Black sabbath black sabbath
His plan was to start a solo career, with a new backing band entitled the Blizzard Of Ozz. Ozzy was in very poor shape at the time, grieving over the recent death of his father, while his drug and alcohol problems hit a new high. Although the band was in the throes of personal and creative tension, the songwriting sessions pressed on until that November, when Osbourne announced he was leaving the group. If anything, the group’s resilience is commendable, and like the name of that last record, it appears that Black Sabbath will-here it comes- Never Say Die! (Apologies all around.)Īfter 1976’s mediocre Technical Ecstasy and its ensuing tour, Sabbath began work on its next album in the fall of ‘77. So, although none of this drama is anything new, is it really worth it? Can the band create something that will be nearly half as good as it once was? The odds are certainly stacked against ’em, but keep in mind that they’ve done it before, particularly with the Ozzy lineup’s final album in 1978. (Sorry, but it’s true.) Black Sabbath has had a notorious amount of lineup changes, quittings, firings, health problems, drug problems and even deaths, with Dio’s passing in 2010 to stomach cancer. To be frank, 1998’s Reunion live album was solid at best, and old age is historically unkind to most bands, as it has been to Ozzy’s voice. With all these setbacks, one might wonder if it’s worth it. (While Iommi is recovering, Osbourne will tour with various musicians, including Butler at several shows, as “Ozzy And Friends.”) Also in 2012, guitarist Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma, which halted preparations for the album and concerts, though they plan to continue eventually. Firstly, drummer Ward could not agree on what he called a “signable contract” that “reflects some dignity and respect toward as an original member of the band.” Ward was originally a part of the reunited Ronnie James Dio lineup of Sabbath-renamed Heaven & Hell-but left that project in 2006, citing musical differences.
It would be the first time the four regrouped since the late-‘90s (with two previous one-off performances before it: Ozzy’s “retirement” concert in ’’s Live Aid.) However, the proposed reunion hit two significant stumbling blocks in 2012. In November 2011, the four original members of Black Sabbath-Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward-announced plans for a reunion tour, along with a new studio album.