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:
- Is this a new remastering session, or is it the same sessions that produced the versions used on the Dio Years?
- Anything in the way of extras, or is it just the albums like it was in Black Box?
- Will there be Geezer (or Ronnie as the case may be) approved lyrics again like there were in Black Box?
- 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.â€
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!â€
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.
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