Black Sabbath make triumphant live return in Birmingham

Black Sabbath made their live return last night (May 19) with a homecoming gig at Birmingham's O2 Academy.

Back in city for the first time in over a decade, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler, together with drummer Tommy Clufetos – the replacement for original sticksman Bill Ward, who’s contractual disputes with the rest of the band remain unresolved - blazed through a career spanning set to a sell-out crowd.

Billed as a warm-up for their forthcoming headline slot at this year's Download Festival, the heavy metal pioneers opened with ‘Into The Void’ from 1971’s ‘Master Of Reality’.

Black Sabbath made their live return last night (May 19) with a homecoming gig at Birmingham's O2 Academy.

Back in city for the first time in over a decade, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler, together with drummer Tommy Clufetos – the replacement for original sticksman Bill Ward, who’s contractual disputes with the rest of the band remain unresolved - blazed through a career spanning set to a sell-out crowd.

Billed as a warm-up for their forthcoming headline slot at this year's Download Festival, the heavy metal pioneers opened with ‘Into The Void’ from 1971’s ‘Master Of Reality’.

Black Sabbath played:

'Into The Void'
'Under The Sun'
'Snowblind'
'War Pigs'
'Wheels Of Confusion'
'Electric Funeral'
'Black Sabbath'
'The Wizard'
'Behind The Wall Of Sleep'
'N.I.B.'
'Fairies Wear Boots'
'Lord Of This World'
'Tomorrow's Dream'
'Sweet Leaf'
'Symptom Of The Universe'
'Drum Solo'
'Iron Man'
'Dirty Women'
'Children Of the Grave'
'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'
'Paranoid'

Source: nme.com

Black Sabbath to release new Greatest Hits album next month

Black Sabbath have announced that they will be releasing a new 'Best Of' album next month.

The compilation, which is titled Iron Man: The Best Of Black Sabbath, will be released on June 4 and contains a total of 14 tracks.

The album contains a selection of tracks from across the metal legends' back catalogue, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs", "Changes", "Paranoid" and "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath".

Black Sabbath will headline this summer's Download Festival along with The Prodigy and Metallica over the weekend of June 8-10, and last week announced that they will play a small show at Birmingham's O2 Academy on May 19 to warm up for the festival.

The band are currently recording a brand new album and will tour the world throughout the rest of the year, although guitarist Tony Iommi, who is currently undergoing treatment for lymphoma, will not take part in a large chunk of the band's summer tour dates.

The shows will see frontman Ozzy Osbourne joined by special guests including former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, Geezer Butler and Zakk Wylde. Iommi will, however, play at Download and at the Birmingham gig.

Although Iommi will play, there is still no word on whether the band's estranged drummer Bill Ward will be part of the line-up for the show. The drummer had previously revealed he was unhappy with the contract for the band's new album and world tour and claimed he would not take part in the new album sessions and shows if a 'fair agreement' was not met.

As a result of this, the remaining members of the band vowed to carry on without him. They have yet, however, to announce a replacement for Ward.

The tracklisting for Iron Man: The Best Of Black Sabbath is as follows:

'Paranoid'
'Iron Man'
'Changes'
'Fairies Wear Boots'
'War Pigs'
'Never Say Die'
'Children Of The Grave'
'The Wizard'
'Snowblind'
'Sweet Leaf'
'Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games)'
'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'
'Black Sabbath'
'N.I.B.'

Source: uncut.co.uk

Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi diagnosed with cancer

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with cancer.

The legendary axeman, who is 63 and is currently working on a brand new studio album with the band, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma.

The band have released a statement on their official Facebook page which reads as follows: "With the news that Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time. Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan. The Iron Man of Rock & Roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery."

It continues: "This comes as Black Sabbath are writing and recording in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin. They will now go to the UK to continue to work with Tony."

The band have not said if Iommi's condition affects their planned world tour as yet. The band are scheduled to tour Europe next summer.

Source: nme.com

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time

All day long I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind if I don't find something to pacify

Can you help me?
are you for my brain,
Oh yeah

I need someone to show me the things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness I must be blind

Make a joke and I will sigh and you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel so love to me is so unreal

And so as you hear these words telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life I wish I could but it's too late

Black Sabbath - N.I.B.

Oh yeah!

Some people say my love cannot be true
please believe me, my love, and I'll show you
I will give you those things you thought unreal
The sun, the moon, the stars all bear my seal

Oh yeah!

Follow me now and you will not regret
leaving the life you led before we met
You are the first to have this love of mine
forever with me 'till the end of time

Your love for me has just got to be real
before you know the way I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel

Oh yeah!

Now I have you with me, under my power
Our love grows stronger now with every hour
Look into my eyes, you'll see who I am
my name is Lucifer, please take my hand

Oh yeah!

Follow me now and you will not regret
leaving the life you led before we met
You are the first to have this love of mine
forever with me 'till the end of time

Your love for me has just got to be real
before you know the way I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel

Oh yeah!

Now I have you with me, under my power
Our love grows stronger now with every hour
Look into my eyes, you'll see who I am
my name is Lucifer, please take my hand