In a new interview with the Birmingham Mail in England, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi provided an update on his cancer treatment.
The guitarist has been receiving treatment at the Parkway Hospital in Solihull. He will have to return home from tour on a regular basis in order to receive treatment.
“I have to have an antibody administered by drip every six weeks or so to keep the lymphoma in check,” Iommi said. “It sort of coats the cancer cells, stops it from going anywhere else. I have to come back home no matter where I might be in the world. The tour dates are arranged so that I can always get back for treatment. It’s the only way I can manage my illness and keep on the road. I’d love to play more shows than we’re doing but my health has to be sorted out first.
“The infusions I have are part of the chemotherapy regime. It’s relatively new treatment and they don’t know what all the side-effects might be yet, but I wanted to try it. After each session I feel sick and tired, and that lasts for a week or so. I’m finding that it takes around 10 days to fully recover from each round of treatment, but if that’s what it takes, I have to accept it.
“In myself I’m feeling OK now. When I first found that I had the illness, it was a dark time and I was a bit spaced out. Since we’ve been in rehearsals and recording sessions, I’ve felt pretty good — great even. I think that the album and tour have given me something immediate to get my teeth into, something to accomplish.”
To check out the entire interview, head here.
Black Sabbath recently announced four new tour dates, the track listing of their long-awaited album, 13, and the album’s first single, the eight-minute-long “God Is Dead?” The new album will be released June 11.
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Every Tuesday–the day that albums come out–we will be listing the hard-rock and metal releases that hit stores, and every Wednesday we will be offering you, the fans, the chance to pick the Album of the Week. Below, check out the albums that came out this week; pick your favorite, and feel free to vote as many times as you want.
UPDATE: The poll is closed. Thanks for your vote. To view the results, click here.
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It’s Tuesday–the day that albums come out–and this one sees new shit from Gaza, Murder Construct, Katatonia, and more hitting stores. Check out the list of releases below and let us know which ones you have already or are planning to pick up.
- A Tragedy In Progress – Mechanical Weather
- Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell – Don’t Hear It…Fear It!
- All Hail The Yeti – All Hail The Yeti
- Andrew W.K. – I Get Wet reissue
- Assembly Of Light – Assembly Of Light
- Autopsy – Born Undead DVD
- Bloodred Hourglass – Lifebound
- The Chariot – One Wing
- Destroyer 666 – Phoenix Rising reissue
- Dysrhythmia – Test Of Submission
- Eagle Twin – The Feather Tipped the Serpent’s Scale
- Eluveitie – The Early Years
- Flobots – The Circle in the Square
- Gaza – No Absolutes In Human Suffering
- Get Scared – Built for Blame, Laced with Shame
- Grave – Endless Procession Of Souls
- Gypsyhawk – Revelry & Resistance
- Hex Machine – Fixator
- Holy Knights – Between Daylight and Pain
- I Am War – Outlive You All
- Ian Gillan & Tony Iommi – Who Cares
- Just Like Vinyl – Black Mass
- Kaipa – Vittjar
- Katatonia – Dead End Kings
- Khonsu – Anomalia
- The Last Vegas – Bad Decisions
- Murder Construct – Results
- North – The Great Silence
- Obey the Brave – Young Blood
- Over Your Threshold – Facticity
- Scum Of The Earth – The Devil Made Me Do It
- Sky Of Rage – Sky Of Rage
- Sound Storm – Immortalia
- Stealing Axion – Moments
- Stratovarius – Under Flaming Winter Skies – Live In Tampere
- Triumph – Live At Sweden Rock Festival CD/DVD
- Various artists – Holy Darkthrone
- Wind Rose – Shadows Over Lothadruin
- World Fire Brigade – Spreading My Wings
After releasing a charity single last year, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan have announced the details of the upcoming debut album from their joint project, WhoCares.
The two-disc set will include two original WhoCares tracks, along with an unreleased Deep Purple jam; a track from Gillan’s pre-Deep Purple band Repo Dep), two previously unreleased songs from Tony Iommi featuring Glenn Hughes and “obscure collaborations, B-sides lost on 7-inch.” You can view the full track listing below.
WhoCares’ debut album is due out August 28 via earMUSIC.
01. WhoCares “Out Of My Mind” (first time on an album)
Featuring Jon Lord, Linde Lindström (HIM), Jason Newsted (Metallica), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
02. Black Sabbath “Zero The Hero”
03. Ian Gillan feat. Iommi, Ian Paice and Roger Glover “Trashed”
04. M. Rakintzis feat. Ian Gillan “Get Away” (first release on a Gillan album, only released in Greece before)
05. Tony Iommi feat. Glenn Hughes “Slip Away” (first time on CD)
06. Gillan “Don’t Hold Me Back”
07. Ian Gillan “She Thinks It’s A Crime” (vinyl single B-side, first time on CD)
08. Repo Depo feat. Ian Gillan “Easy Come, Easy Go” (previously unreleased)
09. Deep Purple feat. Ronnie James Dio “Smoke On The Water” (live with the Royal Philaarmonic Orchestra)
CD2
01. WhoCares “Holy Water” (first time on an album)
Featuring Jon Lord, Linde Lindström (HIM), Jason Newsted (Metallica), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
02.Black Sabbath “Anno Mundi”
03. Tony Iommi feat. Glenn Hughes “Let it Down Easy” (first time on CD)
04. Ian Gillan “Hole in My Vest” (7″ vinyl single B-side, first time on CD)
05. Gillan & Glover feat. Dr. John “Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave me”
06. Ian Gillan & The Javelins “Can I Get A Witness”
07. Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners aka IG “No Laughing in Heaven” (rare track)
08. Ian Gillan “When A Blind Man Cries” (Live at Absolute Radio, previously unreleased)
09. Deep Purple “Dick Pimple”
On May 19, Black Sabbath — in this case, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler with drummer Tommy Clufetos — shared the stage together for the first time in seven years, pelting a hometown crowd in Birmingham, England, with a solid set of Sabbath classics.
The band have just posted a pro-shot video of “Paranoid” from that night, and you can check it out below.
Consider the video a teaser for the band’s August 3 show at Lollapalooza in Chicago. It will, of course, be the band’s only U.S. performance. Plans for a full tour were scrapped when Iommi was diagnosed with cancer … and then there was original drummer Bill Ward’s much-publicized contract dispute …
Anyway, maybe the best way to describe the clip below is via a quote from a fan’s comment on YouTube: “You’ve got to admit, for a guy who snorted enough coke to kill a blue whale, Ozzy sounds great.”
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Black Sabbath—who late last year confirmed the recording of their first new album in more than 33 years and a worldwide headlining tour—have had to put some plans on hold due to Tony Iommi’s battle with lymphoma. At this time, Black Sabbath will perform only one show of this summer’s previously scheduled European tour. It will take place Sunday, June 10 at the U.K.’s Download Festival.
So as not to let the promoters and fans down, Ozzy Osbourne will now perform the majority of the previously scheduled Black Sabbath dates (both festival performances and the headlining shows) billed as Ozzy & Friends. These “first ever” Ozzy & Friends shows will feature appearances by “special guest” musicians including Geezer Butler (who will join Ozzy for a special Black Sabbath set as a show of respect and support to their friend, Tony Iommi) and longtime former Ozzy band member Zakk Wylde. In addition, Ozzy will be accompanied by longtime collaborator and friend Slash at select shows, with other “special guests” set to join the tour at various stops along the way (full list of dates, appearances below).
Tony Iommi continues to make excellent progress and is looking forward to getting back out on the road. Meanwhile, Black Sabbath continue to write and record music in the U.K. for their upcoming album. More information about these dates and Black Sabbath’s recording and touring plans is forthcoming.
The 2012 tour dates are as follows:
BLACK SABBATH
DATE CITY VENUE
Sun 6/10 Donnington UK Download Festival
OZZY AND FRIENDS
DATE CITY VENUE
Wed 5/23 Helsinki, Finland Hartwall Arena
Fri 5/25 Stockholm, Sweden Stadium
Sun 5/27 Jelling, Denmark Jelling Festival
Tue 5/29 Bergen, Norway Bergen Calling Festival
Thu 5/31 Oslo, Norway Spektrum
Sat 6/2 Malmo, Sweden Malmo Stadium
Mon 6/4 Dortmund, Germany Westfalenhalle
Wed 6/6 Prague, Czech Rep O2 Arena
Fri 6/15 Vitoria, Spain Azkena Rock Festival
Sun 6/17 Clisson, France Hellfest
Fri 6/22 Dessel, Belgium Graspop Metal Meeting
Sun 6/24 Milan, Italy Gods of Metal Festival
Tue 6/26 Vienna, Austria Stadthalle
Thu 6/28 Belgrade, Serbia USCE Park
Sun 7/1 Athens, Greece Rockwave Festival – Terra
According to Billboard.com, Black Sabbath had been lined up as headliners for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival before guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma. The lineup for the annual festival was revealed yesterday, with the Black Keys, Radiohead, and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg named as headliners. There is no indication as to which act may have been called in to replace Sabbath.
While Coachella will not be hosting the reunited Black Sabbath, the festival will play host to the reunion of At the Drive-In and influential Swedish hardcore band Refused.
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After it was revealed yesterday that Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi had been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, members of the hard-rock and metal community have followed the Sabbath’s request to send Iommi warm thoughts. Check out the words of support, below, for the man who helped give birth to metal—from the likes of Slash, Zakk Wylde, and Sebastian Bach.
Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne): “Big BL get well wishes out to Lord Iommi!!!”
Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Black Country Communion): “Prayers please for my brother Tony Iommi… We all pray for a full, speedy recover from cancer…. Much love…”
David Draiman (Disturbed): “Everyone please send their prayers/good vibes/best wishes to Tony Iommi for a speedy recovery; he has been diagnosed [futureusgallerywith] lymphoma.”
Anthrax:: “This really does suck. GET WELL SOON TONY!”
Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD): “I absolutely insist that every single follower of mine, religious or not, send a prayer up for Tony Iommi. He has been diagnosed with lyphoma. It’s in its early stages—Sabbath is writing a new record, and they are continuing to. Iommi is the reason heavy metal exists. Pray for him. You pray to Crom, Odin, yourself—don’t care who. Just send up some positive vibes for Tony Iommi.
“This is terrible news for metal. I’ve toured with Iommi a coupla times. He is a gentleman and a living legend. Hopefully since it’s in early stages they can beat it pretty easily. But Iommi’s not a young man, so think good thoughts! It is no secret that I have donated both my time, energy, facial hair, and a fair amount of my money to cancer research. I’ve walked the walk (literally) as well as talked the talk. However, there’s nothing wrong with positive vibes.”
Sebastian Bach (Skid Row): “All hail the mighty Tony Iommi. & FUCK YOU, Cancer.”
Gus G. (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind): “I’m in shock to hear the news about Tony Iommi. Get well soon ‘Iron Man’!! Your biggest fan.”
Slash: “Best wishes for a full recovery to Tony Iommi.”
Frank Bello (Anthrax): “Get well soon Tony!!”
Chris Jericho (Fozzy): “Best wishes and prayers to Tony Iommi in these tough times. The MASTER of the riff will crush his cancer with the power of metal (and God)!!
Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth): “Just read the news, and it’s perplexing and shocking to say the least. On behalf of the band and, I’m confident to say, the whole population of rock music lovers in the world, we all wish for a swift recovery for Tony. Get well!”
Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest): “My thoughts go out to Tony Iommi and I wish him a fast and full recovery.”
Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass): “Here’s hoping for a solid and speedy recovery for my guitar hero Tony Iommi!”
Shawn Drover (Megadeth): “Tony Iommi – Please get well soon!!!!!!!!!!!!”
]]>A statement from Black Sabbath has revealed that guitarist Tony Iommi has been diagnosed as suffering from the early stages of lymphoma. “Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan—the “Iron Man” of Rock & Roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery,” reads the statement.
Black Sabbath are currently working on their first album with their original lineup in 33 years, scheduled for a fall release, with a world tour also scheduled later this year. According to the statement the band will now head to London to be able to continue to work with Tony. The statement also urges fans to do all they can. “His bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time.”
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All four original members of metal pioneers Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—held a press conference in Los Angeles today, hosted by Henry Rollins, to announce that they have reunited. The group is halfway through writing an as-yet-untitled new record, which will be produced by Rick Rubin (Metallica, Slayer, Slipknot), and will go into the studio early next year. A release date has yet to be announced. The bandmates will also be heading out on a worldwide tour, including a performing at the U.K.’s Download Festival in June. The group The four have not performed together since 2005. For more, get the RevolverTV app.
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