Random News Bits and Stuff

As I've mentioned below, I've been playing catch up with a seven month backlog of emails and submissions. Several things have taken a slide due to this. This post will have several things I've run across in the email pile I thought are worth a look.

• Eric Singer Interview: A cool interview posted in January 2008 with Eric Singer. He talks about just about every major band he was in (including Black Sabbath), and some he was not (Ozzy Osbourne audition). Cool interview; check it out here.
• Chicago area Tribute Band: Ran across a link to a Chicago based Black Sabbath tribute band that focuses on the Dio years. Check 'em out here.
• Old 1980 Interview with Sabbath: This is a cool old interview with Geezer, Ronnie, & Vinny during their tour of Australia in 1980. Video quality is crap, but it's still cool to check out.

I also ran across a lot of emails thanking me for the Eternal Idol retrospective article, as well as many condolences for the miscarriage my wife and I had a few months back. Thanks to all who wrote in for both of those.

Posted by Joe Siegler at 12:01 AM

Cool Map on the BBC Website

I'm making a major attempt at getting caught up with all of my backlogged Black Sabbath email tonight. In doing that, I ran across this cool link which was sent to me back in September 2007 from someone at the BBC. Here's what they said:

We're a BBC site, and we've just produced an interactive "Music Map" featuring lots of info on the famous musicians who lived in this area - and some of the notable gigs.

There's a nice section on the early years of Sabbath, and on Bill Ward' s old house, that still has gates with the opening riff from Paranoid on them. There are photos and an interview with the guy who bought the house off Bill.

I'm sorry to Jerry Chester over at the BBC for letting this slide SO long. This is a cool little thing y'all have put together.

Anyway, you can get to the interactive map by going here. It's worth it.

Posted by Joe Siegler at 10:34 PM

Rules of Hell Box Set Update

A couple of days ago I posted the news that there will be a box set based on the four Dio era Black Sabbath releases. I posed some questions of band management regarding some details on the set, and I can now bring you an update based on what I found out.

Individual Releases: The albums will likely eventually be released on their own, but no plans yet, and even that's not for sure. For now you should consider them part of the box set only.

Remastering: This is not the same remastering sessions that produced last year's "The Dio Years" releases. This is a totally new remastering session from the Dio Years sessions.

Five Discs: The press release stated that there would be five discs in this release. The five discs will be Heaven & Hell, The Mob Rules, Dehumanizer, & Live Evil. Live Evil will be two discs as it was when it was originally released way back when, so that's where we get the fifth disc.

Extra Tracks: There are no extra tracks here, the albums are as they were originally released. I specifically asked about the alternate version of Mob Rules (Heavy Metal soundtrack), and the alternate version of Letters to Earth (TV Crimes Single). Was told they're not being included. Less clear are the two versions of Time Machine. The 1992 version released in the US had two versions (standard & Wayne's World). The WW version was not on versions outside of the US. Since this is being released by Warner/Rhino, it's likely the one on here will have both, but I don't know that for sure at this time.

I was told the "new" extras will be extensive liner notes and things along those lines. I also do not know at this time what the packaging will look like. One of the emails I got said that had yet to be completed, so I doubt there's full decisions made on this stuff yet. Once I get some artwork and further details, I'll be sure to update straight away.

UPDATE: Something occurred to me a few hours after I posted this. I don't know whether this box will be available under the name Black Sabbath or Heaven & Hell. Will update with that too when I find out.

Posted by Joe Siegler at 9:28 AM

Website question

UPDATE: This has been fixed. Thanks to Adam Alexander for pointing me in the right direction. Turns out it was the "Gallery" templates and using a strict doctype. Changed it to transitional, and it worked fine.

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I have a strange question that I can't seem to find an answer to, so I thought I'd take it to you, the site visitor. If you're good at diagnosing HTML problems, I have something for you to look at. It's the code that generates the Photo gallery here. The gallery is being generated by software called (boringly enough), "Gallery". I'm using their theme system to embed the site's look around the bits that Gallery itself generates for the pictures.

Anyway, the problem is with the embedding. If you look at the two images below, it's the same code generating these. However, one looks wrong.

  

Anyway, the problem is with Firefox. Usually I have this problem the other way around, but Firefox has had that black bar on top of the menu for awhile now, and I've never been able to figure it out. I fiddled with the ad banner code and moved the "boxed" version from the news section (which is generated by Movable Type) to the gallery section. However, that too has a weird display problem similar to the black bar above the menu.

I'm thinking it's with the overall framing code like I'm missing one small tag somewhere that will get rid of the problem. If you know HTML well, can you take a look at this, and see if you can figure out what the frig I'm doing wrong?

If you can solve the problem for me, I can probably hook you up with a free CD or something (the first email I get about it that actually solves the problem will be the one I pick for that).

Thanks for any help you can give. I've been doing websites now for 13 years, and this one is a bugger for me.

Posted by Joe Siegler at 1:57 AM

New Tour Dates & "Black Box 2" Announced

Today brings a major announcement from band management. I was just emailed a press release which folks will find very interesting. The entire press release is listed below, but I'll get to the bullet points of the thing here:

Tour announced:

First up is a tour dubbed "The Metal Masters Tour". This is an 18 date trek across parts of the US. It starts on August 6th, and ends up August 31st. A complete list of dates:

Wed 06-Aug-08 Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ
Thu 07-Aug-08 Nissan Pavilion, Bristow, VA
Sat 09-Aug-08 PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Sun 10-Aug-08 Nikon at Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY
Wed 13-Aug-08 Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON
Sat 16-Aug-08 Post Gazette Pavilion, Pittsburgh, PA
Mon 18-Aug-08 DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI
Tue 19-Aug-08 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL
Fri 22-Aug-08 Superpages.com Amphitheatre, Dallas, TX
Sat 23-Aug-08 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX
Sun 24-Aug-08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, San Antonio, TX
Wed 27-Aug-08 Journal Pavilion, Albuquerque, NM
Thu 28-Aug-08 Cricket Wireless Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ
Sat 30-Aug-08 Glen Helen Pavilion, San Bernardino, CA
Sun 31-Aug-08 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA

Dates as to when these shows tickets' will go on sale are in the full press release further down the page. The other bands on the tour besides Black Sabbath er, Heaven & Hell are Judas Priest, Motorhead, & Testament. I've seen Motorhead with Black Sabbath a few times in the past on the Cross Purposes & Forbidden tours. Judas Priest will have a new album out, as will Testament, and Heaven & Hell's new album I don't think will be out then, but should be well underway. Could we see a new track during these dates? We'll find out.

Black Box II announced:

When Black Box was released in 2004, one of the things not mentioned then was "what about remastering all the other Sabbath albums?" Well, today (part of) that has been announced. First off, I must state that this is NOT called Black Box II. That's my own name. This is called "The Rules of Hell".

I have already asked a few questions of Band management regarding this box set, when I get some answers, I'll report back. What I've asked is this:

1. Is this a new remastering session, or is it the same sessions that produced the versions used on the Dio Years?
2. Anything in the way of extras, or is it just the albums like it was in Black Box?
3. Will there be Geezer (or Ronnie as the case may be) approved lyrics again like there were in Black Box?
4. Will the albums be made available on their own, or only as part of this box set?

Again, I do not know the answers to these questions - yet. When I find out, I'll report back. This is very cool, as the Dio era albums need an upgrade. I'm hopeful about the extras, because there are more tracks sitting around than what were on the actual albums, so hopefully some of that stuff can be released, too. Here is the official text regarding this set:

Heaven & Hell will be supporting the release of ‘The Rules Of Hell’ a five-CD boxed set available on July 22nd from Rhino Records which features re-mastered versions of all four Dio-era Black Sabbath albums (‘Heaven and Hell,’ ‘Mob Rules,’ ‘Live Evil,’ and ‘Dehumanizer’) in a deluxe package with new liner notes.

A personal note: That leaves "Black Box 3: The Everything else set". Bring that on too, guys!

Judas Priest MP3 available:

While not directly Sabbath related, the same press release has announced that you can download for free an MP3 from the new Judas Priest album, Nostradamus here.

This is all very exciting news, and I really need to get off my duff and caught up with old emails and submissions before a new tour starts!

There's also a cool interview over at Billboard.com with Rob Halford talking about the tour and Judas Priest's new album. Check that out here. (Thanks Blabbermouth)

If you want to read the official press release, it is available below:

METAL LEGENDS JUDAS PRIEST, HEAVEN & HELL, MOTORHEAD, AND TESTAMENT UNITE FOR ‘METAL MASTERS TOUR’

WORLD PREMIERE OF JUDAS PRIEST ‘NOSTRADAMUS’ COVER ART AND FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD OF TITLE TRACK AT LIVENATION.COM

After weeks of speculation, Live Nation has put together a killer package that is bound to go down as the heavy metal event of 2008 - Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, Motorhead, and Testament will be touring together for the first time.

Dubbed ‘The Metal Masters Tour,’ the sixteen date U.S. trek kicks off August 6th at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey.

Judas Priest will be supporting their epic concept album, ‘Nostradamus,’ which will arrive on June 17th via Epic Records, and tells the tale of the renowned 16th century prophet. A few tracks from ‘Nostradamus’ will make their in-concert debut on ‘The Metal Masters Tour,’ but the majority of Priest’s set list will include some of metal’s all-time classics, as well as fan favorites that span the quintet’s entire career. Without a doubt, this will be one of Priest’s most powerful sets ever. As a ‘sneak peak treat’ to fans starved for a musical taster, the first cut off the new album will make its world premiere debut as exclusive free MP3 download starting today exclusively at www.livenation.com/judaspriest.

Heaven & Hell will be supporting the release of ‘The Rules Of Hell’ a five-CD boxed set available on July 22nd from Rhino Records which features re-mastered versions of all four Dio-era Black Sabbath albums (‘Heaven and Hell,’ ‘Mob Rules,’ ‘Live Evil,’ and ‘Dehumanizer’) in a deluxe package with new liner notes.

Perennial road rats Motorhead will be touring strictly for the love of it, offering a fan favorites set spanning more than three decades worth of molar-rattling metal. Motorhead’s last album was 2006’s ‘Kiss of Death’ (released via Sanctuary Records), their 19th studio set of their long and highly influential career. A new album is currently in the works as well, which is currently being recorded at their old pal Dave Grohl’s studio with a August release date targeted. Lemmy blairs out, "Here it comes everybody, the test of your Metalness in 2008 and the years to come! Come one come all and be abused!"

Rounding out the line-up will be legendary thrash metal titans Testament, whose new album, ‘The Formation of Damnation,’ (April 29th,) displays Testament as the quintessential modern heavy metal band, whose experience and accumulated skill allows them to attack with reserves of anger, energy and finesse that make them more powerful than ever. Lead singer Chuck Billy says, “Uniting these bands is the heavy metal event of generations. We are so proud to be a part of it.”

Although all four bands may represent different subgenres of heavy metal, all four have one thing in common – they have stuck to their stylistic guns through thick and thin, and have remained true to the metal form.
And soon, band and fan will be united as one on ‘The Metal Masters Tour.’

“As ever, we look forward to screaming out loud with our metal maniac fans when we hit the road,” enthuses Priest singer, Rob Halford. “Thank you once again for your devotion and support. The Priest is back!”

This tour will be limited to fifteen very special engagements, and Citi cardmembers will have pre-sale access to tickets through Citi's Private Pass® Program, available to all Citi cardmembers at www.privatepass.citi.com.

Metal maniacs seeking the ultimate concert experience can access unique VIP ticket and fan experience packages that offer premium seats, meet & greets, pre-concert parties and more brought to you by the band's official websites, www.judaspriest.com and www.heavenandhelllive.com. VIP packages for the first events will be on sale by 10 a.m eastern time on Friday, April 25th. Also, not all VIP packages are the same, so be sure to pick the right one that suits you best.

Tickets go on sale to the public beginning this weekend at www.livenation.com.

See the official web sites for continually updated tour information and on-sale dates.

The dates are as follows:

Wed 06-Aug-08 Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ – PUBLIC ON SALE APRIL 26, 10 am
Thu 07-Aug-08 Nissan Pavilion, Bristow, VA – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Sat 09-Aug-08 PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ – PUBLIC ON SALE APRIL 26, 10 am
Sun 10-Aug-08 Nikon at Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY – PUBLIC ON SALE APRIL 26, 10 am
Wed 13-Aug-08 Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON – PUBLIC ON SALE APRIL 25, 10 am
Sat 16-Aug-08 Post Gazette Pavilion, Pittsburgh, PA – PUBLIC ON SALE APRIL 25, 10 am
Mon 18-Aug-08 DTE Energy Music Theatre, Detroit, MI – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Tue 19-Aug-08 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL – PUBLIC ON SALE APRIL 25, 5 pm
Fri 22-Aug-08 Superpages.com Amphitheatre, Dallas, TX – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Sat 23-Aug-08 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Sun 24-Aug-08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, San Antonio, TX – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Wed 27-Aug-08 Journal Pavilion, Albuquerque, NM – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Thu 28-Aug-08 Cricket Wireless Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Sat 30-Aug-08 Glen Helen Pavilion, San Bernardino, CA – PUBLIC ON SALE SOON
Sun 31-Aug-08 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA – PUBLIC ON SALE APRIL 27, 10 am

ABOUT LIVE NATION:

Live Nation is the future of the music business. With the most live concerts, music venues and festivals in the world and the most comprehensive concert search engine on the web, Live Nation is revolutionizing the music industry: onstage and online. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV." Additional information about the company can be found at www.livenation.com under the “About Us” section.

Posted by Joe Siegler at 2:07 PM

Bill Ward remembers Cozy Powell

Below is the text of an email I received from Bill Ward regarding the recent anniversary of the death of Cozy Powell..

H! Everyone.

Thanks, Joe, for reminding us it's been ten years since Cozy died. I think about him from time to time. I've always been grateful that our last phone conversation ended on a high note. I felt we were both sincere with each other, sharing mutual respect when touching on our individual histories in Hard Rock/Metal.

Over the years, death has sometimes come quickly to old friends, and I've felt the pain and dilemma of not returning a phone call as I would have liked to, but didn't; not being able to say a proper good-bye in life; being upset, or undone, or unresolved from the last conversation, then feeling the loss of that end. With Cozy, I felt we had the perfect ending conversation. We talked from the heart. In hindsight, our conversation seems gift-like, fitting perfectly into the great order of things. Cozy died about ten days after he and I spoke, maybe sooner, I'm not sure.

OK. Drum students - listen to this man. Check out the band Rainbow. Listen to "Stargazer." Cozy is a master. Listen to the top of the song - that's Cozy Powell playing. Discover this giant of Rock drumming. He lives forever on records and in our hearts.

Thanks, Coze - nice work.

--Bill

Posted by Joe Siegler at 2:46 PM

Cozy Powell

Tomorrow (Saturday the 5th) is the 10th Anniversary of the death of Cozy Powell. There's no good words to discuss that, so I'll just put a short remark up here..

Cozy sought me out in 1997 to do a website for him. The shock of sitting at work and getting a phone call from England from Cozy Powell himself was quite a big one for me. A moment I'll never forget.

Check out this video I found from Brian May from April 1998 to Cozy. Has one of the better tracks Cozy has ever drummed on, "Resurrection", from Brian's solo album "Back to the Light".

I'll have some more materials and tributes up in the next couple of days. I would have had more up on time, but a personal tragedy in my life has distracted me, and kept me from prepping for this.

Posted by Joe Siegler at 11:38 AM