THE RETURN OF… Black Sabbath
Nov 16, 2011
The godfathers of heavy metal announce their reunion, and Blurt is there. Pictured above: Bill Ward, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler.
BY MARCUS BLAKE
The date: November 11, 2011 - 11/11/11, an ominous date indeed. The American television channel, VH1 Classic, deemed it, "Heavy Metal Day". On social media sites, they dubbed it, "Nigel Tufnel Day" (named after the Spinal Tap's guitar player's quote, "This one goes to 11."). Perhaps the best and most high profile music event to happen on 11/11/11, however, was the reunion of the original Black Sabbath.
About a week before the event, word was all over the internet that all four original members of Black Sabbath were to hold a press conference at the famous Los Angeles landmark, The Whisky A Go-Go, to make an unspecified announcement. My old band mate and pal, Henry Rollins was to act as host for the occasion.
Sabbath's last tour with Ozzy was in 2005 and the original lineup last appeared together when they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006. They attempted to cut a new album with Rick Rubin in 1999, but the sessions fell apart and Osbourne turned his attention to his solo career. The second incarnation of the band featuring Ronnie James Dio reunited under the moniker Heaven & Hell in 2006 but split four years later, after Dio passed away.
So, after much speculation, all four original members of Black Sabbath - vocalist, Ozzy Osbourne; guitarist, Tony Iommi; bassist, Geezer Butler and drummer, Bill Ward -convened at the press conference to announce that they have reunited to record their first new album of original material in 33 years with Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin to produce. The band also indicated that they will embark on a major would tour in 2012.
(I have to admit that it was pretty damn exciting to be standing 10 feet away from the band making these announcements on the same stage where they performed exactly 41 years ago, on Nov. 11, 1970.)
At exactly 11:11 am, the festivities got underway with a short film showing rare clips of the band. Rollins then took the stage and began to talk about the band, their accomplishments and what Sabbath means to not only him but to millions of fans. Stating the group's records have sold in excess of 70 million records worldwide, Rollins proclaimed that they were essentially a blues band that took the blues into what is now known as heavy metal. Rollins: "When I heard the song, ‘Iron Man', a song about a guy who gets so mad at everyone he wanted to be friends with that he goes out and he basically levels them, high school became powerless over me after that." He went on to talk about the rhythm section, Geezer Butler on bass and Bill Ward on drums and their jazz instinct and blues confidence. Let us not forget one of the major things that this band can do that so many other bands (metal and otherwise) can't do: it can swing. Although the critics generally did not like them at the time, the audiences always did.
Rollins then brought the facts up into the present. As mentioned earlier, he pointed out that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have reunited to work on their first album of all new material since 1978's Never Say Die!, to be released in the fall of 2012. Sabbath has signed a new record deal worldwide with Vertigo, the band's original label, and will release the upcoming album on that label.
Next summer, Black Sabbath with headline the enormous, multi-day UK music festival, the Download Festival on June 10th and will headline their own tour to support the new album in the autumn of 2012.
The band then came out to rapturous applause, followed shortly by legendary producer, Rick Rubin.
Before Henry Rollins started to ask the Sabs questions, drummer Bill Ward took the mic and acknowledged that this was the same day as Remembrance Day/Armistice Day/ Veteran's Day and, on behalf of the band, thanked and honored all of those who served in the service.
***
Henry Rollins: So, gentlemen, we have assembled here, maybe only one of the super groups left in the world where the members are all still standing. You're going to be making an album and get back together for a lot of shows next year. Why do you feel the need to get back together and make more music?
Ozzy Osbourne: Well, it was time and the time was right, you know? For a long time, people were asking to do a reunion and we've got to do an album and it was just time.
Tony Iommi: I think it's now or never for us. We're getting on good. Everything's really good and we've got some great music to play.
Rollins: Was it any one of you who spearheaded the idea of getting back together? Did anyone of you have the idea of contacting the others?
Ozzy: It just kind of happened. Since our split way back when (people kept asking), "Are you gonna do it? Are you gonna do an album?" As time goes by, it gets harder and harder. If you don't do an album when you've got to do it, you miss that kind of thing, you know? (Mumbles) You miss the boat as they say. It was just time. We couldn't have the reunion any time before but this time, for some magical reason, we've written about 7 or 8 songs so far and they're really good. I'm not just saying it. I'm like, "Whoa! You know?"
Tony: We've always been in contact anyway so, it's not like we haven't spoke for all of these years. It's been a constant thing. So, it's great that we can all actually be in a room and start playing together again.
Rollins: In 1997, when you all reformed and you went out and you did a lot of shows for a few years but no album came out of it. I think for a lot of people that was the great hope that not only would there be this tour but there would be new Black Sabbath music. There were two new songs released but not the full album. Whose idea was it to bring in producer Rick Rubin? As I said before, there's no one better for you guys than Rick.
Tony: It was Rick. He kept phoning us up every five minutes! (laughs)
Ozzy: It was the obvious choice. I've known Rick for many years and he'd be playing Black Sabbath and The Beatles or whatever and he would say, "Do you think you'll ever get back together?" He wanted to do it a long time ago...mumble mumble...
Rollins: Geezer, I'm going to make you speak if it's the last thing I do. Are you looking forward to getting into this endeavor with the other three?
Geezer: Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting out of bed! This time, we've come up with absolutely incredible music. It's just great to be part of that. It really is back to the old Sabbath style. We tried to do that before and it just didn't work. It was not up to our standards. This time, the stuff that Tony's been playing, is absolutely brilliant. It's great to be part of it. We're all excited again and we know this time, it's gonna happen.
Rollins: Rick, a question for you. In preparation to bring the band in with these songs, do you have any environment set up for them? Do you have any strategy you're going to employ? Do you have any thoughts that you can tell us about what you're going to be doing with these guys?
Rick Rubin: Yeah, it's just creating an environment where they're comfortable and it feels natural and easy... a no pressure situation. I've stood in the room with them when they played and it sounds remarkably like Black Sabbath and if it sounds like that, then, we're on the right track.
Rollins: Do you have any specific date on when you want to bring the band in (to the studio)? Has work begun?
Rick: We've been working on developing the material and we're probably half way into the writing process so, hopefully, early next year, we'll record.
Rollins: How involved have you been in the writing process? Are you going to rehearsals with them? Are you working with them?
Rick: I come to some rehearsals. They play me songs. Then, I tell them what I think... the normal process. It's inspiring hearing what's coming out.
Rollins: Are you gentlemen looking going out into the world next year and into 2013 with, potentially new music and a brand new tour and the four of you together? You've been touring without each other for a while but now, back together. What do you think about that? Excitement?
Geezer: It's something to look forward to.
Tony: You know, when we all play together, it's a real magical thing. Nobody plays like this band. When we all do our individual stuff, it's never Black Sabbath.
Rollins: There's one thing about Black Sabbath that should not be understated: if Black Sabbath is missing one of their members, it's no longer Black Sabbath. It's one of those wonderful bands where it really is a combination of the parts. It's not the Ozzy Osbourne show. It's not just some big riff. It really is four component parts. That's one of the great things about the band. When you see it live, you walk away thinking, "That's a damn band playing where the four are making a sound unimpeachably brilliant." I'm so glad that thousands, or the better part of a million people, will be able to see that.
***
At that point the questions are turned over to the journalists/radio personalities in the room.
Answering what his hopes were for the reunion, Tony responded, "It's just great to be back together and be able to play and write some great music and be with the guys I've known all me life. It's a real special thing. We've known each other so long. It's like a family. It's great to actually work together and be in a room... it's great fun and we're really enjoying it."
Responding to the question if they had any specific memories of the night when they opened for Alice Cooper at the Whisky years ago, Iommi stated, "Yeah, we didn't open for Alice Cooper!" Bill Ward chimed it with, "I think (the press was wrong). We don't remember Alice Cooper. It was a great time, we played The Forum for about 48,000 (people) before that so, for us, it was a continuation of the party. So, we showed up (at the Whisky) in top hat and tails and were all extremely silly but we rocked the place. It was great, we played a lot of small theaters and clubs during our first apprenticeship so, coming back to a club, especially after doing The Forum and some of the other gigs we played in Europe, was a nice touch. It was really good and everybody was just happy to be going."
Tony: We rented these white suits. These top hats and tails and when we took them back, they wouldn't have Bill's back!
Bill: Yes, they were absolutely filthy! It was so hot in the place and I play pretty hard and I sweated profusely. I was down to my underpants...
Tony: Which is not a nice sight in my opinion!
Bill: Yeah, ask him, he'll tell you. Yeah, they wouldn't take my suit back. As a matter of fact, I've got it now. I'm thinking of giving it to the Hall Of... something.
Tony: Hall of excrement!
Rollins: How long have you guys known each other?
Ozzy: I've known Tony for fifty years.
Tony: We went to school together.
Rollins: What year would that be? 1840? (laughs)
Tony: A long time ago.
Bill: And then Tony and I played in a band. We were 15, 16 at the time.
Tony: 16, 17...
Bill: Yeah, that's when we started playing together. Then we met and started with Terry and then started with Oz.
Rollins: It's a pretty unique relationship the four of you have over so many decades. What's it like when you're in the same room and you see these faces that you've seen, maybe, almost as long as you've seen the faces of your parents?
Tony: We have a good laugh, a good time. We're all relaxed with each other. We've known each other so long. It's like putting on an old glove, it's fantastic.
Responding to a question about the set list and if the band would play any deeper cuts, Tony came back with, "We haven't actually got that far yet but I'm sure we'll be playing some newer and some different stuff, if that's an answer. If you are expecting us to play the same set as last time, we won't be."
Answering if they have any preference in playing indoor or outdoor arenas, Geezer said, "It's not really different once you get up on stage apart from when you're outdoor, it blows your hair up everywhere and it shows all of your bald spots!" Bill Ward added, "I think if the band shows up and the audience is there, I don't think it makes that much difference from a personal point of view. Sometimes, when we're outdoors and it's a windy night, the sound actually shifts across the stage. That can be a little worrisome sometimes. But other than that, you just show up and you play. We always play 120%."
Responding to the question of he will sing on the upcoming album, Bill Ward said, "I wouldn't think so. I want to focus with my drums. That's my number one priority. It's always a learning process. I just want to focus on being the best drummer I can be right now.
When answering a question about if the current, gloomy state of world affairs now inspires the new music they are making, Geezer said, "We've always written what goes on in the world and our personal lives so, it's bound to come out somewhere down the line."
As far as if they thought about what kind of bands they want to support them on tour, Ozzy exclaimed, "Not Alice Cooper, that's for sure!"
The final question asked was when can Australians expect the band Down Under. Bill Ward replied, "It would be nice to put that on the schedule. It's been a long time since the original band was in Australia. I think it's a must. One of our favorite things to do is to drive cars into the ocean! I don't know if we'll do that next year but Ozzy and I always used to have a good fight in the waterfall at Kings' Cross." Tony added, "Nobody would take us out to dinner, that's for sure." Which prompted Bill to note, "Yeah, we had a strawberry fight and that killed it but we'd probably have a good time and we want to rock ‘n' roll and play some good music for the Australian fans down there."
Rollins wrapped things up by saying, "Thank you for getting back together. Thank you for getting back together with Rick. Ladies and gentlemen, Black Sabbath!"
As I walked out of the Whisky A Go-Go, I looked up in the sky. The clouds started to gather and it looked like it was going to rain. I could hear the opening notes of the title track from the band's first album, Black Sabbath, playing in my head.
Ozzy was right: it was the right time...
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