2021 Heaven & Hell / Mob Rules Thoughts

Well, late last week I got the new 2021 CD versions of the Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules albums in.  And this week I received the vinyl copies, so I decided to get some thoughts down as to these new releases, what’s on them, and whether it’s worth it to pick them up.

Volume 4 Super Deluxe Edition

Following up from lat year’s Super Deluxe Edition of Paranoid, is a Super Deluxe edition of Volume 4.  I’ve had the vinyl version of this in my hands for a few weeks now, and I wanted to get some words down about it.  First off, if you’re on my site, you know Black Sabbath, and […]

Tony Martin Interview 1994

I was fortunate enough to see the Cross Purposes tour live twice.  Once in Philadelphia on 18 Feb 1994, and again in Dallas on 8 Mar 1994.  Both were excellent, and had one of the best setlists I’d seen in any live Sabbath show ever.  The Philadelphia show was technically at a venue called the […]

Heaven & Hell – Mob Rules Deluxe Editions

This morning it was announced that the Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules albums are being re-released in March in new “Deluxe Editions”.  This is both CD & vinyl.   I’ve asked a few questions ahead of time, so I’ll have a few comments here based on things  that I asked.  Also is the press […]

RIP Martin Birch

We lost Martin Birch today.  I haven’t seen why, but it’s a massive blow.  The complete list of albums he was either producer or engineer on is astoundingly spectacular. With Black Sabbath, he produced the first two Dio era albums, “Heaven And Hell”, and “Mob Rules”.  He was there for the creation of my onramp […]

Paranoid 50th Anniv Deluxe Edition

Coming out on 9th October is a 5 LP / 4 CD Deluxe Edition of Paranoid to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the album.  It includes the quad version of the album, as well as a couple of live versions from back in that era.

Forbidden at 25

If you’re the kind of fan who thinks Black Sabbath died after 1978, or are one of those fans that say “No Ward, No Sabbath”, then you might as well stop reading now.  This article won’t be for you.  I’m here to talk about the 25th anniversary of one of the more maligned albums in […]

Jazz Sabbath

Jazz Sabbath will release their self-titled debut album on April 10th. The jazz trio, formed in 1968, were considered to be at the forefront of the new English jazz movement. Their self-titled debut album would be released on 13 Feb 1970, but on Feb 12th founding member and pianist Milton Keanes was hospitalised with a […]

Ronnie’s Last Stand

10 years ago today, was the last time that Ronnie James Dio took the stage for a concert.  I was fortunate to be able to send a couple of guys to film video of the last show on that tour (in my name – I wasn’t there), and y’all have seen the product of that […]

‘Black Sabbath Bridge’ to be named at event in Birmingham

The official naming of the ‘Black Sabbath Bridge’ in honour of Birmingham’s legendary heavy metal rockers is taking place in the heart of the city’s entertainment district later this month. Two Black Sabbath founder members will be attending the extraordinary event at the road bridge which crosses the canal on Broad Street at 3pm on […]