Post by Edward Baggett on Aug 18, 2010 3:26:24 GMT -6
Around March 1987, Ray Gillen was laying down vocals for the 'Eternal Idol' album.
He leaves the band overnight saying later on he felt Sabbath wasn't going anywhere.
That the band didn't really have any future.
Looking from his point of view I see the band with no drummer or bass player.
(Ray would go on to form Badlands with Ozzy Osbourne guitar player Jak E. Lee.)
Sabbath had an near complete album and the singer is gone.
There was no choice but the vocals had to be redone.
In comes Tony Martin into the Sabbath story.
In fact Tony Martin was considered for the position during Seventh Star.
Martin was a friend of a former Sabbath road manger.
The manager was still friends with Iommi and introduced the two.
Iommi had the idea of severial singers on his 'solo' album that became Seventh Star.
Martin was still in the Alliance I believe and had just been a singer a view years.
And said he wasnt ready for such a big job.
(He actually said this to someone on @myspace.)
But The Alliance didn't last and is was soon after that Martin auditioned by re-recording 'The Shinning'.
Got the job and in just 7 days he completely redone all the vocals.
He had to sing every note and melody identical to Ray because it was too late to change any of the music.
One small piece of Ray's vocals was left on the album.
That being the laughter on 'Nightmare'.
Right before the production was over, Sabbath was set up to play some gigs.
Eric Singer leaves the band and needing a drummer Iommi called Up Bev Beven to help sabbath out.
During this time Bev did some clean up work on the album.
Hence his credit on the album but it's not exactly known what all he did.
The instrumental track "Scarlet Pimpernel" isn't on any of the Ray Gillen bootleg versions of the album.
So it's thought that this song is what bev did work on.
That may or not but thats alot of peoples best guest.
'Some Kind Of Women' & 'Blackmoon' are different stories.
Blackmoon was at first gonna be a instrumental because noone could finish the lyrics.
Until the very end when Martin and Nicholls were albe to do it. It's original working title was 'Gypsy Warning'.
also the song was the only one where Nicholls played bass on a Sabbath record.
Biggest diiference between this version and what was used on 'Headless Cross' is the guitar is heavier and the keyboards are very low.
'Some Kind Of Women' bass parts are from Dave Spitz. It was left out because it didnt fit in with everything else
Tony Martin wrote and recorded the lyrics so the song could be included on the 12in LP single of the 'The Shining'.
For the gigs coming up Geezer Butler was suppose to join but at the last minute he decided not to.
After he did jam/rehearse with the band a few times.
Sabbath was to play in Plymouth on July 18th.
But canceled due to lack of attendence of the show.
Or perhaps a lack of bass player.
(This would happen again).
There are severial pictures of this time with Tony Iommi, 'Richard Cole', Tony Martin, Bev Bevan, & Geoff Nicholls.
Richard Cole was only Sabbath's road manager.
Who was placed in the pictures because at the time Sabbath had no bass player.
Dave Spitz joins up in time to do the shows booked.
The first being on July 21st, 1987.
A music festival in Athens, Greece.
Which (until 2005) was their only show in Greece in their history.
This was Tony Martin's first live performance with Black Sabbath and the show went off good.
The band and Tony Martin got great reviews and everyone was pleased.
A live recording of the show exsist but not been heard so it's very possable that it doesnt really exsist.
After Greece, Sabbath played Sun City in South Africa and there are severial pictures of this show.
Bev Bevan objected to playing Sun City.
(For a good reason which would hurt Sabbath).
Terry Chimes (the Clash) comes into Sabbath to play drums.
The show was great except for one problem.
This was before Apartheid fell, so Sabbath took a lot of shit in the press.
Every band pretty much boycotted playing there.
Tony Iommi in an interview said their manager Patrick Meehan
told him that Sun City wasn't actually in South Africa.
Alltogether There were 6 shows played in Sun City.
Jul 25-26, August 1-2, and Aug 8-9.
There is a rumor of a gig in a pub around Sun City.
Just Sabbath poping in for jam with the house band.
But it's just a rumor.
Alas after all this the final production was completed and the album was released in November 1987.
There were just a few shows played for the Eternal Idol tour in 1987.
The rest of the shows had Jo Burt replacing Dave Spitz.
(There is no real known reason why Spitz left.)
And just about every show has an audience cd.
One show in Germay has a audience filmed dvd.
The final show was to be December 28, 1987 at the Hammersmith Odeon.
It was cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
Althou other reasons were explained.
This would have been a chance for the world to get a soundboard recording of this tour, (Bootleg of course).
Minus the charity gig of 1988 at the Tops Spots Club Iommi basicly has pulled Sabbath off the road and puts it up on blocks.
He decided its time to change things in the band starting with his management and record label.
After all that happen during the 'Idol' period his reasoning is well justified.
Iommi switched over to IRS RECORDS.
(Not that it means anything but REM leaves IRS and signs with Warner Bros records. While Sabbath does vice verse.
So IRS lost 10 pounds but gained 300)
Now Iommi signs on with Ernest Chapmen and Phil Banfield to manage him and Sabbath.
(Which manage him to this day).
Iommi and his new team decide that Sabbath needs to get credited, well known musicians to help re-build the band.
Iommi had tried each time the band needed a drummer to get Cozy Powell.
Cozy is well known for his work with Whitesnake, Rainbow, his own solo albums.
That is just a few of the bands/projects he has worked on.
Cozy was in Gary Moore's band at the time but Cozy and Gary wernt seeing eye to eye.
Cozy said he has always wanted to work with Iommi just now it was the right time to join Sabbath.
After a peaceful time working with Tony Martin and all the positive reviews he had gotten, Iommi kept him.
Iommi had the notion in mind (as he always had) of getting Ozzy or Dio back in the band.
Iommi has said that Martin was a terrific singer and was the least hassle to work with.
But a well known singer would bring some attention to the band.
Cozy stood up for Martin and reasured Iommi he was the right guy.
Cozy had not only liked Martin's job on the 'The Eternal Idol' album but he also had worked with Martin before.
Guitarist John Ackkerman formed a band called 'Forcefield'.
The 2nd album 'Talisman II' had Cozy on drums and Tony Martin on vocals.
Martin has said Ackkerman was a favorite of his and he has proud to work with him.
Geezer Butler had the notion of rejoining but doesnt feel the time is right.
So he (his wife anyways) tells Iommi that he wants to re-join Sabbath.
But not right then, later on.
So with a bassist on board Sabbath begin writing for what will become 'Headless Cross'.
Cozy comes and stays with Iommi at his house to begin the writing.
Iommi hired session player Laurence Cottle to record the bass on the album.
Which was recorded from August to November of 1988.
Compared to alot of the Sabbath albums this album is made with the least bit of hassel.
Iommi And Powell lead the band as album producers and primary song writers.
Tony Martin is the primary lyric writer with great keyboards added in by Geoff Nicholls.
The album is made smoothly and by all accounts the band was very happy with everything.
Everybody is getting along and the album is a enjoyable one to make.
(per interviews with Martin, Iommi, and Powell.)
Iommi's friend Brian May from Queen has a guest spot as the guitar solo on 'When Death Calls'.
Sabbath waits until April 1989 for Geezer to join.
Which in that time they even make the music video for 'Headless Cross' with Cottle in the background mainly.
Geezer instead of joining Sabbath actually ends up joining Ozzy Osbourne's solo band.
So They are looking for a new bass player (again.)
It's April 26 1989 at an Hippodrome autograph session where Cozy bumps into Neil Murray.
And he introduces Neil Murray to Iommi.
Neil at this time was most known for playing for Whitsnake.
But since he has lots of credits to his name.
He works the world over till this day.
Murray officially joins the band either right before or soon after the album is release.
'Headless Cross' is released with great credic reviews and sells moderatly good throu the European countries, Russia, and so on.
This album and line up puts Sabbath back on it's feet and begins to win back Sabbath fans.
This line up is the closes net group since the early Ozzy years.
The album is hailed as not only Tony Martin's best work but one of Sabbath's too.
As with most of the non Ozzy albums America misses out and the album doesnt sell that well.
Even thou the video for 'Headless Cross' gets a decent amount of tv time.
Especially on MTV's 'Headbangers Ball'.
The 2nd single 'Devil and Daughter' gets even less radio play.
(Iommi has since said that IRS Records didnt promote the album as much as they promised.
And fans in certain areas couldn't find the album in near by record stores.)
(I've talked to other Sabbath fans who say the same thing.)
Sabbath plays just a few shows in America and pulls out early.
But goes on to do some verly big gigs the world abroad.
Complamented by lots more good reviews and no problems with band members and such.
For the first time in years Sabbath is more like a band than a group of people coming and going.
To show how good this line up was there are tons of unofficial/bootleg cds & dvds) from this tour in
trading.
Most noteworthy is from Russia when Sabbath played 14 shows at the Olympski Hall in Moscow from
11-19-1989 to 11-28-1989.
On the the weekend shows Sabbath plays an afternoon and evening show.
(Also 12 more shows in Leningrad through 11-9-1989).
Sabbath had all their equipmet set up over the weekend shows without having to break it down every night.
Iommi and management decided to record two shows for a vhs release.
So For this increditable Sabbath line up there is some
professionally recorded shows.
Mob Rules, The Shinning, Devil and Daughter, and Call Of The Wild were droped from the setlist due to time.
Problems with the russian authorities left the footage in their vaults.
It's up for debate on weither or not Iommi did get all the footage.
Either way Sabbath hasnt released it officially.
But two tracks Heaven and Hell & Paranoid were used on the 'Feels Good To Me' single in 1990.
They were from the evening show I believe.
But there is some arguments about weither these songs are from this show or not.
In 2002 Robert Langley got a hold of the two shows and released them as a two dvd set titled 'Headless In Russia'.
Langley is a well know bootleg collector and since has been in courts for re-producing clearly owned copyrighted material.
As far as where the footage comes from the most known story is its from Cozy's girlfriend when he died in 1998.
Alot of his tapes began to appear in trading and its very likely these two dvds came from this collction.
Another good concert dvd from this tour is an audience shot on
6-9-1989 at the Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA, U.S.
As it has Call of the Wild & Devil and Daughter on it.
The best audios from this tour are 1989 Friday Rock Show (BBC Radio), 9-6-1989 Apollo Theater, Manchester, England,
9-2-1989 Summer Arena, Wien, (Vienna).
9-11-1989 Colston Hall, Bristol and
9-15-1989 K.B. Hallen København, Copenhagen
Special guest Ian Gillian joins to sing Smoke On the Water
and shares vocals with Martin on Paranoid.
(more info on these availabe in the Audio Bootlegs section)
IMO In the end this album and tour shows that Tony Martin is in the same league as Ozzy, Halford, Dio.
And all the other great rock frontmen.
Enough good things cant be said about this period of Sabbath.
After the reunion with Ozzy in 1992 the guys tried to reform and do an album/tour.
But this doesnt happen so needless to say its back to the drawing board.
Iommi & Butler decide to stay together and give it another go.
At first the line was out to Ray Gillen to come back.
But he decided not to.
(Per Al Romano who played with Gillen in Sun Red Sun.)
They then contact Tony Martin and he is back in sabbath.
Pulling from the music written during his short stay during 'Dehumanizer' and some written for a supposed 2nd Martin solo album.
Now in the 'Dehumanizer Demos' bootleg cds you can here bits and pieces of songs that were on 'Cross Purposes and 'Forbidden' albums.
But Tony Martin seems to say different.
But he may have never heard the demos before this 2002 statement.
Martin: "I went to a rehearsal when they were trying to get the Ronnie thing together, and sang on some of the songs, but non of it was used. And when I rejoined the band I didn’t hear any of the stuff again."
Bobby Rondinelli from Rainbow joins the guys to play drums and Geoff returns on the keys.
Two interesting things surround the beginning of the Cross Purposes album.
1st: Bobby called up Iommi's wife (at that time) and asked for an audition.
He has said that Cozy Powell was to work with the guys but things wern't working out.
So he was told to stay away from Cozy while he auditioned so Cozy wouldnt suspect anything.
(Masters of Reality 2008 dvd is where he has said this.)
2nd: Now according to Geezer, him and Iommi's album was to be as a Iommi/Butler kind of group.
But Iommi has since maintained that they were working on a Sabbath album.
Tony Martin also has said the album was to be sabbath as far as he knew.
Other than that Cross Purposes is made with no troubles.
It is released in January 1994, and could have been out sooner,
but was held up because of resolving the (almost) Ozzy reunion.
Including a claim by Ozzy that Iommi borrowed money from him to get out of jail for not paying child support.
The album comes out with good reviews but not as good as Idol throu Tyr.
But America seems to not 'hate' this album as much and sells moderatly good.
Also more US tour dates are booked than on the other tours.
When the tour time came the worse thing that could ever happen to a singer happens.
Tony Martin catches a throat infection.
Martin tries to the worlds end to do the tour and doesnt miss a single show.
But his voice is just not there on many shows.
Listening/watching to all the live bootlegs you can tell Martin is giving is all.
IRS records sets up the band to do an official concert VHS/CD intitled Cross Purposes Live.
And Martin does a verly good show for this recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in England.
Bobby stays in Sabbath until the last couple of shows in South America (Sao Paulo, Brazil & Santiago, Chile & Burenos Aires, Argentina).
Bill Ward is brought in to play these shows.
Bill had by all accounts finally gotten over his deal of if Ozzy is involved its not Sabbath.
Ward has always said the reason he keeps joining then leaving Sabbath is that it never felt like Black Sabbath to him without Ozzy.
Bill goes on to say since Ozzy had said he was not interested in returning to Sabbath he was OK with being in Sabbath without Ozzy.
At the rehearsals Martin has said he and bill got on good and you can see it in a interview with Ward, Martin, Iommi which is in the media links board.
The shows go off good and there is video/audio footage of these three shows.
On one show one of the under card bands was smoking dope in the dressing rooms.
And Bill went crazy on these guys till Iommi pulled him off.
This my be the thing that started Bill's depature but its hard to say exactly 100% why he left sabbath.
In the same interview I mentioned above Ward talks about a new album with the band and the way the three descibe its idea points towards the way forbidden sounded.
Its not clear if bill or geezer had plans to leave the band first.
The interview didnt have Geezer in it so perhaps things wernt going so well.
From what I've heard/read Tony & Geezer (and Gloria Butler) had a riff between them over as mentioned before if the band was Sabbath or Iommi/Butler.
Also on the 1994 Nativity In Black tribute album Iommi was to play on The Wizard as part of the Bullring Brummies.
Some legal issues came up around the album including Iommi's part.
So the song was to be scraped.
Only thing is that Geezer, Rob Halford, Bill Ward did the song anyway without telling Iommi.
And he didnt know about it tell the album was released.
(Iommi talks about this in an interview posted in the Forbidden section.)
Geezer leaves to go work with Ozzy and his own G//Z/R project. But not before slaming Sabbath & Iommi.
Stating that he had no intention on ever playing with Black Sabbath again.
So either way you look at it another bass player and drummer is gone.
All said and done this is considered a low point in the band's history.
But us fans know how good Martin was doing with Sabbath.
Nexted up is a tricky part of Sabbath's/Martin's story.
[glow=red,2,300]Iommi-Martin-Powell-Murray-Nicholls[/glow] -
This line up put Black Sabbath on its feet during '89-'90.
Unfortunetly all that has over shadowed by the Dio-Iommi-Butler-Appice '92 reunion.
But that Sabbath didnt last long nor did the Cross Purposes line-up.
So the band had yet other reunion in the 90's.
Cozy Powell and Neil Murray rejoined the two Tonys and Geoff Nicholls.
On Japan tv's Bang Up Rock Neil explains he knew that at some point Geezer Buter was gonna rejoin Sabbath anyways.
So when it came the chance to have Geezer & Dio back that there wasnt room for himself or Martin.
Cozy Powell was somewhat different as a horse accident put him out of action and unable to play for sabbath.
(More of this is covered in the TYR & Cross Purposes sections.)
Iommi & Martin said in '94 that they wanted the next album to be raw and ultra-heavy.
No over production or alot of overdubs.
Where they just play and there's the album.
Iommi went on to say it wasnt ultra-heavy as he set out.
That they would write something not so heavy and everyone would like it.
There was rehearsal time for the album which Martin was said he perferred the demo/rehearsal of the songs better.
"In rehearsal they sounded killer" I think is the quote I read him say.
Martin would go on to tell Venessa on Headbanger's Ball that he just sang what popped in his head.
Just whatever lyrics or melodies would just fly out. 'Vocal Vomit' was the term he used.
(To hear the bands own words on the making of this album check 'Media Links' for interview footage.)
But non the less once they went in the studio and in just 8 days it was done.
Making it the 3rd fast album after Black Sabbath & Paranoid.
To me it has the same sort of sound as the first four Sabbath albums.
But the music scene didnt have rock as it its top priority.
Even rock music fans didnt treated this with much attention but it's became a cult classic and has it's fan base.
After the most line up changes any band ever had in ten years you really cant blame the public too much.
With that being said this album is the most underrated Black Sabbath album ever.
Problems for fans about this album include they had a rapper guest vocalist.
Tt sounded flat and lifeless with little effort.
Sounded like Martin wasn't even trying to sing.
One review I read suggested Martin might as well phoned in the words.
Now another thing is the rumor that this was a throw away album to let Iommi out of the contract with IRS.
Evidence against this theory is that 'The Sabbath Stones' was the album to finish off the contract.
Also that Iommi woudlnt have had 2wo noted musicians and friends in Cozy and Neil be on bad album.
Which could have hurt their careers not to forget why would Iommi pay salleries like there's when he could have got unknowns for a cheapier price.
Neil Murray was on the 'Masters Of Reality' dvd where he said it was just an album idea that didnt work well.
That all the best intentions were in it.
When it comes to album promotion it's widly said there basiclly no radio/tv play of the albums single/music video 'Get a Grip".
Which is some what true.
Sure Sabbath wasnt one of the top ten artist on MTV.
But all the rock music magazines advertised the album and did articles.
Sabbath did severial TV shows around the world where they did interviews and played the music video.
So rock music fans knew the album was out there.
Sabbath did play some amazing shows and is evident with the soundboard recording live at Tinley Park, Chicago and The Sweden Rock Festival audience dvd and fm broadcast.
Part way throu the tour for Forbidden, Cozy leaves, claiming exhaustion from a non stop years of recording and touring.
But later on it was explained by Neil Murrey that Cozy was just tired of the work with Sabbath.
And he left to save his friendships with everyone in the band.
We should all Be soooooooooo greatful for all the hard work and the music COZY POWELL Gave to Sabbath and the world. R.I.P.
Bobby Rondinelli is brought back for the rest of the Forbidden tour.
There is some unfinished business about Vinny Appice during this time.
I have seen and received message saying "Hay, didn't Appice think about playing with Sabbath some in 1995."
Vinny Appice did NOT play for Black Sabbath during this tour.
At the time there was a rumour that started because Tony Martin announced that Vinny was in the audience.
This was during Cozy's last show so Sabbath fans turned this into Vinny was replacing Cozy.
Which Appice was Firmly involved with Dio at this time.
Now there has been alot said of Tony Martin's singing during this period. 1994 Martin had a throat infection as stated in the 'Cross Purposes' section.
Im not saying I know for a fact but I think he was still feeling the affects of this.
I read that some say his heart wasnt totally into what he was doing at the time, which mentialy hurt his voice.
Whatever reason this tour wasnt his best singing.
The rest of the tour came off uneventful.
With some cancelled dates in Australia being the only negative. Sabbath appeared in concert on tv in Gzira, Malta.
Which the show is in dvd/cd trading. Also Sabbath was broadcast live over FM radio in Poland and the cd is in cd trading.
While touring Japan sabbath had added 'Changes' to the set.
But this was to be the last round for Tony Martin.
Sabbath played Bangkok and thus this line up up ended.
Throu 1996 Iommi said he was taking a beak from Sabbath to do a solo album.
An interview with Iommi in 1996 he said that tony martin was still in the band.
But as we know the Ozzy era reunion took place.
Althou the Tony Martin era didn't make the same impact on the world as Ozzy or had the same success as Dio.
Tony Martin has his league of fans and this isnt the end for him
He leaves the band overnight saying later on he felt Sabbath wasn't going anywhere.
That the band didn't really have any future.
Looking from his point of view I see the band with no drummer or bass player.
(Ray would go on to form Badlands with Ozzy Osbourne guitar player Jak E. Lee.)
Sabbath had an near complete album and the singer is gone.
There was no choice but the vocals had to be redone.
In comes Tony Martin into the Sabbath story.
In fact Tony Martin was considered for the position during Seventh Star.
Martin was a friend of a former Sabbath road manger.
The manager was still friends with Iommi and introduced the two.
Iommi had the idea of severial singers on his 'solo' album that became Seventh Star.
Martin was still in the Alliance I believe and had just been a singer a view years.
And said he wasnt ready for such a big job.
(He actually said this to someone on @myspace.)
But The Alliance didn't last and is was soon after that Martin auditioned by re-recording 'The Shinning'.
Got the job and in just 7 days he completely redone all the vocals.
He had to sing every note and melody identical to Ray because it was too late to change any of the music.
One small piece of Ray's vocals was left on the album.
That being the laughter on 'Nightmare'.
Right before the production was over, Sabbath was set up to play some gigs.
Eric Singer leaves the band and needing a drummer Iommi called Up Bev Beven to help sabbath out.
During this time Bev did some clean up work on the album.
Hence his credit on the album but it's not exactly known what all he did.
The instrumental track "Scarlet Pimpernel" isn't on any of the Ray Gillen bootleg versions of the album.
So it's thought that this song is what bev did work on.
That may or not but thats alot of peoples best guest.
'Some Kind Of Women' & 'Blackmoon' are different stories.
Blackmoon was at first gonna be a instrumental because noone could finish the lyrics.
Until the very end when Martin and Nicholls were albe to do it. It's original working title was 'Gypsy Warning'.
also the song was the only one where Nicholls played bass on a Sabbath record.
Biggest diiference between this version and what was used on 'Headless Cross' is the guitar is heavier and the keyboards are very low.
'Some Kind Of Women' bass parts are from Dave Spitz. It was left out because it didnt fit in with everything else
Tony Martin wrote and recorded the lyrics so the song could be included on the 12in LP single of the 'The Shining'.
For the gigs coming up Geezer Butler was suppose to join but at the last minute he decided not to.
After he did jam/rehearse with the band a few times.
Sabbath was to play in Plymouth on July 18th.
But canceled due to lack of attendence of the show.
Or perhaps a lack of bass player.
(This would happen again).
There are severial pictures of this time with Tony Iommi, 'Richard Cole', Tony Martin, Bev Bevan, & Geoff Nicholls.
Richard Cole was only Sabbath's road manager.
Who was placed in the pictures because at the time Sabbath had no bass player.
Dave Spitz joins up in time to do the shows booked.
The first being on July 21st, 1987.
A music festival in Athens, Greece.
Which (until 2005) was their only show in Greece in their history.
This was Tony Martin's first live performance with Black Sabbath and the show went off good.
The band and Tony Martin got great reviews and everyone was pleased.
A live recording of the show exsist but not been heard so it's very possable that it doesnt really exsist.
After Greece, Sabbath played Sun City in South Africa and there are severial pictures of this show.
Bev Bevan objected to playing Sun City.
(For a good reason which would hurt Sabbath).
Terry Chimes (the Clash) comes into Sabbath to play drums.
The show was great except for one problem.
This was before Apartheid fell, so Sabbath took a lot of shit in the press.
Every band pretty much boycotted playing there.
Tony Iommi in an interview said their manager Patrick Meehan
told him that Sun City wasn't actually in South Africa.
Alltogether There were 6 shows played in Sun City.
Jul 25-26, August 1-2, and Aug 8-9.
There is a rumor of a gig in a pub around Sun City.
Just Sabbath poping in for jam with the house band.
But it's just a rumor.
Alas after all this the final production was completed and the album was released in November 1987.
There were just a few shows played for the Eternal Idol tour in 1987.
The rest of the shows had Jo Burt replacing Dave Spitz.
(There is no real known reason why Spitz left.)
And just about every show has an audience cd.
One show in Germay has a audience filmed dvd.
The final show was to be December 28, 1987 at the Hammersmith Odeon.
It was cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
Althou other reasons were explained.
This would have been a chance for the world to get a soundboard recording of this tour, (Bootleg of course).
May 29, 1988 with Geoff Nicholls on Bass, and Terry Chimes) there was a charity show in the UK at the Tops Spots Club.
Sabbath only played three songs Heart like a Wheel, Neon Knights, & Paranoid.
Which was broadcast over the radio, but only the audience recording has surfaced so far.
But with an appearence as unique as this any recording is gold.
Soon after Tony Martin did some work with John Sykes in Blue Murder.
He helps him write some songs but he never intends to join the band.
The most noted song to come of this is the Blue Murder song 'Valley of the Kings'.
Blue Murder also has sabbath members Cozy Powell and Ray Gillen in at dfferent times.
Next up for Martin is the Forcefield: 'Talisman II' album.
This hardly heard album will make it's way into the 'Headless Cross' album history.
So I'll leave it alone here till then.
After this turbulent year sabbath is to gain some heavy artilary.
As Tony Martin 'carries the cross' for Sabbath.
Sabbath only played three songs Heart like a Wheel, Neon Knights, & Paranoid.
Which was broadcast over the radio, but only the audience recording has surfaced so far.
But with an appearence as unique as this any recording is gold.
Soon after Tony Martin did some work with John Sykes in Blue Murder.
He helps him write some songs but he never intends to join the band.
The most noted song to come of this is the Blue Murder song 'Valley of the Kings'.
Blue Murder also has sabbath members Cozy Powell and Ray Gillen in at dfferent times.
Next up for Martin is the Forcefield: 'Talisman II' album.
This hardly heard album will make it's way into the 'Headless Cross' album history.
So I'll leave it alone here till then.
After this turbulent year sabbath is to gain some heavy artilary.
As Tony Martin 'carries the cross' for Sabbath.
Minus the charity gig of 1988 at the Tops Spots Club Iommi basicly has pulled Sabbath off the road and puts it up on blocks.
He decided its time to change things in the band starting with his management and record label.
After all that happen during the 'Idol' period his reasoning is well justified.
Iommi switched over to IRS RECORDS.
(Not that it means anything but REM leaves IRS and signs with Warner Bros records. While Sabbath does vice verse.
So IRS lost 10 pounds but gained 300)
Now Iommi signs on with Ernest Chapmen and Phil Banfield to manage him and Sabbath.
(Which manage him to this day).
Iommi and his new team decide that Sabbath needs to get credited, well known musicians to help re-build the band.
Iommi had tried each time the band needed a drummer to get Cozy Powell.
Cozy is well known for his work with Whitesnake, Rainbow, his own solo albums.
That is just a few of the bands/projects he has worked on.
Cozy was in Gary Moore's band at the time but Cozy and Gary wernt seeing eye to eye.
Cozy said he has always wanted to work with Iommi just now it was the right time to join Sabbath.
After a peaceful time working with Tony Martin and all the positive reviews he had gotten, Iommi kept him.
Iommi had the notion in mind (as he always had) of getting Ozzy or Dio back in the band.
Iommi has said that Martin was a terrific singer and was the least hassle to work with.
But a well known singer would bring some attention to the band.
Cozy stood up for Martin and reasured Iommi he was the right guy.
Cozy had not only liked Martin's job on the 'The Eternal Idol' album but he also had worked with Martin before.
Guitarist John Ackkerman formed a band called 'Forcefield'.
The 2nd album 'Talisman II' had Cozy on drums and Tony Martin on vocals.
Martin has said Ackkerman was a favorite of his and he has proud to work with him.
Geezer Butler had the notion of rejoining but doesnt feel the time is right.
So he (his wife anyways) tells Iommi that he wants to re-join Sabbath.
But not right then, later on.
So with a bassist on board Sabbath begin writing for what will become 'Headless Cross'.
Cozy comes and stays with Iommi at his house to begin the writing.
Iommi hired session player Laurence Cottle to record the bass on the album.
Which was recorded from August to November of 1988.
Compared to alot of the Sabbath albums this album is made with the least bit of hassel.
Iommi And Powell lead the band as album producers and primary song writers.
Tony Martin is the primary lyric writer with great keyboards added in by Geoff Nicholls.
The album is made smoothly and by all accounts the band was very happy with everything.
Everybody is getting along and the album is a enjoyable one to make.
(per interviews with Martin, Iommi, and Powell.)
Iommi's friend Brian May from Queen has a guest spot as the guitar solo on 'When Death Calls'.
Sabbath waits until April 1989 for Geezer to join.
Which in that time they even make the music video for 'Headless Cross' with Cottle in the background mainly.
Geezer instead of joining Sabbath actually ends up joining Ozzy Osbourne's solo band.
So They are looking for a new bass player (again.)
It's April 26 1989 at an Hippodrome autograph session where Cozy bumps into Neil Murray.
And he introduces Neil Murray to Iommi.
Neil at this time was most known for playing for Whitsnake.
But since he has lots of credits to his name.
He works the world over till this day.
Murray officially joins the band either right before or soon after the album is release.
'Headless Cross' is released with great credic reviews and sells moderatly good throu the European countries, Russia, and so on.
This album and line up puts Sabbath back on it's feet and begins to win back Sabbath fans.
This line up is the closes net group since the early Ozzy years.
The album is hailed as not only Tony Martin's best work but one of Sabbath's too.
As with most of the non Ozzy albums America misses out and the album doesnt sell that well.
Even thou the video for 'Headless Cross' gets a decent amount of tv time.
Especially on MTV's 'Headbangers Ball'.
The 2nd single 'Devil and Daughter' gets even less radio play.
(Iommi has since said that IRS Records didnt promote the album as much as they promised.
And fans in certain areas couldn't find the album in near by record stores.)
(I've talked to other Sabbath fans who say the same thing.)
Sabbath plays just a few shows in America and pulls out early.
But goes on to do some verly big gigs the world abroad.
Complamented by lots more good reviews and no problems with band members and such.
For the first time in years Sabbath is more like a band than a group of people coming and going.
To show how good this line up was there are tons of unofficial/bootleg cds & dvds) from this tour in
trading.
Most noteworthy is from Russia when Sabbath played 14 shows at the Olympski Hall in Moscow from
11-19-1989 to 11-28-1989.
On the the weekend shows Sabbath plays an afternoon and evening show.
(Also 12 more shows in Leningrad through 11-9-1989).
Sabbath had all their equipmet set up over the weekend shows without having to break it down every night.
Iommi and management decided to record two shows for a vhs release.
So For this increditable Sabbath line up there is some
professionally recorded shows.
Mob Rules, The Shinning, Devil and Daughter, and Call Of The Wild were droped from the setlist due to time.
Problems with the russian authorities left the footage in their vaults.
It's up for debate on weither or not Iommi did get all the footage.
Either way Sabbath hasnt released it officially.
But two tracks Heaven and Hell & Paranoid were used on the 'Feels Good To Me' single in 1990.
They were from the evening show I believe.
But there is some arguments about weither these songs are from this show or not.
In 2002 Robert Langley got a hold of the two shows and released them as a two dvd set titled 'Headless In Russia'.
Langley is a well know bootleg collector and since has been in courts for re-producing clearly owned copyrighted material.
As far as where the footage comes from the most known story is its from Cozy's girlfriend when he died in 1998.
Alot of his tapes began to appear in trading and its very likely these two dvds came from this collction.
Another good concert dvd from this tour is an audience shot on
6-9-1989 at the Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA, U.S.
As it has Call of the Wild & Devil and Daughter on it.
The best audios from this tour are 1989 Friday Rock Show (BBC Radio), 9-6-1989 Apollo Theater, Manchester, England,
9-2-1989 Summer Arena, Wien, (Vienna).
9-11-1989 Colston Hall, Bristol and
9-15-1989 K.B. Hallen København, Copenhagen
Special guest Ian Gillian joins to sing Smoke On the Water
and shares vocals with Martin on Paranoid.
(more info on these availabe in the Audio Bootlegs section)
IMO In the end this album and tour shows that Tony Martin is in the same league as Ozzy, Halford, Dio.
And all the other great rock frontmen.
Enough good things cant be said about this period of Sabbath.
After Sabbath getting back on its feet with the awesome Iommi-Martin-Powell-Nicholls-Murray line up
they jumped in the studio and recorded Tyr.
It's sound is very much like 'Headless Cross' but it's a concept album about viking/norse mythology.
Although few songs stand out from the concept.
Now there is credited debate over if this is or isnt really a concept album.
Tony Martin talks about this album being a concept album.
The album and tour promotions mentions it being a concept album.
So its fair the two different opinons of TYR.
Out of the concept is 'Feels Good To Me' as Martin said was made to be a single from the start.
So the music video is made as is a cd single from the song.
Its an edited version which is the audio from the video.
B-side is Heaven and Hell / Paranoid from the Headless in Russia evening show.
Althou this also is debated.
That they were actually recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon.
Neil Murray first brought this up.
No offence to Neil but the cd says the Russia show and they are a dead on match as you listen to the songs.
The song has its lovers and haters like every other song.
One writer for Kerrang Magazine said the song was too much in the vein of 'No stanger to love'.
For it's music video the band was filmed in a theater in England while the actors were filmed in the streets of LA.
(Or the OC the area and surroundings are now called).
There are two versions of this video out there.
A longer version which has more at the beginning and ending.
On the dvd of Black Sabbath Story 2 they have the short version while the original vhs has the long one.
I Never understood the way the dvd and vhs were edited differently.
Each one has footage the other doesnt.
I've since seen the woman star in soft-core XXX movies.
The album goes on to sell about the same as the Headless Cross album.
The band tours for Tyr but stays within their strong spots.
Perhaps the tour's most memorable stop was 9-1-1990 at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England.
Which included rare performances of 'Sign Of The Southern Cross', 'Feels Good To Me', & 'Heart Like A Wheel'.
HLAW would remain in the set for the rest of the tour.
SOTSC would be droped later on.
No shows were played in America as it was planned but then cancelled most likely due to ticket sales.
Like it or not but Headless Cross & Tyr tours/albums didnt do hardly any business great in the USA.
What in the hell, this lineup/time of the band was probably the tightest since their 70's hayday.
All in all there isnt much of a story around the recording and touring of this album.
Same line up did the tour and album, no fights, Line up changes, drug or drinking problems.
What happens next thou is a major Sabbath story.
Now most believe this happens next. Geezer Butler meets up with Ronnie James Dio.
They decide to reform their lineup.
Tony Iommi agrees, Tony Martin and Neil Murray are out of Sabbath.
Its said this simply but in fact it was a planned affair abit more than this.
Before Butler and Dio meet, Butler was going to come back to Sabbath.
As Murray would say in 1995 that he joined knowing that at some point Geezer would come back.
When the chance of the reunion with Dio there would be room for himself or Tony Martin in the band at the same time.
MTV Headbangers Ball 1992 interview with Sabbath Dio says Geezer and Iommi were already planing to get back together when Geezer joined him on stage.
So Martin isnt fired from the band just removed.
Which Martin was wanting to do a solo album anyway so everything worked out.
But things with Dio didnt go so well at first.
A split came with Tony/Geezer & Ronnie. And Iommi called Tony Martin to rejoin Black Sabbath.
Tony Martin was working on his "Back Where I Belong" album, and said he couldnt.
Work continued with Dio, a couple of months later More problems with Dio and again a call to Tony Martin.
Martin was free at the time so he and the two re-record the Dehumanizer material that existed.
Due to the change in vocalists, some lyrics and vocal melodies were re-done and new music was written.
Tony Iommi was ok with the work being done with Martin but Warner Bros records pressured Iommi to get Dio back (or Ozzy).
Mostly due to the amount of money and press that was involved and already done in advance.
So Tony Martin is booted from the band for Dio.
Some of the work done with Martin became 'Cross Purposes' later on.
Martin: "It was pretty soon after I started my solo album I had a call to go join up again, but I decided to carry on with the solo thing. Then I had another call a few months later, and decided to give it a try. I met the guys at a concert here in Birmingham NEC and they were great towards me, so in I went. Tony Only said it had been hard workin with Ronnie and didn’t really expand on it so I didn’t ask."
The album writing/recording carried on with Dio and Cozy.
Cozy was into horses and while at horse show a horse fell on him breaking his pelvis.
So he then has to leave Sabbath.
Later on it's discovered that Cozy And Dio wernt getting along so well.
And he was set to leave Sabbath anyway.
And the accident happened just at the right time to use it as the reason he left.
(Just about the same time 'Dehumanizer' comes out Cozy has an album out called 'The drums are back' and a tour with Neil Murray and Tony Martin.)
At first Dio wanted Simon Wright from his band Dio to replace Cozy.
But Iommi and Butler disagreed saying its 'too ac/dc-ish for them.
(Wright was in ac/dc for 6-7 years) The band decides to invite Vinny Appice back and he accepts.
Tony Martin's 'Back Where I Belong' solo album comes out on 'Polydor' records.
(I have more info in the '92 section)
Sabbath tours for 'Dehumanizer' in which there are some sayings of fights between Iommi and Dio.
In November Ozzy was saying that his shows in Costa Mesa, California would be his retirement shows.
The dates are Nov 14 & 15.
And a rumor gets started that Ozzy Would play with Sabbath.
Ozzy (and Sharon) decide it's not a bad idea and they invite Sabbath.
The plan was for Sabbath to play with Dio then later with Bill Ward and Ozzy to close the show.
Ronnie James Dio says that Sabbath shouldn't have to open for anyone, In the least not for Ozzy.
Dio stands his ground refuses to do these shows.
Dio explains that Ozzy just talks bad about Sabbath and Ronnie and wont share the same stage with him.
Guess who is called, Tony Martin.
It would have been AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! to see Ozzy and Martin share the same stage.
Maybe The US Would see how great he is and he could get the credit he's due.
But Martin is touring with Cozy in Europe.
And could'nt get a work visa in time to come to the US and sing for Sabbath.
Rumor has it that Wendy Dio (Dio's wife/manager) made it clear that if Martin did come to the show she would alart the police and immagration.
Rob Halford from Judest Priest Is near by and joins Sabbath for the two shows.
they jumped in the studio and recorded Tyr.
It's sound is very much like 'Headless Cross' but it's a concept album about viking/norse mythology.
Although few songs stand out from the concept.
Now there is credited debate over if this is or isnt really a concept album.
Tony Martin talks about this album being a concept album.
The album and tour promotions mentions it being a concept album.
So its fair the two different opinons of TYR.
Out of the concept is 'Feels Good To Me' as Martin said was made to be a single from the start.
So the music video is made as is a cd single from the song.
Its an edited version which is the audio from the video.
B-side is Heaven and Hell / Paranoid from the Headless in Russia evening show.
Althou this also is debated.
That they were actually recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon.
Neil Murray first brought this up.
No offence to Neil but the cd says the Russia show and they are a dead on match as you listen to the songs.
The song has its lovers and haters like every other song.
One writer for Kerrang Magazine said the song was too much in the vein of 'No stanger to love'.
For it's music video the band was filmed in a theater in England while the actors were filmed in the streets of LA.
(Or the OC the area and surroundings are now called).
There are two versions of this video out there.
A longer version which has more at the beginning and ending.
On the dvd of Black Sabbath Story 2 they have the short version while the original vhs has the long one.
I Never understood the way the dvd and vhs were edited differently.
Each one has footage the other doesnt.
I've since seen the woman star in soft-core XXX movies.
The album goes on to sell about the same as the Headless Cross album.
The band tours for Tyr but stays within their strong spots.
Perhaps the tour's most memorable stop was 9-1-1990 at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England.
Which included rare performances of 'Sign Of The Southern Cross', 'Feels Good To Me', & 'Heart Like A Wheel'.
HLAW would remain in the set for the rest of the tour.
SOTSC would be droped later on.
No shows were played in America as it was planned but then cancelled most likely due to ticket sales.
Like it or not but Headless Cross & Tyr tours/albums didnt do hardly any business great in the USA.
What in the hell, this lineup/time of the band was probably the tightest since their 70's hayday.
All in all there isnt much of a story around the recording and touring of this album.
Same line up did the tour and album, no fights, Line up changes, drug or drinking problems.
What happens next thou is a major Sabbath story.
Now most believe this happens next. Geezer Butler meets up with Ronnie James Dio.
They decide to reform their lineup.
Tony Iommi agrees, Tony Martin and Neil Murray are out of Sabbath.
Its said this simply but in fact it was a planned affair abit more than this.
Before Butler and Dio meet, Butler was going to come back to Sabbath.
As Murray would say in 1995 that he joined knowing that at some point Geezer would come back.
When the chance of the reunion with Dio there would be room for himself or Tony Martin in the band at the same time.
MTV Headbangers Ball 1992 interview with Sabbath Dio says Geezer and Iommi were already planing to get back together when Geezer joined him on stage.
So Martin isnt fired from the band just removed.
Which Martin was wanting to do a solo album anyway so everything worked out.
But things with Dio didnt go so well at first.
A split came with Tony/Geezer & Ronnie. And Iommi called Tony Martin to rejoin Black Sabbath.
Tony Martin was working on his "Back Where I Belong" album, and said he couldnt.
Work continued with Dio, a couple of months later More problems with Dio and again a call to Tony Martin.
Martin was free at the time so he and the two re-record the Dehumanizer material that existed.
Due to the change in vocalists, some lyrics and vocal melodies were re-done and new music was written.
Tony Iommi was ok with the work being done with Martin but Warner Bros records pressured Iommi to get Dio back (or Ozzy).
Mostly due to the amount of money and press that was involved and already done in advance.
So Tony Martin is booted from the band for Dio.
Some of the work done with Martin became 'Cross Purposes' later on.
Martin: "It was pretty soon after I started my solo album I had a call to go join up again, but I decided to carry on with the solo thing. Then I had another call a few months later, and decided to give it a try. I met the guys at a concert here in Birmingham NEC and they were great towards me, so in I went. Tony Only said it had been hard workin with Ronnie and didn’t really expand on it so I didn’t ask."
The album writing/recording carried on with Dio and Cozy.
Cozy was into horses and while at horse show a horse fell on him breaking his pelvis.
So he then has to leave Sabbath.
Later on it's discovered that Cozy And Dio wernt getting along so well.
And he was set to leave Sabbath anyway.
And the accident happened just at the right time to use it as the reason he left.
(Just about the same time 'Dehumanizer' comes out Cozy has an album out called 'The drums are back' and a tour with Neil Murray and Tony Martin.)
At first Dio wanted Simon Wright from his band Dio to replace Cozy.
But Iommi and Butler disagreed saying its 'too ac/dc-ish for them.
(Wright was in ac/dc for 6-7 years) The band decides to invite Vinny Appice back and he accepts.
Tony Martin's 'Back Where I Belong' solo album comes out on 'Polydor' records.
(I have more info in the '92 section)
Sabbath tours for 'Dehumanizer' in which there are some sayings of fights between Iommi and Dio.
In November Ozzy was saying that his shows in Costa Mesa, California would be his retirement shows.
The dates are Nov 14 & 15.
And a rumor gets started that Ozzy Would play with Sabbath.
Ozzy (and Sharon) decide it's not a bad idea and they invite Sabbath.
The plan was for Sabbath to play with Dio then later with Bill Ward and Ozzy to close the show.
Ronnie James Dio says that Sabbath shouldn't have to open for anyone, In the least not for Ozzy.
Dio stands his ground refuses to do these shows.
Dio explains that Ozzy just talks bad about Sabbath and Ronnie and wont share the same stage with him.
Guess who is called, Tony Martin.
It would have been AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! to see Ozzy and Martin share the same stage.
Maybe The US Would see how great he is and he could get the credit he's due.
But Martin is touring with Cozy in Europe.
And could'nt get a work visa in time to come to the US and sing for Sabbath.
Rumor has it that Wendy Dio (Dio's wife/manager) made it clear that if Martin did come to the show she would alart the police and immagration.
Rob Halford from Judest Priest Is near by and joins Sabbath for the two shows.
After the reunion with Ozzy in 1992 the guys tried to reform and do an album/tour.
But this doesnt happen so needless to say its back to the drawing board.
Iommi & Butler decide to stay together and give it another go.
At first the line was out to Ray Gillen to come back.
But he decided not to.
(Per Al Romano who played with Gillen in Sun Red Sun.)
They then contact Tony Martin and he is back in sabbath.
Pulling from the music written during his short stay during 'Dehumanizer' and some written for a supposed 2nd Martin solo album.
Now in the 'Dehumanizer Demos' bootleg cds you can here bits and pieces of songs that were on 'Cross Purposes and 'Forbidden' albums.
But Tony Martin seems to say different.
But he may have never heard the demos before this 2002 statement.
Martin: "I went to a rehearsal when they were trying to get the Ronnie thing together, and sang on some of the songs, but non of it was used. And when I rejoined the band I didn’t hear any of the stuff again."
Bobby Rondinelli from Rainbow joins the guys to play drums and Geoff returns on the keys.
Two interesting things surround the beginning of the Cross Purposes album.
1st: Bobby called up Iommi's wife (at that time) and asked for an audition.
He has said that Cozy Powell was to work with the guys but things wern't working out.
So he was told to stay away from Cozy while he auditioned so Cozy wouldnt suspect anything.
(Masters of Reality 2008 dvd is where he has said this.)
2nd: Now according to Geezer, him and Iommi's album was to be as a Iommi/Butler kind of group.
But Iommi has since maintained that they were working on a Sabbath album.
Tony Martin also has said the album was to be sabbath as far as he knew.
Other than that Cross Purposes is made with no troubles.
It is released in January 1994, and could have been out sooner,
but was held up because of resolving the (almost) Ozzy reunion.
Including a claim by Ozzy that Iommi borrowed money from him to get out of jail for not paying child support.
The album comes out with good reviews but not as good as Idol throu Tyr.
But America seems to not 'hate' this album as much and sells moderatly good.
Also more US tour dates are booked than on the other tours.
When the tour time came the worse thing that could ever happen to a singer happens.
Tony Martin catches a throat infection.
Martin tries to the worlds end to do the tour and doesnt miss a single show.
But his voice is just not there on many shows.
Listening/watching to all the live bootlegs you can tell Martin is giving is all.
IRS records sets up the band to do an official concert VHS/CD intitled Cross Purposes Live.
And Martin does a verly good show for this recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in England.
Bobby stays in Sabbath until the last couple of shows in South America (Sao Paulo, Brazil & Santiago, Chile & Burenos Aires, Argentina).
Bill Ward is brought in to play these shows.
Bill had by all accounts finally gotten over his deal of if Ozzy is involved its not Sabbath.
Ward has always said the reason he keeps joining then leaving Sabbath is that it never felt like Black Sabbath to him without Ozzy.
Bill goes on to say since Ozzy had said he was not interested in returning to Sabbath he was OK with being in Sabbath without Ozzy.
At the rehearsals Martin has said he and bill got on good and you can see it in a interview with Ward, Martin, Iommi which is in the media links board.
The shows go off good and there is video/audio footage of these three shows.
On one show one of the under card bands was smoking dope in the dressing rooms.
And Bill went crazy on these guys till Iommi pulled him off.
This my be the thing that started Bill's depature but its hard to say exactly 100% why he left sabbath.
In the same interview I mentioned above Ward talks about a new album with the band and the way the three descibe its idea points towards the way forbidden sounded.
Its not clear if bill or geezer had plans to leave the band first.
The interview didnt have Geezer in it so perhaps things wernt going so well.
From what I've heard/read Tony & Geezer (and Gloria Butler) had a riff between them over as mentioned before if the band was Sabbath or Iommi/Butler.
Also on the 1994 Nativity In Black tribute album Iommi was to play on The Wizard as part of the Bullring Brummies.
Some legal issues came up around the album including Iommi's part.
So the song was to be scraped.
Only thing is that Geezer, Rob Halford, Bill Ward did the song anyway without telling Iommi.
And he didnt know about it tell the album was released.
(Iommi talks about this in an interview posted in the Forbidden section.)
Geezer leaves to go work with Ozzy and his own G//Z/R project. But not before slaming Sabbath & Iommi.
Stating that he had no intention on ever playing with Black Sabbath again.
So either way you look at it another bass player and drummer is gone.
All said and done this is considered a low point in the band's history.
But us fans know how good Martin was doing with Sabbath.
Nexted up is a tricky part of Sabbath's/Martin's story.
[glow=red,2,300]Iommi-Martin-Powell-Murray-Nicholls[/glow] -
This line up put Black Sabbath on its feet during '89-'90.
Unfortunetly all that has over shadowed by the Dio-Iommi-Butler-Appice '92 reunion.
But that Sabbath didnt last long nor did the Cross Purposes line-up.
So the band had yet other reunion in the 90's.
Cozy Powell and Neil Murray rejoined the two Tonys and Geoff Nicholls.
On Japan tv's Bang Up Rock Neil explains he knew that at some point Geezer Buter was gonna rejoin Sabbath anyways.
So when it came the chance to have Geezer & Dio back that there wasnt room for himself or Martin.
Cozy Powell was somewhat different as a horse accident put him out of action and unable to play for sabbath.
(More of this is covered in the TYR & Cross Purposes sections.)
Iommi & Martin said in '94 that they wanted the next album to be raw and ultra-heavy.
No over production or alot of overdubs.
Where they just play and there's the album.
Iommi went on to say it wasnt ultra-heavy as he set out.
That they would write something not so heavy and everyone would like it.
There was rehearsal time for the album which Martin was said he perferred the demo/rehearsal of the songs better.
"In rehearsal they sounded killer" I think is the quote I read him say.
Martin would go on to tell Venessa on Headbanger's Ball that he just sang what popped in his head.
Just whatever lyrics or melodies would just fly out. 'Vocal Vomit' was the term he used.
(To hear the bands own words on the making of this album check 'Media Links' for interview footage.)
But non the less once they went in the studio and in just 8 days it was done.
Making it the 3rd fast album after Black Sabbath & Paranoid.
To me it has the same sort of sound as the first four Sabbath albums.
But the music scene didnt have rock as it its top priority.
Even rock music fans didnt treated this with much attention but it's became a cult classic and has it's fan base.
After the most line up changes any band ever had in ten years you really cant blame the public too much.
With that being said this album is the most underrated Black Sabbath album ever.
Problems for fans about this album include they had a rapper guest vocalist.
Tt sounded flat and lifeless with little effort.
Sounded like Martin wasn't even trying to sing.
One review I read suggested Martin might as well phoned in the words.
Now another thing is the rumor that this was a throw away album to let Iommi out of the contract with IRS.
Evidence against this theory is that 'The Sabbath Stones' was the album to finish off the contract.
Also that Iommi woudlnt have had 2wo noted musicians and friends in Cozy and Neil be on bad album.
Which could have hurt their careers not to forget why would Iommi pay salleries like there's when he could have got unknowns for a cheapier price.
Neil Murray was on the 'Masters Of Reality' dvd where he said it was just an album idea that didnt work well.
That all the best intentions were in it.
When it comes to album promotion it's widly said there basiclly no radio/tv play of the albums single/music video 'Get a Grip".
Which is some what true.
Sure Sabbath wasnt one of the top ten artist on MTV.
But all the rock music magazines advertised the album and did articles.
Sabbath did severial TV shows around the world where they did interviews and played the music video.
So rock music fans knew the album was out there.
Sabbath did play some amazing shows and is evident with the soundboard recording live at Tinley Park, Chicago and The Sweden Rock Festival audience dvd and fm broadcast.
Part way throu the tour for Forbidden, Cozy leaves, claiming exhaustion from a non stop years of recording and touring.
But later on it was explained by Neil Murrey that Cozy was just tired of the work with Sabbath.
And he left to save his friendships with everyone in the band.
We should all Be soooooooooo greatful for all the hard work and the music COZY POWELL Gave to Sabbath and the world. R.I.P.
Bobby Rondinelli is brought back for the rest of the Forbidden tour.
There is some unfinished business about Vinny Appice during this time.
I have seen and received message saying "Hay, didn't Appice think about playing with Sabbath some in 1995."
Vinny Appice did NOT play for Black Sabbath during this tour.
At the time there was a rumour that started because Tony Martin announced that Vinny was in the audience.
This was during Cozy's last show so Sabbath fans turned this into Vinny was replacing Cozy.
Which Appice was Firmly involved with Dio at this time.
Now there has been alot said of Tony Martin's singing during this period. 1994 Martin had a throat infection as stated in the 'Cross Purposes' section.
Im not saying I know for a fact but I think he was still feeling the affects of this.
I read that some say his heart wasnt totally into what he was doing at the time, which mentialy hurt his voice.
Whatever reason this tour wasnt his best singing.
The rest of the tour came off uneventful.
With some cancelled dates in Australia being the only negative. Sabbath appeared in concert on tv in Gzira, Malta.
Which the show is in dvd/cd trading. Also Sabbath was broadcast live over FM radio in Poland and the cd is in cd trading.
While touring Japan sabbath had added 'Changes' to the set.
But this was to be the last round for Tony Martin.
Sabbath played Bangkok and thus this line up up ended.
Throu 1996 Iommi said he was taking a beak from Sabbath to do a solo album.
An interview with Iommi in 1996 he said that tony martin was still in the band.
But as we know the Ozzy era reunion took place.
Althou the Tony Martin era didn't make the same impact on the world as Ozzy or had the same success as Dio.
Tony Martin has his league of fans and this isnt the end for him