Black Sabbath
METAL SHOP’s Edward Flores attended the Bass Player LIVE! (presented by Hartke) Concert & Awards Show Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the historic Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler was honored and musicians who took part included Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE), Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX), Sebastian Bach (SKID ROW), David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Frank Bello (ANTHRAX), Jason Newsted (METALLICA), Chris Broderick (MEGADETH), Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) and Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO).
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Who Are The Top 20 Metal Bands Of All Time?
Depends who you ask and how they define who is metal or just hard rock. For example, many agree that Metalica, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest are metal, but KISS, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses are not metal.
That is how the authors of the new book ‘The Merciless Book of Metal Lists‘ see it in one of several indexes they compiled for this release set for April 9, 2013 by Abrams Image.
Howie Abrams and Sacha Jenkins’ book features numerous compilations of bests (songs, guitarists, album covers featuring goats) and worsts (embarrassing metal videos, metal fashion faux pas’).
80’s metal fans will also surely appreciate unconventional lists such as: ’10 Reasons Why EVERYONE Loves Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood” and ’10 Accomplishments Iron Maiden Would Never Have Achieved had Paul Di’Anno Remained Their Singer’.
One of the lists sure to spark some debate is ’20 of the Greatest Metal Voices.’ They nailed the top three (my opinion) and Queensryche’s Geoff Tate certainly deserves a top five appearance:
1. Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Dio)
2. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
3. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
4. Eric Adams (Manowar)
5. Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche)
6. King Diamond (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond)
7. Tom Araya (Slayer)
8. John Bush (Armored Saint/Anthrax)
9. James Hetfield (Metallica)
10. Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly)
In an interview with the New York Times, Abrams said Dio was the unanimous choice for the top spot because he had a virtuosity that set him far apart from other top metal vocalists.
“If he needed to apply darkness, he could do it,” said Abrams. “If he needed to belt and go to a higher range, he could. He replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and I’m not sure there was a taller task for a vocalist. He did it with ease and grace, and he may have improved on what Oz did in the first place.”
‘The Merciless Book of Metal Lists’ is a fun read. I especially enjoyed viewing the artwork from ‘200 Embarrassingly Bad Album Covers’… Anthrax took the top two spots with ‘State of Euphoria’ and number one ‘Fistful of Metal.’
Emerging from the blues and psychedelic rock of the 1960s and ’70s, heavy metal has been a driving force in music for nearly 50 years — known for its massive sound, extended guitar solos, and unrelenting intensity.
Despite being critically reviled throughout its history, metal has stood the test of time with bands such as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Mötley Crüe achieving legendary status, unfathomable wealth and exerting a profound influence on generations of musicians and fans. Unlike many forms of popular music, whose followers are fickle and transitory, metalheads tend to embrace their favorite bands and follow them over decades. Metal is not only a pastime — it’s a lifestyle.
Written by veteran rock journalists Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman, “Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History Of Metal” (It Books; May 14, 2013; Hardcover; $32.50) was assembled from more than 300 interviews with members of Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, Van Halen and many others, conducted over a 25-year span. Turman and Wiederhorn dug deep into their extensive list of contacts to uncover never- before-heard stories, eye-opening admissions and the truth behind metal’s most explosive legends. With an introduction by Scott Ian of Anthrax and an afterword by Rob Halford of Judas Priest, this is the book metal fans have been waiting for.
Icons of the genre offer candid and confessional commentary, including: Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Dickinson, Eddie Van Halen, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Lita Ford, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Axl Rose, Slash, Dave Mustaine, King Diamond, Kerry King, Philip Anselmo and more. The many musicians interviewed offer their take on their influences, touring, the music business and songwriting, as well as their often-traumatic upbringings, battles with substance abuse and bizarre sexual exploits. Industry insiders (including managers, record label executives, family members, friends, scenesters, groupies, journalists and porn stars) provide additional insight.
“Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History Of Metal” explores the transformation of metal culture, with stories and anecdotes straight from the mouths of the most infamous and successful bands. Filled with hundreds of revealing interviews representing every type and era of heavy metal — from metal progenitors such as Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin, and the MC5 to current day innovators — “Louder Than Hell” is the ultimate look behind the curtain at one of our most dynamic, controversial and enduring musical genres.
Alice Cooper: “This is the book every metal fan should own. A fascinating high-octane chronicle of metal mayhem that takes readers on a wild ride, from metal’s earliest days to the headbanging present. I’m not saying this just because I’m in the book, but . . . if you love metal, great stories, and music history told by the people who made it, then ‘Louder Than Hell’ is a must-read.”
New Zealand Herald: “It’s a really weird thing,” says the singer, who turns 64 next week, “because what we did, we just did. We didn’t go, ‘Oh, we’re going to write this way, and we’re going to record that way, and it’s going to come out like this’. And 45 years up the road who would have thought it’s still going to be current and people were going to look upon it as the foundations of heavy metal?”
But then Osbourne, who’s in a chatty mood on the phone from Los Angeles ahead of Sabbath’s return to New Zealand next April for the first time in 40 years, is also still trying to get his head around that term “heavy metal”. He can’t stand it. “Because not everything Black Sabbath did was about the devil, or about heavy metal because Changes was a beautiful song. But all they ever remember is that I sing about the devil and Iron Man, you know.”
On new Sabbath material: “It’s been more than 30 years since I really seriously worked with the guys. We had a try a few years back but nothing came of it. But for some reason the timing is right and we’ve done about 15 songs. Black Sabbath is very unique in the respect that nothing is formulated. It’s very unpredictable. I just hope the people who have waited all these years aren’t disappointed.”
Rolling Stone: Metal fans are a very passionate bunch. They’re also very opinionated, so when we asked them to vote for their favorite metal albums we expected a huge response. We also expected a big debate about the very definition of “heavy metal.” Some metal fans say that groups like Led Zeppelin and Guns N’ Roses are metal. Others think that’s completely insane. We aren’t here to settle these debates. We’re merely here to count the votes.
- Metallica – ‘Master of Puppets’
- Black Sabbath – ‘Paranoid’
- Black Sabbath – ‘Black Sabbath’
- Iron Maiden – ‘The Number of the Beast’
- Metallica – ‘. . . And Justice for All’
- Slayer – ‘Reign In Blood’
- Guns N’ Roses – ‘Appetite for Destruction’
- Metallica – ‘Metallica’ (The Black Album)
- Led Zeppelin – ‘Led Zeppelin II’
- Metallica – ‘Ride the Lightning’
METAL SHOP Rocks was once again in attendance for the announcement of the 2012 Revolver Golden Gods Awards at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, California. This will be the fourth year of the award show and it will take place on April 11, 2012 at Club Nokia.
The Golden Gods will be broadcast live for the first time on X Box Live and will also be streaming live on Revolver Magazine’s Facebook page. Marilyn Manson, Slash, Black Veil Brides, Evanescence and Sixx AM featuring Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx will be preforming live and Gene Simmons of Kiss will receive this year’s Golden God Award.
Today’s press conference also announced that the Grammy museum will have The History of Heavy Metal Exhibit and Wendy Dio, wife of the late, great Ronnie James Dio presented the museum with the original handwritten lyrics of Holy Diver. Let’s just hope they get it right. We all know what the Grammy Awards have done to metal music in the past (Jethro Tull).
Special guest list for today was:
- Alice Cooper
- Zakk Wylde (Ozzy and BLS)
- Vinny Paul ( Pantera)
- Vinny Appice (Dio and H&H)
- James Micheal (SIXX AM)
- Chris Jericho (Fozzy)
- Wendy Dio
- Mike Portnoy (Ex Dream Theater)
Looking forward to the actual award show in April… in the meantime Click Here for the nominees an cast your vote. Below are a few photos of the presser. Special thanks to Joe at Rogers and Cowan for making this happen! Enjoy. -Ralph.
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Formed in 1969 by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill ward, Black Sabbath became one of the biggest bands in the history of Rock and Metal. Iommi’s book covers Black Sabbath from the early days in their native Birmingham, England to the height of their careers, including all the drug use and band in-fighting that went with it. From Ozzy being fired by his bandmates to Iommi getting arrested in Modesto, California for not paying child support, I found this book an interesting read and for Black Sabbath fans, a must have.
Thanks to Tony Iommi for signing my copy at the recent press conference in Hollywood on 11-11-11, the day Black Sabbath announced they will reunite for a tour and new album in 2012.
METAL SHOP Rocks was again invited to a taping of VH1 Classic ‘That Metal Show’ (Season9).
The first show taped was an hour long interview with AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson. Don, Eddie, Jim and Brian talked about many things, including a good story that Brian told on how he wrote the lyrics to “You shook Me All Night Long.”
The second show included Guests Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), Rex Brown (Pantera) and Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell). Mustaine talked about his recent neck surgery and showed the guys the scar on his neck. Dave said he felt great and was looking forward to getting back on tour in support of the new Megadeth album TH1RT3EN. Rex and Vinny took the stage next and talked about the new band they formed called Kill Devil Hill. Their first album will be out in March, 2012.
Can’t forget special guitar guest Warren DeMartini (Ratt) made an appearance. Here a few photos from what we were allowed to shoot. Special thanks to Emily at VH1 and Jesus Martin for all their help.
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Over 100,000 people turned out for the Moscow Peace Festival in 1989. You think any of them had never heard of these bands before then? More proof that saying ‘no’ to kids, just makes them want it more.
List of Forbidden Rock Bands in the USSR in 1985
Heaven and Hell rolled through Southern California in early August and METAL SHOP’s Ralph Cartel brought home some photos to share.
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