Bill Ward – Metal Express Radio

Vinny Appice of LAST IN LINE (Live at O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K., December 1, 2016)

VINNY APPICE (BLACK SABBATH, DIO, LAST IN LINE): “I Was Under The Pretense… I Was In The Band Until BILL WARD Came Back”

March 3, 2021 George Dionne

Close The City and Tell the People That Something’s Coming to Call Rhino Records celebrates the first two albums from the Ronnie James Dio led Black Sabbath with the release of Heaven and Hell (Deluxe Edition 2021) and Mob Rules (Deluxe Edition 2021) on March 5th. I had the chance to review both albums prior to their release [HERE]. Each album contains bonus tracks and live shows from 1980-1981. While the revamped edition of Mob Rules gives you the most bang for the buck, Heaven and Hell is still a classic Metal album that you should have in your collection. As a reviewer I was not able to get the new liner notes that come with the LP/CD versions of the albums. So I figured, what better way to get stories and history of Black Sabbath from 1980-1981 than to turn to one of its members. Drummer Vinny Appice was asked to joined Black Sabbath in the middle of the Heaven and Hell Tour when Bill Ward quit (he’ll tell you the rest of the story). From there Vinny recorded and toured on Mob Rules, joined Ronnie James Dio in his solo ventures, returned to Black Sabbath, and finished their time together with the formation of Heaven & Hell (the band). Vinny has also been a part of many other great Rock and Metal projects. He was a great guy to talk to about that time period and he tells some great stories. Highlights include: Discussion of the 2021 Black Sabbath Dio-Era Deluxe Editions of Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules How Appice got the call to play in Black Sabbath His memories of playing the Hammersmith Odeon London (1981 – 1982) show that appears on both remasters Brian May jamming with Black Sabbath How recording a single for the …READ MORE

BLACK SABBATH – Heaven and Hell & Mob Rules [Deluxe Editions]

February 19, 2021 George Dionne

The Backstory Legendary Heavy Metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio joined the mighty Black Sabbath (Iommi, Butler, and Ward) in 1979, after parting ways with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow. This sometimes over-shadowed era of Black Sabbath was short lived but produced two classic albums. Rhino Records celebrates those two albums with the Deluxe Edition treatment on March 5, 2021. CD & LP formats of the albums will be released separately on the same date. Heaven And Hell was released in 1980 and charted at #9 in the U.K. and #28 in the U.S. Mob Rules, now featuring Vinny Appice on drums, was released in 1981 and certified Gold. Both albums have been released as Deluxe Editions before, but the 2021 versions boast even more rare and unreleased material. The Dio helmed Black Sabbath would reunite twice in later years. In 1992 they returned to release Dehumanizer. In 2009 under the moniker Heaven & Hell they released their final studio album together The Devil You Know. Heaven And Hell [Deluxe Edition] The hard-charging riffage of “Neon Knights” exclaim that a new Black Sabbath is here. Iommi still has his tone, but Ronnie James Dio injected new life into the band’s vocals. “Children of the Sea” is sort of a preview of how Dio wrote some of his biggest solo hits. The track starts off slow, then kicks up the intensity. Bassist Geezer Butler gets his time in the spotlight on “Lady Evil.” “Heaven and Hell” is no doubt in every Heavy Metal fan’s playlist. The riff is so memorable that you find yourself singing along with it. Dio is the consummate storyteller. “Die Young” injects a little Blues into the mix with a wink and a nod to Rainbow. “Walk Away” could have easily been a single with its brighter tone and production. …READ MORE

BLACK SABBATH (Live)

July 8, 2005 Odd Inge Rand

The four lads from Birmingham are at it again, and while the Americans are yet again embraced by a Ozzfest Tour with Black Sabbath headlining, this was in fact the first time Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward shared a stage in the country of Norway since the 22nd of April (grab something to hold) 1971! Approximately 9000 tickets got legs to walk on pretty fast when they were on sale this spring, 7 years since Black Sabbath played in Oslo the last time – then with Vinny Appice behind the drumkit. The reviews from the shows prior to the Oslo show have been good, and it was easy to tell that Ozzy was in great form as he was screaming to the audience in his wireless microphone from behind the stage even before the light went down. When the 57-year old reality star came running across the stage, the place went wild. “Let’s go crazy!!” he yelled, before the band hit the chords of the 35-year old classic “N.I.B.” It was a wisely selected setlist from Black Sabbath, leaving out songs that Ozzy can’t sing anymore. Even though they teased the audience with the blistering riffs of “Sweet Leaf,” “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,” and “Symptom Of The Universe” that’s all they provided from those classics. The main man struggled bigtime on “Dirty Women,” and the usual out-of-tune classic “War Pigs,” but the latter was nevertheless one of the evening’s greatest numbers, alongside “Iron Man,” “Black Sabbath,” and the laidback masterpiece, “Electric Funeral.” The band sounded awesome, with Tony Iommi sounding like a bulldozer in Oslo Spektrum. On “Into The Void,” he almost tore the place down all by himself. With Ozzy running around, throwing buckets of water right in the front row’s faces, and jumping up and …READ MORE

BLACK SABBATH – Heaven And Hell

October 26, 2002 Dan Skiba

The 1970s ran its course with synthesized dance beats and polyester shirts, so it really came as no surprise that 1980 was primed and ready for something real, new, and wholesome musically. Enter the unlikely candidate of Black Sabbath. Coming off a piss poor effort with Never Say Die in 1978, and parting ways with their infamous front man, John “Ozzy” Osbourne a year after in 1979 (for the 2nd time), Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Mike Ward surely must have felt it was indeed “do or die” time for the band. Luckily for us all, Black Sabbath completely rejuvenated and reinvented itself when Ronnie James Dio was signed on to man the microphone…and the band had the exact same impact on the music industry while successfully whetting the public’s appetite for what was ahead for years to come. Black Sabbath simply scored huge with Heaven and Hell. The first track, “Neon Knights” (probably the best song on the album), shows Black Sabbath was anxious to show they were ready to rock. When you spin this album, “Neon Knights” almost catches the listener off guard. It starts off midstream as if the song had already begun; with Bill Ward’s drum kit in full stride, Tony Iommi’s guitar already cranking out the riff, and Geezer Butler providing his characteristic bass groove that carries the direction of oh so many Black Sabbath tunes of old. This time, though, there is something completely different…instead of a treble-influenced voice, the voice resonating from the speakers is the goldenly full voice of Ronnie James Dio, which melds extraordinarily well with the heavy bass undertones that have always gone hand in hand with Black Sabbath’s style. Iommi, never particularly known for his creative guitar work (or skills for that matter), fills the middle of “Neon Knights” …READ MORE