That didn’t take long. I always assumed it would be longer until more 2012 Tour dates were announced. This appears to be similar to the 1998 “tour”, when Black Sabbath played a bunch of European festival dates. This isn’t the full fledged “World Tour” which will commence once the new album actually comes out. Although.. By this point in the process, I’d imagine they’d have all the songs mostly written. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear at least one new song on these festival dates. Anyway, I know you don’t want to read my blather; here’s the dates (including the one announced on 11-11).
- May 18 – Moscow, Russia (Olimpiski)
- May 20 – St. Petersburg, Russia (New Arena)
- May 23 – Helsinki, Finland (Hartwall Arena)
- May 25 – Stockholm, Sweden (Stadium)
- May 29 – Bergen, Norway (Bergen Calling Festival)
- May 31 – Oslo, Norway (Spektrum)
- Jun 2 – Malmo, Sweden (Malmo Stadium)
- Jun 4 – Dortmund, Germany (Westfalenhalle)
- Jun 10 – Donnington, UK (Download Festival)
- Jun 12 – Rotterdam, Holland (Ahoy)
- Jun 15 – Bilbao, Spain (Azkena Rock Festival)
- Jun 17 – Nantes, France (Hellfest Festival)
- Jun 19 – Paris, France (Bercy)
- Jun 22 – Dessel, Belgium (Graspop Metal Meeting)
- Jun 24 – Milan, Italy (Gods of Metal Festival)
Below is a formal press release the band put out:
REUNITED BLACK SABBATH TO DESCEND UPON PREMIER EUROPEAN FESTIVALS IN 2012
TOUR COMMENCES MAY 18, 2012 IN MOSCOW
November 18, 2011 — Rock legends BLACK SABBATH will headline a number of Europe’s premier festivals in 2012.
After announcing their reunion on 11.11.11, these worldwide appearances are one of the most anticipated music events of 2012. Kicking off on Friday May 18th in Moscow at Olimpski, the tour will bring BLACK SABBATH to the masses at: Download Festival [UK], Azkena Rock Festival [Spain], Hellfest [France], Graspop Metal Meeting [Belgium], and Gods of Metal [Italy]. However, that’s only the beginning of the group’s global tour which will take the band around the world including countries the band has never played before and others they have not visited in more than three decades.
The four original members of BLACK SABBATH—OZZY OSBOURNE (vocals), TONY IOMMI (guitar), GEEZER BUTLER (bass) and BILL WARD (drums)—are currently recording their first studio album in 33 years with legendary producer RICK RUBIN (seven-time Grammy winner, two of those as Producer of the Year) for release worldwide on Vertigo Records, and Vertigo/Universal Republic Records in the US in the fall 2012.
Revered music and spoken word artist, Henry Rollins, has said that “BLACK SABBATH’s music is ultimate bone-powderizing gear. Any band worth their weight in napalm wishes they had written „War Pigs.‟ The critics never got it, but the fans did and still do, and the music has not lost any thunder with time but in fact resonates more loudly…Hail the mighty Black Sabbath now and forever.”
Music fans across Europe are in for a night of epic proportions from the Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees on this very historic return.
