Tony, Ozzy and Geezer interviewed on Sirius XM

[WallOfSleep]

I just listened to part of this interview by Jim Norton, which was conducted prior to Lollapalooza in Chicago, with all three of the guys together. (My wife and daughter came home and were making so much noise I had to stop listening but I've got it on DVR so I'll finish later.)

It was a real good interview - lots of laughs (as the guys usually do together)

Some highlights:
On Tony's health: Tony says he's feeling much better. He said that originally he had a prostate problem and then he also had a lump which he thought was a result of the prostate infection. They removed the lump while he was having his prostate surgery and found it was lymphoma.

Ozzy was asked about Jack and he said that Jack's fine - but he and Sharon are a wreck.

He was asked about his new granddaughter and if he had changed any diapers. Geezer jumped in "No he's still wearin' them", to which Tony added "It took us 40 years to get him to change his underpants."

When asked about Bill there was a real long awkward silence. Finally, when asked about whether the lawyers and managers get in the way of just calling each other on the phone, Tony said "Yeah, you can't talk as friends without talking about the business, it's going to come up at some point."

Jim Norton then praised them for doing "Under the Sun" (which he said was his favorite song). Geezer joked, "We're doing 'Over the Moon' tonight."

Norton then asked about fans being "obsessed" with the whole "original lineup" thing (he brought up Kiss and Van Halen as well). Geezer said that he understood it. He said, "It would have been the greatest thing on earth to see the original Beatles, but you know..." Ozzy then said ""You know, we're not dead yet." Geezer then added "We're still all alive, we can still do it hopefully."

When asked what was so special about the Beatles, Ozzy said "I remember going to bed in one world and waking up in another." Geezer added, "They were the first band that you could hear their actual accents."

Somehow they got on the subject of "Teddy Boys". Geezer: "All my brothers were Teddy Boys." Ozzy: "Your mothers as well."

They were then asked about the process of making the new album. Tony: "We've actually gone back to the way we did it in the early days of being together and playing and building the song." Geezer: "We inspire each other. When I'm at home, trying to play on my own, it's not the same feeling."

Jim Norton then mentioned that Ozzy had let him listen to two of the new songs which he described as "Unbelievably good. It sounded like old Sabbath but it didn't sound like you took it from old Sabbath and recycled it." Tony joked "We're not using them." Geezer then said "I think it comes from all playing together instead of Tony sending the riffs and me putting the bass to the riff and then sending it to Ozzy to... we're all doing it in the same room together."

When asked what Rick Rubin brings to the table as a producer, Tony said "I don't know." When pressed he said "He brought a bottle of water one day." After the room died down from all the laughter Tony added "We don't really know because we haven't got to that stage yet."

When asked if they'd prefer Rubin to be more hands on Tony said "I think we thought he'd be more hands on but it's probably good that we rely on ourselves and just play what we want to play."

Geezer talked about the songs: "We've got 15. We're working on a couple more, so once we get to like 400 songs..."

It was at this point that my wife and daughter came in so I'll have to post more later.

[KazolOrajia]

Do you think you could upload it to YouTube so we could listen? It sounds like an awesome interview. Fun, in-depth, natural. I'd really like to hear it.

I'm actually glad that Rick Rubin isn't very hands-on. I'd prefer them to come up with music as just the band. Rubin can put it all together when they're done. And I just get more excited to hear some new songs every time they talk about them. I have no doubt they'll be great, with or without Bill.

[WallOfSleep]

I don't really have a way of getting it from my TV to my computer (I'm over 50 you know!)

[Soul Sucker]

15+ songs written for the new album? Wow!

[LouiST]

Over the Moon lol.... I'd would to hear that

And the songwriting process sounds cool.

[Mikel]

Wow!!! Too bad that Bill ain´t there. But not THAT bad. Would be really cool to hear those new songs. I really liked "Selling My Soul" and "Scary Dreams"; kinda vintage vibe, really good there were too.

[WallOfSleep]

OK so here are the highlights from the rest of the interview:

When asked if it was weird playing Lollapalooza after the whole controversy that caused Ozzy to start the Ozzfest (when Lollapalooza refused to let him play), Ozzy said "It's just another gig."

When asked if he holds grudges, Oz said "The best revenge is success."

Then Norton asked a question about a specific lyric on NSD - whether it was "No one's innocent, partners in crime" or (as the Black Sabbath website says) "Snow White parasite, partners in crime." Ozzy and Geezer both said it was "Snow White parasite" to which Norton replied "Why would I doubt the website?" Geezer then said (about the website) "Practically all the lyrics are wrong - they do get it wrong - all the time." Geezer and Ozzy both said "Three specks" at the same time and then explained that the website has "three specks in the sky" as the lyric in Electric Funeral when it should be "reflex in the sky."

They then talked about how they thought Hendrix had said "excuse me while I kiss this guy" in Purple Haze (instead of "excuse me while I kiss the sky"). Ozzy said "We all thought he was gay." Geezer: "Well he said 'excuse me' first!"

They were then asked about the diversity of bands at Lollapalooza and whether that was something different for them. Tony replied that a lot of the festivals in Europe were like that so no.

When asked if they had a tentative album title Geezer said "We don't know yet." When asked how they come up with an album title Ozzy said "We ask Geezer to come up with it - he's the free thinker." Tony added "Yeah, he comes up with some really good stuff." To which Geezer replied "No pressure!"

Norton then commented about how underrated Sabbath was lyrically. Ozzy gave all credit to Geezer saying "He writes them all - I don't write anything". Tony and Geezer both commented how Ozzy comes up with some real good stuff too.

And it ended there.

One thing I have to say is that Jim Norton did one heckuva job. He's a huge Sabbath fan and you could tell the guys were at ease around him. The fact that he's a comedian helped too I think. Norton was always joking, making wisecracks (usually at his own expense) and the guys seemed to let their guard down a bit. They seemed to speak their minds - more like a private conversation than an interview. They did say that they normally don't do interviews before a show and that the only reason they did this was "because it's you" - so we all owe Jim Norton a big thank you for that.

[mds]

They were then asked about the process of making the new album. Tony: "We've actually gone back to the way we did it in the early days of being together and playing and building the song." Geezer: "We inspire each other. When I'm at home, trying to play on my own, it's not the same feeling."

...Geezer then said "I think it comes from all playing together instead of Tony sending the riffs and me putting the bass to the riff and then sending it to Ozzy to... we're all doing it in the same room together."

No matter who the drummer is it will likely be an excellent album but the way they are going about writing songs is the ideal setting for Bill's contributions.

[Paulie 88]

No matter who the drummer is it will likely be an excellent album but the way they are going about writing songs is the ideal setting for Bill's contributions.

This. ^

THANK YOU Wall for posting the highlights!

All the best,
PAULIE

[WallOfSleep]

THANK YOU Wall for posting the highlights!

No problem.

[black sheep]

When asked if they had a tentative album title Geezer said "We don't know yet." When asked how they come up with an album title Ozzy said "We ask Geezer to come up with it - he's the free thinker." Tony added "Yeah, he comes up with some really good stuff." To which Geezer replied "No pressure!"

"No pressure!"...as soon as I read that I thought, that would actually be a great and fitting title to the album!

[invisible man]

Ozzy then said ""You know, we're not dead yet." Geezer then added "We're still all alive, we can still do it hopefully."


They were then asked about the process of making the new album. Tony: "We've actually gone back to the way we did it in the early days of being together and playing and building the song." Geezer: "We inspire each other. When I'm at home, trying to play on my own, it's not the same feeling."

Jim Norton then mentioned that Ozzy had let him listen to two of the new songs which he described as "Unbelievably good. It sounded like old Sabbath but it didn't sound like you took it from old Sabbath and recycled it." Tony joked "We're not using them." Geezer then said "I think it comes from all playing together instead of Tony sending the riffs and me putting the bass to the riff and then sending it to Ozzy to... we're all doing it in the same room together."


When asked if they'd prefer Rubin to be more hands on Tony said "I think we thought he'd be more hands on but it's probably good that we rely on ourselves and just play what we want to play."

Geezer talked about the songs: "We've got 15. We're working on a couple more, so once we get to like 400 songs..."

It was at this point that my wife and daughter came in so I'll have to post more later.

These statements are very encouraging for the outcome of the album, and should make many here quite pleased and excited for the new record, maybe it will be the best one since Sabotage. As for getting the interview from your TV to the computer and uploaded somewhere we can all hear it, ask your daughter for help, unless she's in preschool she probably knows how to do it, and you guys can have some daddy-daughter time while she shows you how. I'm trying to figure out how to use bit torrents with little success so far, better hurry up and have some kids so they can help me out. Your transcription of the highlights was awesome though, thanks a lot!

[IRON-MaN]

Thanks for posting those incredible highlights Wall Of Sleep , sounds it was really something special !

[SweetSymptom]

Thanks for transcribing the highlights. Much appreciated!

[Damian]

God, I wish I had Norton's chops. He is ten times the interviewer that Eddie Trunk is, and its very true that the skill to put someone at ease to open up when talking to you is not easy, especially when the subjects are your idols. I interviewed Geezer in '09 and nearly shit myself. By the time I sat down with Tony to interview him last year I think I rebounded a bit, but Jim Norton is a master.

Great details, and perfect timing too since now that the mini-tour is over, there will probably be several months of downtime as the writing and recording process crawls along. Now everybody STAY HEALTHY!

[-E5150 StarWanderer-]

Geezer sure has a wicked sense of humour

Thanks for posting the highlights of this interview, it seems like the guys are getting along really well. I really hope they'll surprise me with the new album, because I'm still very sceptical about it.

[danzig2020]

After listening to the interview another highlight has to be Ozzy half singing the lines to Never Say Die.....Sounded great...would love for him to do some of the songs off of that album.... He sang the lines....snow white parasite partners in crime......awesome...

[Wicked Cricket]

The boys have a great sense of humor, it's that gallows humor... best one liner was Tony saying Rick Rubin brought a bottled water to the studio one day... Geezer is as dry a wit as ther is, I love him, some people make a big deal when he doesn't smile or laugh or talk alot, but he's the humor and lyric behind the band. As serious and dark as their music is, you wouldn't nessesarily think of them as jokers and pranksters. Of the 4, Bill's definitly the most serious.

[jacksabbath]

anywhere i can see this yet in the uk?

[comedyhour]

But isn`t the lyric Snow Whites mirror says partners in crime......

[Ochlocracy]

The lyrics from the Black Box say "Snow white parasite, partners in crime" and those were checked by Geezer.

[LexMoon]

Thanks! still looking for a link to this!

[LexMoon]

There's alot of ways of doing this. Man, I wish I had it! Would love to hear it. Cant find a copy online anywhere.

[badactress]

Me either.. I think I've tried youtube and torrents every day since this thread started.. I soooo want to hear it. Sounds like one of the best interviews they've ever given. Wait! Has anybody been to the Sirius XM website to see if there's a "listen again" type archive?

*goes to look*

Aww.. nothing.. If anyone finds this only please please post it here.

There's alot of ways of doing this. Man, I wish I had it! Would love to hear it. Cant find a copy online anywhere.

[LexMoon]

Anyone!?? Would be greatly appreciated!

[WallOfSleep]

The only thing I might be able to do is record the audio with my wife's i-phone and post that on youtube. She's out of town right now so it will be a few days before I can attempt it though (my phone's audio sucks!)

[LexMoon]

The only thing I might be able to do is record the audio with my wife's i-phone and post that on youtube. She's out of town right now so it will be a few days before I can attempt it though (my phone's audio sucks!)

would be appreciated, then I can rip it to mp3 for everyone.

[badactress]

The only thing I might be able to do is record the audio with my wife's i-phone and post that on youtube. She's out of town right now so it will be a few days before I can attempt it though (my phone's audio sucks!)

Please try! You'd make a lot of people very happy!! :o)

[WallOfSleep]

OK here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijveE...=youtube_gdata

[SweetSymptom]

Thank you!

[TheEtherCult]

Thnxs for taking the time to do it...

Cheers,

[After Forever]

Thank you for posting this interview

[LexMoon]

OK here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijveE...=youtube_gdata

Thank you so much!!

[WallOfSleep]

No problem. I actually used my camera (since my wife's still out of town).
Did anyone notice my "Megalomania" ring tone near the beginning? My wife called right after I got everything set up and rolling!

[LawlessGreed]

OK here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijveE...=youtube_gdata

Good man! Thanks for this....

[scorpio 2000]

Thanks for the interview.