was born, created by a young band from Birmingham, England barely out of their teens.

"Now it ENDS, the final tour by the greatest Metal Band of all time, BLACK SABBATH. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler close the final chapter in the final volume of the incredible BLACK SABBATH story.

"BLACK SABBATH's farewell tour, 'The End', begins on January 20, 2016 and it promises to surpass all previous tours with their most mesmerizing production ever.

"When this tour concludes, it will truly be THE END,

"THE END of one of most legendary bands in Rock 'n Roll history…"

BLACK SABBATH "The End" tour dates:

North America

Jan. 20 - Omaha, NE @ Centurylink Center
Jan. 22 - Chicago, IL @ UNited Center
Jan. 25 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
Jan. 28 - Saskatoon, SK @ Sasktel Centre
Jan. 30 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Centre
Feb. 01 - Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
Feb. 03 - Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Feb. 06 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
Feb. 09 - San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
Feb. 11 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
Feb. 13 - Das Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
Feb. 15 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
Feb. 17 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
Feb. 18 - Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Feb. 21 - Hamilton, ON @ Firstontario Centre
Feb. 23 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Feb. 25 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Australia and New Zealand

Apr. 15 - Perth, @ Perth Arena
Apr. 17 - Adelaide @ Entertainment Centre
Apr. 19 - Melbourne @ Rod Lave Arena
Apr. 23 - Sydney @ Allphones Arena
Apr. 25 - Brisbane @ Entertainment Center
Apr. 28 - Auckland @ Vector Arena
Apr. 30 - Dunedin @ Forsyth Barr Stadium

No mention of a final album to coincide with said tour. Here's hoping!

No Pennsylvania dates ? Maybe more will be added.

That's what I'm thinking. The whole month of March is open right now. I think hope more dates will be added.

S.D. wrote:

No.  It just didn't work.  Junior's Eyes was much improved on the studio album.  

Well that's a rather big understatement!

Dumfries November 16, 1969 finally surfaces! Dime a bootleg torrent site just released it earlier today and it has of course shown up on different sites like guitar 101 and others. Just thought I would share the info.

Black Sabbath kicked off "The End" tour last night. Looks like they pulled out some deeper cuts...

01. Black Sabbath
02. Fairies Wear Boots
03. Tomorrow's Dream
04. Into The Void
05. Snowblind
06. War Pigs
07. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
08. N.I.B.
09. Hand Of Doom
10. Rat Salad
11. Iron Man
12. Children Of The Grave
13. Dirty Women
14. Paranoid

In other news, they are selling cd's exclusively at the shows with some unreleased tracks...

Quote :

Featuring original artwork by Shepard Fairey of the Obey Giant street art campaign, the CD is comprised of eight previously unreleased tracks: four songs are outtakes from BLACK SABBATH's worldwide No. 1, Grammy Award-winning album "13" and four live songs from the band's critically acclaimed "13" world tour.


The CD features Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar) and Geezer Butler (bass), along with Brad Wilk (drums) on tracks 1-4, Tommy Clufetos (drums) on tracks 5-8, and Adam Wakeman (keyboards) on tracks 5-8. Tracks 1-4 were recorded at Shangri La Studios in Malibu, California and produced by Rick Rubin, mixed by Andrew Scheps at Punkerpad West and recorded by Greg Fidelman. Tracks 5-8 were recorded and engineered by Greg Price and mastered by Robert Vosgien at Capitol Studios Mastering.

"The End" track listing:

01. Season Of The Dead
02. Cry All Night
03. Take Me Home
04. Isolated Man
05. God Is Dead? (Live Sydney, Australia 4/27/13)
06. Under The Sun (Live Auckland, New Zealand 4/20/13)
07. End Of The Beginning (Live Hamilton, ON Canada 4/11/14)
08. Age Of Reason (Live Hamilton, ON Canada 4/11/14)

How much are they gonna go for on ebay?

I wouldn't mind getting that cd but they're not hitting Pittsburgh. I probably wouldn't go anyway.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Featuring original artwork by Shepard Fairey of the Obey Giant street art campaign,

I can't understand why a band like Black Sabbath (as well as Led Zeppelin on "Mothership") choose a guy like this to do their art. There are WAY better artists out there. Somebody must have sold them that he is the "hip" guy to use. Of course, he was hip 10 years ago.

Tony Martin said on his fb page that he recently met up w/Iommi and they talked about the possibility of working together again...

First they should re-release those Sabbath albums he did!

Some of our Japanese friends may think that Ratt, Motley and Guns & Roses pioneered metal, but I am always quick to tell them, in their native language:

「本当です。ヘービー・メタルは７０年代に遡ります。 BLACK SABBATH（ブラック・サバス）とともに。」