Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne: "We've written 15 new songs" - Video
June 2, 2012


Black Sabbath have written 15 new songs since reuniting last year, frontman Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed.

Speaking to NME in a video interview you can watch above, the band discussed the direction of the new material, the influence of producer Rick Rubin and their recent Download warm-up gig in Birmingham.







Commenting on the progress of the sessions, Osbourne said:

"We've written about 15 songs so far, whether they'll get on an album, I don't know… You just keep on writing. I was trying to work out: where would we be now musically if we'd have stayed together?"


He added: "Next year - 2013 - is a good clue of what we'll call the album."







Meanwhile, bassist Geezer Butler revealed how Rubin had approached the writing sessions with the band, explaining: "He sat us down, put the first album on and said 'listen to this', imagine it's 1969, you've just done that, what would you do next?"

Guitarist Tony Iommi also discussed his battle with cancer and how playing with the band at their comeback show at O2 Academy Birmingham last month (May 19) gave him a "boost".

He said: "It was great. Going through what I've gone through over the past year has been like living in a different world - being onstage and to get that reaction from the fans is just fantastic, it really boosts you up."







The band are due close Download festival next Sunday (June 10), the only remaining gig of their world tour to feature Iommi as he continues to receive treatment for lymphoma. The rest of the jaunt is billed as an Ozzy And Friends tour, which will see the likes of ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and Zakk Wylde guest.

However, drummer Bill Ward - who appeared at the band's November 2011 reunion press conference - will not be appearing at Download after becoming embroiled in a bitter contract dispute with the rest of the band.

After Ward issued a statement revealing he was unhappy with the contract, Butler described his bandmate's demands as "a joke".







Tommy Clufetos, who is touring with Ozzy And Friends, will drum for Black Sabbath band at Download. The Prodigy and Metallica are the other headliners at the June 8-10 Donington Park event.




The line-up also includes:

Soundgarden
Biffy Clyro
You Me At Six
Chase & Status
Tenacious D
Machine Head
Trivium
Anthrax
Black Veil Brides
NOFX
Shinedown
Killswitch Engage
Opeth
Nightwish
Devildriver
Rise Against
Steel Panther
Slash
Megadeth
Five Finger Death Punch
Kyuss Lives
Billy Talent
Black Label Society
Terrorvision
As I Lay Dying,
Reckless Love
Fear Factory
Ginger Wildheart
Lamb Of God
August Burns Red
Little Angels
Devin Townsend Project
Ugly Kid Joe

http://www.nme.com/news/black-sabbath/64120

Who will do the drumming on the new album?

Black Sabbath Currently In Studio Recording New Album
by JonathanBarkan
October 17, 2012


SiriusXM Liquid Metal DJ Jose Mangin was recently able to head into Shangri La Studios in Malibu, CA to catch up with Black Sabbath on their upcoming album, which will be the first studio release from them in over 33 years.

It has been confirmed that the band has written 15 songs, 12 of which will appear on the final record (the other three will most likely be used as deluxe edition bonus tracks).

One song title has been confirmed as 'God Is Dead'.



The guitars (and most likely drums) were laid down earlier this year in England, allowing singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler to record their parts in five-song increments with producer Rick Rubin.

Butler is currently writing lyrics while Ozzy is laying down vocals.

http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3198396/black-sabbath-currently-in-studio-recording-new-album/

:rock:

Black Sabbath Releases New Album In-Studio Footage
by JonathanBarkan
February 13, 2013


Black Sabbath has released a video showing the band in the studio recording their new album. It is the first Black Sabbath album with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals since 1978′s 'Never Say Die!'.

The recording lineup features original guitarist Tony Iommi and original bassist Geezer Butler with Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk recording as a session musician.

The album is being produced by Rick Rubin (Metallica, Slayer) and will be released this year.




3GLqS7yjyMw

http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3218706/black-sabbath-releases-new-album-in-studio-footage/

Listen To Snippets of New Black Sabbath Tunes
by JonathanBarkan
March 13, 2013


British heavy metal band Black Sabbath have uploaded a new studio update video that includes interviews with members Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler as well as drummer Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine) and producer Rick Rubin.

Also included in the video are snippets of new songs, which come from the band’s upcoming album '13', the first studio record with Ozzy since 1978′s 'Never Say Die'.

The album will be released June 11th.




p6h6bUVZbDo

http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3223287/listen-to-snippets-of-new-black-sabbath-tunes/

Hey, wait a minute! Didn't Megadeth have an album title of the same name??

Hey, wait a minute! Didn't Megadeth have an album title of the same name??

The Megadeth album is the word 'Thirteen' and the Sabbath album is the number '13'.

The Megadeth album is the word 'Thirteen' and the Sabbath album is the number '13'.
I'm kidding. :lol:

I'm kidding. :lol:

lol, you weren't the first person to ask which was why I pointed out they are technically different.

lol, you weren't the first person to ask which was why I pointed out they are technically different.
Maybe Sabbath called the album that because it is coming out in 2013! :idea:

d4p86ALnIzo



http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e10/JamesGrec/0c29a7c3-b393-47e0-bcbc-4b5ce49726a7_zps1b21f8f0.jpg

wVfUimq2KeI

I realize now that this is a retitled thread, in spite of my initial confusion. :confused:

I like this song a lot. I like how Geezer's bass interlocks mightily with Tony's impressive guitar. The drumming is tight. Ozzy's vocals are spot on. Welcome back, dudes. :rock: :rock: :notworthy :notworthy

I will be interested to hear Black Sabbath's sentiments about the existence of God in this album if I get a chance to listen to this single somewhere. I don't really care much for this band and don't generally listen to them, though I have heard some classics like "War Pigs" and "Iron Man", of course.

Perhaps Black Sabbath will be meditating on the writings of Friedrick Nietzsche in this song. Of course, it is interesting that both he and the band apparently concede that God did at least exist, even though they don't currently believe in His existence.
Of course, as a classic Sunday School song says, "God's not dead-No! He is alive".:) :cool:

The funny thing is- I've also heard of Black Sabbath songs that are almost quite Christian in their theology and display a strong belief in God (for example, "War Pigs" to some degree)- but of course, people change over time in their views and beliefs.

I will be interested to hear Black Sabbath's sentiments about the existence of God in this album if I get a chance to listen to this single somewhere. I don't really care much for this band and don't generally listen to them, though I have heard some classics like "War Pigs" and "Iron Man", of course.

Perhaps Black Sabbath will be meditating on the writings of Friedrick Nietzsche in this song. Of course, it is interesting that both he and the band apparently concede that God did at least exist, even though they don't currently believe in His existence.
Of course, as a classic Sunday School song says, "God's not dead-No! He is alive".:) :cool:

The funny thing is- I've also heard of Black Sabbath songs that are almost quite Christian in their theology and display a strong belief in God (for example, "War Pigs" to some degree)- but of course, people change over time in their views and beliefs.
Actually, back in his youth, bassist Geezer Butler said he was really into God and even contemplated becoming a priest. But when rock and roll became his passion, many people at his church resented this "longhair" type playing "that kind of music", which turned him off a bit to the church. He has had a very healthy respect for Christ, he says. He has been the main lyricist of Black Sabbath until Ronnie James Dio stepped in back in late 1979. He has been interested in spiritual matters, even if they have been often of the arcane, occultic side back in the past. In his younger days, he says he had some run-ins of a supernatural nature at his home in Britain.

There has been a strong Christian morality found in their songs, such as "After Forever", though their lifestyles did not adequately reflect that.

Yeah, I've found that anachronism quite interesting about Black Sabbath. Thanks for the further information.:)
It's sad that Butler got turned off to church because people had hang-ups about a longhaired guy playing rock 'n' roll........ Some people still have such hang-ups and while not everyone likes rock 'n' roll music- everyone doesn't have to- that's okay. I appreciate music from a variety of styles, including rock and metal. And any style of music can be used to worship God. I don't think Jesus really cares what style of music you're playing as long as your lyrics are truly focused on Him and even more importantly- your heart is truly seeking to worship Him, which will be evidenced by your lifestyle.:cool:

Yeah, I've found that anachronism quite interesting about Black Sabbath. Thanks for the further information.:)
It's sad that Butler got turned off to church because people had hang-ups about a longhaired guy playing rock 'n' roll........ Some people still have such hang-ups and while not everyone likes rock 'n' roll music- everyone doesn't have to- that's okay. I appreciate music from a variety of styles, including rock and metal. And any style of music can be used to worship God. I don't think Jesus really cares what style of music you're playing as long as your lyrics are truly focused on Him and even more importantly- your heart is truly seeking to worship Him, which will be evidenced by your lifestyle.:cool:
I don't buy into the argument by other Christians that music should only serve the purpose of praise and worship, exhortation or evangelism. Where would the purpose of art or expression be?

Exactly. Just read the Psalms- they're full of art and expression. Psalms 88 in particular is a lament to God- basically saying that I'm feeling lonely and depressed and darkness is my only friend. But there are other Psalms that are more exuberant with praise unto God. And many of the Psalms literally were put to music and sung so they are also songs. But I think the key thing with this is honesty. God certainly desires everyone to be honest and I think music that honestly expresses feelings or a point of view or that is artistic in nature, etc. (or all of the above)- is perfectly cool too. Creativity itself is a reflection back to God and the creativity He had in Creation.
It's all a gift from Him. And we should use what He's given us to praise Him. But by this, I mean songs like "Rocky Mountain High" and "Carolina in My Mind" (and I don't know for sure if John Denver and James Taylor were or are Christians- I hope so of course though.) - but songs like those can be worshipful in declaring the majesty of God's creation. I really think everything has a spiritual side to it somewhere- it all is ultimately a reflection of the spiritual powers that rule the world- either the god of this world (i.e. the devil) or the God of the entire universe and over everything- Yahweh- revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. And of course, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.:)

Exactly. Just read the Psalms- they're full of art and expression. Psalms 88 in particular is a lament to God- basically saying that I'm feeling lonely and depressed and darkness is my only friend. But there are other Psalms that are more exuberant with praise unto God. And many of the Psalms literally were put to music and sung so they are also songs. But I think the key thing with this is honesty. God certainly desires everyone to be honest and I think music that honestly expresses feelings or a point of view or that is artistic in nature, etc. (or all of the above)- is perfectly cool too. Creativity itself is a reflection back to God and the creativity He had in Creation.
It's all a gift from Him. And we should use what He's given us to praise Him. But by this, I mean songs like "Rocky Mountain High" and "Carolina in My Mind" (and I don't know for sure if John Denver and James Taylor were or are Christians- I hope so of course though.) - but songs like those can be worshipful in declaring the majesty of God's creation. I really think everything has a spiritual side to it somewhere- it all is ultimately a reflection of the spiritual powers that rule the world- either the god of this world (i.e. the devil) or the God of the entire universe and over everything- Yahweh- revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. And of course, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.:)
I think James Taylor doesn't believe in God, and John Denver, I'm not sure what he believed--but he was God's messenger in that movie. ;)

But honesty in music is the best thing with God. I was reading Psalms a while back, and David (or the Psalmist?) was really pouring his heart out in pain to God.

I think James Taylor doesn't believe in God, and John Denver, I'm not sure what he believed--but he was God's messenger in that movie.

I don't know for sure on either one. But I do know James Taylor entreats Jesus to look down on him and help him make a stand and see him through another day (in his classic "Fire and Rain") But I don't know if he truly knows Christ as Savior or not....there are a lot of singers who sometimes mention God or Jesus in their songs and I don't think they really believe in Him......

As to John Denver- well, I have also heard speak of Jesus as the Savior King (in his Christmas song "A Baby Just Like You"- which I mainly am familiar with because of the "John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together" album. And John Denver narrated the events of the birth of Christ on the Christmas special of the same name- but again, I don't know what exactly he truly believed or not. All I can say is I hope so.) And yeah- I know about the movie you're referring to- lol.:lol:



But honesty in music is the best thing with God. I was reading Psalms a while back, and David (or the Psalmist?) was really pouring his heart out in pain to God.

Amen! This is the point I was trying to get to with the above examples. Yeah- just read Psalms 43 and Psalms 88 to see real pain being poured out to God. Of course, Psalms 43 has the gentle reminder and admonishment- why is my soul so downcast? Put your hope in God! He is the health of my countenance and my God and I will praise Him! :) :cool:

Of course they wouldn't say that their god is dead. SATAN. I never liked Black Sabbath either. Ozzy is the reason for that. I just think he's sick!

Well, I don't know if any of them are actually satanists, but then I don't know if any of them are Christians either. I hope it's the latter of course- but it does seem rather doubtful- though as has been pointed out earlier in this thread, some members of Black Sabbath would most likely profess some sort of belief in God and have had some instruction regarding Christianity, it seems. But I don't know if any of them truly know Christ as Savior- that's between them and God. But even Ozzy Osbourne is not too far gone to be saved- Jesus can save anyone.:) :cool:
(Funnily enough, since you mention this, you may be interested to see a song (http://www.apologetix.com/music/song.php?freebie=true &song_id=21) a Christian band wrote about Ozzy Osbourne....and as it happens, it's a parody of one of his famous songs- "Crazy Train".)
This is by a Christian parody band called Apologetix- if you join their fan club, you can download this and a number of other MP3s for free.
Or you can hear the song here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHb288BmspU).
(The first link I posted is the lyrics.)

Well, I don't know if any of them are actually satanists, but then I don't know if any of them are Christians either. I hope it's the latter of course- but it does seem rather doubtful- though as has been pointed out earlier in this thread, some members of Black Sabbath would most likely profess some sort of belief in God and have had some instruction regarding Christianity, it seems. But I don't know if any of them truly know Christ as Savior- that's between them and God. But even Ozzy Osbourne is not too far gone to be saved- Jesus can save anyone.:) :cool:
(Funnily enough, since you mention this, you may be interested to see a song (http://www.apologetix.com/music/song.php?freebie=true &song_id=21) a Christian band wrote about Ozzy Osbourne....and as it happens, it's a parody of one of his famous songs- "Crazy Train".)
This is by a Christian parody band called Apologetix- if you join their fan club, you can download this and a number of other MP3s for free.
Or you can hear the song here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHb288BmspU).
(The first link I posted is the lyrics.)
I hardly think that Ozzy is quite the hellion everyone has made him out to be, even though thirty years ago, he made some of his biggest headlines.

When some metal musicians and the like call themselves Satanists, it's not like how we picture often picture them. It's like, as you said earlier, a sort of belief that has much in common with Friederich Nietschze; "Do what thou wilt" and live for yourself free from the external rules of others. It's not about a literal belief in the Devil, they would consider that a tenet of Christian belief, which they reject.

I'll have to check out Apologetix!! :rock:

I'll have to check out Apologetix!!
Cool- hope you like it. If you can dig Weird Al Yankovic, you'll probably like them. They have described themselves in one song as having a two part style- part's Weird Al, the other part's Billy Graham!:) :cool:

Black Sabbath Announces Summer N. American Tour
by JonathanBarkan
April 26, 2013


A full Black Sabbath N. American summer headlining tour has been announced wherein the band will be hitting the road in late July, playing 20 markets before finishing in early September.

The band will be touring in support of their upcoming release '13', which comes out June 11th.





07/25 – Houston, Texas @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
07/27 – Austin, Texas @ Frank Erwin Center
07/29 – Tampa, Fla. @ Live Nation Amphitheatre
07/31 – W. Palm Beach, Fla @ Cruzan Amphitheatre



08/02 – Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live
08/04 – Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center
08/06 – Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
08/08 – Uncasville, Conn. @ Mohegan Sun Arena
08/10 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Wells Fargo Center
08/12 – Boston, Mass. @ Comcast Center
08/14 – Toronto, Ontario @ Air Canada Centre
08/16 – Tinley Park, Ill. @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
08/18 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Klipsch Music Center
08/22 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rogers Arena
08/24 – Seattle, Wash. @ Gorge Amphitheatre
08/26 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
08/28 – Irvine, Calif. @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
08/30 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ US Airways Center



09/01 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
09/03 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Los Angeles Sports Arena

http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3230433/black-sabbath-announces-summer-n-american-tour/

Black Sabbath Talks New Album, Metal Roots
6/10/2013
by Steve Baltin


To celebrate their new Rick Rubin-produced album '13' (out June 11), Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler called a town hall meeting last week.

Held at Los Angeles’ Harmony Gold, it was a reminder of the music industry’s good old days, with a buffet fit for a king, all to impress journalists, fans and metal heads as they took in the new music -- the band’s first studio offering with the Osbourne patriarch since 1978's 'Never Say Die'.





The itinerary for the night’s activities wasn’t entirely clear at first, not to attendees or Butler, who joked with The Hollywood Reporter that he and his bandmate were just along for the ride. “I wish we knew, we just came in for a drink and don’t know what’s going on,” he quipped when asked about the event.

But the two rock stars were also there to listen with fresh ears. Sure, they spent three months recording '13' at Malibu's Shangri-La studio, but it was, by Butler’s admission, their first time hearing it “in its entirety on a big PA system -- I’m used to listening to it on the cassette player. It sounds great.”

Added Osbourne: “I hope people love the album as much as we do, we had a lot of fun making it.”





If the album has the feel of vintage Sabbath it’s because the band approached it as they did those seminal early albums. “We went back to the way we did the first three albums, live in the studio,” Butler elaborated.

“A couple of tracks were just written and done in the studio,” Osbourne interjected.





They credit that return to a live setting to Rubin, who, according to Osbourne, had been requesting to work with Sabbath since the 1980s.

“For years, Rick Rubin was saying to me, ‘When you get back to it, if you get back to it with the guys, please count me in. It’s one of my lifetime dreams to do a Black Sabbath album,’” Osbourne recalled.





But it was not an easy beginning as the two industry heavyweights first learned to communicate with each other. “He knew exactly what he wanted out of us and eventually we saw through his eyes. Took a while, but in the end we got what he was talking about,” said Butler. “He made us get the old spirit back, rather than try to be the ultimate heavy metal band and everything. He said, ‘Forget heavy metal.’”

That left Osbourne a little baffled. “I didn’t know what he was f---ing talking about. ‘Forget heavy metal, well, what are we gonna do, a f---ing acoustic album?’ I couldn’t get the vibe,” Osbourne said.

“Then Rubin says, ‘The first album isn’t heavy metal.’ I say, ‘Well, what the f--- is it?’ He says, ‘It’s blues metal.’ And I thought, ‘Oh yeah, we started out with a blues, jazz band and progressed into heavy rock.’ There was a bluesy overtone to that album.”





The result: an album they’re both proud of and are able to bring to the stage. Several new tracks will make it onto the set lists for Sabbath’s upcoming U.S. arena tour, which kicks off July 25 in Houston.

“We did four songs on the tour and it’s blended seamlessly into the old stuff,” Butler said. “We’ve done ‘God Is Dead’ and ‘End Of The Beginning,’ because they were the ones that were available on the internet, so some people knew them. And then we tried a couple of other tracks, ‘Methademic’ and ‘Loner.’ We’re still experimenting with which ones we’ll end up playing live on this tour.”





For Osbourne, playing the new material makes the requisite songs of the night, like 'War Pigs', 'Iron Man' and 'Paranoid', more enjoyable. “It’s good to do something you’ve never really done before on stage,” he said. “And it does bring a breath of fresh air to the set, breaks it up a bit.”

The band is also digging deep into the catalog. Said Osbourne: “We do some old stuff that we never really played before, like ‘Under The Sun’ and ‘Beyond The Wall Of Sleep.’ We do a lot of different old songs as well.”





Ultimately, it’s playing new material with this lineup that makes it feel like a current act. “We did four new songs and it makes it not a nostalgia act, it’s a modern act again,” said Butler, adding that’s he’s looking forward to new fans making Black Sabbath their own. “This is gonna be their generation of Black Sabbath, so it’s not like the dad’s or granddad’s Sabbath.”

True to that ideal, Osbourne has very 2013 aspirations for the success of '13'. “I just hope people really enjoy the work we’ve done,” he said. “Anything else I say, like, multi-platinum… nobody buys records.”

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/black-sabbath-talk-new-album-565753

Link (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-black-sabbath-billboard-album-chart-no-1-20130620,0,983090.story)

It's full of doomy imagery and gloomy guitars, but Black Sabbath's latest album has hardly scared off listeners: "13" debuted this week atop the Billboard 200 album chart with sales of 155,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The record is the hugely influential heavy-metal band's first No. 1 in a career that stretches back to 1969, when frontman Ozzy Osbourne formed Black Sabbath in Birmingham, England, with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward.

"13" also marks the first time that Osbourne, Iommi and Butler have appeared on an album together since "Never Say Die!" in 1978. Ward signed on for the band's current reunion when it was announced in 2011 but quit last year over a contract dispute. Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine played drums on "13," which was produced by Rick Rubin.


"The news is absolutely amazing -- we couldn't have imagined this would happen," Butler said in a statement.

Next month, Black Sabbath is to kick off a North American tour in Houston; it's scheduled to stop in L.A. at the Sports Arena on Sept. 3.

Other albums entering the Billboard 200 this week include "24/Seven," the latest from the Nickelodeon boy band Big Time Rush, at No. 4; the Goo Goo Dolls' "Magnetic" at No. 8; the "Man of Steel" soundtrack at No. 9; and, at No. 10, "The Wack Album" by Andy Samberg's comedy-rap trio the Lonely Island.