Black Sabbath with Dio reunite-----?

[Spruce Goose]

Spainish website www.rafabasa.com has posted news of a Black Sabbath re-union of sorts - under a different name - Heaven & Hell.
The line-up will apparently be comprised of Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ronnie James Dio. The website reports that a tour is planned by the group starting mid-2007.
How accurate is this information? Pretty damned good from what I have heard. In fact, I heard something to this effect back in June. While there is still nothing official being said, I can add a little more information:
- Ronnie James Dio was apparently approached by another individual this year for a possible new collaboration, but turned them down due to a prior commitment to this project.
- The project formed after Tony Iommi and Dio met to work on a couple of new tracks for a planned Black Sabbath box set The Dio Years.
- The whole deal has been kept quiet to avoid any unpleasantries during this year's Ozzfest tour.
I'm sure we will be hearing more about this! Stay tuned...

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I am skeptical as Iommi and Dio have both constantly denied anything like this happening, and that they were only getting together to write a couple of songs for an upcoming release.

 

[Winmar]

Hmmm it'll be interesting to see if anything comes of this.

 

[Spiff]

It'd be neat... but I don't see the need to include Bill Ward in the project. Sure, he was in Sabbath, but this isn't Sabbath, and there would be plenty of better drummers to pick from. Like Tommy Aldridge, he'd be cool.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Ward can play all the old stuff, so it doesn't really matter that he isn't the best around. Anyway, it is Sabbath, Dio era Sabbath, just under a different name (if it happens).

 

[Southy]

I absolutley LOVE Sabbath, and am glad Iommi has decided not to shit on the name with yet another reformation, but actually at least give it another name

 

[Crabby]

I was lucky enough to see the original lineup last year, but I'd love to see this even more if it happens.

 

[Spiff]

Ward can play all the old stuff, so it doesn't really matter that he isn't the best around. Anyway, it is Sabbath, Dio era Sabbath, just under a different name (if it happens).

Yeah, it's a different name, so it's not Sabbath.

Not dissing that line-up, I rate Dio-era much more highly than Ozzy-era.

 

[Goreripper]

I don't see the need to include Bill Ward in the project. Sure, he was in Sabbath, but this isn't Sabbath, and there would be plenty of better drummers to pick from. Like Tommy Aldridge, he'd be cool.

Ummm.... What? The polyrhythmic and jazz-influenced stuff that Ward did behind Butler and Iommi, particularly on the later Ozzy Sabbath albums, is some fantastic stuff.

 

[Sydo]

I kinda just assumed the Sabbath guys (Iommi, Butler, Ward) wanna get out there and play together. No, it's not Black Sabbath - but 3 musicians, 3 mates out having fun.

That's something that Ozzy clearly does not understand - so they've asked Dio to join them.

 

[Spiff]

But hey, don't get me wrong, I think it's great. Looking forward to it.

 

[Southy]

I kinda just assumed the Sabbath guys (Iommi, Butler, Ward) wanna get out there and play together. No, it's not Black Sabbath - but 3 musicians, 3 mates out having fun.

That's something that Ozzy clearly does not understand - so they've asked Dio to join them.

Sadly I think Ozzy listens too much to outside influences and not what he actually feels would be good or fun

 

[TinMan666]

what i read is that they're not ALLOWED to use the name Black Sabbath anymore unless Ozzy is involved.

Seems unlikely to me, but then again stranger things have been known to happen. Especially where Ozzy (and more to the point, his missus) is involved.

 

[Wrathchild]

It seems unlikely because it's bollocks . Tony bought all the rights to the Black Sabbath name in the mid 80s and still owns them. As far as I can tell, if this tour even happens, they're using the name "Heaven And Hell" so as not to confuse the kind of morons who think the Ozzy lineup of Sabbath is the only one that matters.

I am looking forward mightily to this Dio Years box set, although I have a feeling it won't be all it could be.

W

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I dunno, the fact they are recording a couple of new tracks for it shows that they do care about the release and aren't just putting it out for the $. I am looking forward to it as well.

 

[Wrathchild]

I agree and will buy it regardless, but I don't think they'll include all the live tracks and alternate versions I want to hear. I know this stuff exists because I have it, but official releases are always better than MP3s.

A decent CD version of Live Evil would be good too. They butchered the 1996 Castle reissue to fit it all on one disc.

W

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I won't stress about the odd rare live version or demo or anything, but a proper version of Live Evil would indeed rock, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was included, since they are more stretched for material to include than they were with the Ozzy era stuff.

 

[Gavin]

I was lucky enough to see the original lineup last year, but I'd love to see this even more if it happens.

I saw the origional lineup at Ozzfest and it sucked.

 

[KoichCPA]

I saw your mum in the lineup for ozzfest and she sucked.

 

[Winmar]

Got him, yes!