News - Black Sabbath 11-11-11 Reunion Announcement


As if 11/11/11 couldn't get any more metal, the original line up of Black Sabbath today officially dispelled long-running rumors and announced their reunion. This will be no mere "let's get back together and play the hits" tour either.


You can forget about the 2012 Mayan Prophecy, because the world will end with the unholy alliance of the founding fathers of Heavy Metal and über-producer Rick Rubin, who is overseeing the original Sabbath's first new album together in 33 years.

The band made their announcement today at a press conference at the Sunset Strip's legendary Whiskey A Go-Go (where they played on this date in 1970). Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward will play the Download Festival in June of next year, with a worldwide tour to follow. There was no firm word on the release date of the new material, but expect it prior to the start of the tour.



For those young enough or unfamiliar with Black Sabbath to not understand the impact of this announcement, know that this is the band which essentially created Heavy Metal. Yes, there were other acts before them that added proto-metal ingredients to the DNA and sound of the genre (e.g. The Beatles "Helter Skelter" and The Kinks' "You Really Got Me) but it was the combination of intentional dark imagery and lyrics as a counterpoint to the Flower Children/peace movement of the late 60's, and Tony Iommi's unique guitar sound, achieved by detuning from E to C# to make up for the loss of two fingertips in an industrial accident when he was 17, that led to their unique, crushing yet not-without-melody sound. Without Black Sabbath, heavy music and all the various metal sub-genres we know today.

You've most certainly heard their hits "Paranoid" and "Iron Man", but take a moment and spin these songs you might not be as familiar with. And when tickets go on sale for Black Sabbath's 2012 reunion tour, take a chance even if you aren't a fan, and experience the legends in a live setting.



"Supernaut" 1972



"Children of the Grave" (Live at the California Jam, 1974)



"Never Say Die" (1978)




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