Black Sabbath: New Tony Iommi Video Interview Available

Paul Cashmere of Australia's Noise11.com recently recently conducted an interview with Tony Iommi. You can now watch the chat below.

On drummer Bill Ward's decision to back out of the Black Sabbath reunion over a contractual dispute:

Iommi: "It's been a on-off thing with Bill for many years with me. It was disappointing. We were all disappointed in it. It happened before with Heaven & Hell. We wanted Bill to come in and Bill wanted to do it again. We got him in and he left again. We were used to it, really. It's a shame. We would have liked Bill to be on the album, and I'm sure Bill would have liked to have been on it, but it just got to a silly situation. It just didn't happen."

On being the only member of Black Sabbath to have never left the band:

Iommi: "It was just that I never left. I carried on. What do you do? You try and make the best of what you can. I enjoyed some of what we done. We did some really good stuff. With Dio, I thought 'Heaven And Hell', 'Mob Rules', they were good albums. 'Dehumanizer' and stuff. Also some of the stuff with Tony Martin [vocals] and Cozy [Powell, drums] I liked. When people aren't there, you try and replace it, and it's really difficult to replace original members, because that's the sound you have, you all create. I've done quite a few albums with Tony Martin, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray. We'd done 'Headless Cross' and the 'Forbidden' album, which was the last one we'd done with that lineup. I didn't really like that album." 

Black Sabbath: Entire Adelaide Show (HD) Posted Online

Fan-filmed video footage of Black Sabbath's entire May 7 performance at Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Adelaide, Australia can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. War Pigs
02. Into The Void
03. Under The Sun
04. Snowblind
05. Black Sabbath
06. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
07. N.I.B.
08. Fairies Wear Boots
09. Symptom Of The Universe (instrumental)
10. Drum Solo
11. Iron Man
12. God Is Dead?
13. Dirty Women
14. Children Of The Grave

Encore:
15. Paranoid

Iron Maiden: Kicks Off European Leg Of Maiden England Tour; Bilbao, Spain, Footage Posted Online

More photos at rafabasa

Iron Maiden kicked off their European leg of the "Maiden England" tour on Monday, May 27, at Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Barakaldo, Bilbao, Spain. The trek is based on the band's "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour", with a setlist almost exclusively from the 1980s featuring all the classic songs and hits. The same spectacular stage set as was used on the original 1988 tour has been recreated, complete with a magnificent light show, pyro and a newly reincarnated Eddie!

The band's setlist for last night's concert was as follows:

01. Moonchild
02. Can I Play With Madness
03. The Prisoner
04. 2 Minutes To Midnight
05. Afraid To Shoot Strangers
06. The Trooper
07. The Number Of The Beast
08. Phantom Of The Opera
09. Run To The Hills
10. Wasted Years
11. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
12. The Clairvoyant
13. Fear Of The Dark
14. Iron Maiden

Encore:

15. Aces High
16. The Evil That Men Do
17. Running Free

Bernie Marsden Rejoins Whitesnake In Manchester; Videos Available

Guitarist Bernie Marsden rejoined his Whitesnake bandmates on stage at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England (Thursday, May 23) to perform two songs: "Fool For Your Loving" and "Here We Go Again". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below:

Black Sabbath: Tony Iommi Was 'Shocked' By Bill Ward's Decision To Bow Out Of Sabbath Reunion

Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne were interviewed for a cover story in the July 2013 issue of Guitar World magazine. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On Iommi being diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma at the end of 2011:

Iommi: "Once I heard my doctor say that, my whole world changed. I thought, Bloody cancerous lymphoma? Well, that's it. I've had it.

"Once they diagnosed it, I had to start the treatment right away. And it knocked me about. I'd go through stages thinking, Can I do this? And then: Of course I can do this. I don't want to die. I want to carry on and do what I'm supposed to do.

"They thought I would pack up. But I asked the doctor, 'Is it okay if I work?' And he said, 'Yes, you've just got to be careful.' So I'd go in the studio and play for a bit. Then I'd get tired and I'd have to go and sit down. The guys would tell me not to push it."

Osbourne: "We all rallied around him. But it's not like we'd be saying, 'Are you okay? Are you okay?' We just got on with it. Sure, he looked tired, but he was a soldier and marched on. He still had more riffs coming out of him than anyone. None of us would go, 'Oh, he's fucking ill again.' We're bros. We grew up together. It's like a family member getting sick."

Butler: "It brought up how we're all just mortal beings, and we aren't gonna be here forever. Tony and I were on the Heaven  & Hell tour with Ronnie James Dio, and six months later Ronnie was dead [from stomach cancer, in 2010]. We didn't have any inkling that was gonna happen. When Tony got the cancer, obviously that was in his mind. We didn't know how he'd respond to the treatment. So it was like, Let's get the album done at all costs, as long as Tony's up to it. So we'd write for three weeks, and then he'd go for his treatment and we'd all have three weeks off. But it didn't affect his playing at all. In fact I think it really encouraged him and kept his mind off the cancer, which is the best thing you can possibly do if you have that."

On Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward opting out of the band's reunion in early 2012 over some well-publicized contractual disagreements:

Iommi: "I was shocked. We were hearing stuff from lawyers, like, 'I'm not happy with this. I'm not happy with that.' We waited a long time for Bill and we wanted to sort it out. But at the end of the day, especially after I was diagnosed, I thought, Fucking hell, that's it. We've got to get a move on. I might pop off next year! So I emailed him and said, 'Bill, we can't wait any longer. We've got to get on with it.' And that was it."

On whether they felt any performance anxiety recording their first Sabbath album together since 1978's "Never Say Die!":

Osbourne: "The pressure on us was terrific. I didn't want to sound hokey, trying to cop 'Paranoid' or 'Master Of Reality'. But at the end of the day, you just have to go with your heart and 'let go and let god,' as they say. I'll know if I'm cutting corners and if I can do a better vocal take or melody."

"Metallica Through The Never"; Teaser Posted

The official trailer for Metallica's upcoming feature film, "Metallica Through The Never", can be seen below.

Featuring dazzling pyrotechnics, the most elaborate live-performance stage ever built and imagery drawn from the band's trailblazing iconography, the immersive 360-degree show creates a mind-bending, ear-shattering mirror image of the destruction and chaos of Trip's journey. "Metallica Through The Never"'s state-of-the-art 3-D photography, captured using up to 24 cameras simultaneously, engulfs audiences in one of the most innovative andexciting cinematic experiences ever imagined.

"Metallica Through The Never" will open on IMAX screens in the U.S. on September 27, with a wider release following on October 4.

Megadeth: "Kingmaker"; New Song Streaming

Dave Mustaine was interviewed for the cover story in the June 2013 issue of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal Hammer: Is there a tiny part of you that enjoys provocation?

Mustaine: No, I don't say things to get a reaction. The stuff that I write about is important to me. Some of the subjects on "Peace Sells…" are still relevant, particularly environmental issues. And the personal stuff is relevant. I've written songs about loss and pain - everyone goes through that so, no, I'm not being provocative. We actually have fun songs too. If you're pissed off, the title track on "Super Collider" or "Symphony Of Destruction" might make you feel better.

Metal Hammer: Your mischievous sense of humour and interview rhetoric seems like it has always bordered on the self-destructive?

Mustaine: Yeah, and it doesn't translate well, does it? Probably the biggest thing that has harmed my career is being misunderstood, but is it better to be understood or to understand? I understand much more now, so I'm less inclined to be preaching or complaining about being misquoted now. There are people who love me and people who don't, but everyone's entitled. I have love in my heart for both. I don't get mad about the people who dislike me. You can get obsessed with that. Someone doesn't like me? Tough shit for me!

The new song "Kingmaker" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Super Collider", which is scheduled for a June 4 release via Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft:

Black Sabbath: "End of the Beginning" On CSI

Black Sabbath performs the brand new song "End of the Beginning" on CSI:

Black Sabbath: Live In Perth May 4th - Full HD Show Coming Soon...

Photo: PertNow

Black Sabbath live at Perth Arena on 4th May 2013. Full HD Show coming soon. Visit the sssikuk YouTube page for updates. Watch "Into The Void" and "War Pigs" below:

Whitesnake: "Made In Britain/The World Record": Trailer Posted

Whitesnake's new two-CD live album, "Made In Britain/The World Record", will be released in Japan on June 19 via Ward Records. Disc 1, "Made In Britain", includes the best takes of the shows in Britain in June 2011 and Disc 2, "The World Record", contains the rare tracks from the shows in Europe and America on the "Forevermore" tour.

"Made In Britain/The World Record" track listing:

Disc 1 - "Made In Britain"

01. Best Years
02. Give Me All Your Love Tonight
03. Love Ain't No Stranger
04. Is This Love
05. Steal Your Heart Away
06. Forevermore
07. Love Will Set You Free
08. My Evil Ways
09. Fare Thee Well
10. Heart Of The City
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. Here I Go Again
13. Still Of The Night


Disc 2 - "The World Record"

01. Bad Boys
02. Slide It In
03. Lay Down Your Love
04. Pistols At Dawn
05. Snake Dance
06. Can You Hear The Wind Blow
07. Fare Thee Well
08. One Of These Days
09. The Badger
10. The Deeper The Love
11. Soldier Of Fortune
12. Burn / Stormbringer
13. Ain't Gonna Cry No More (Acoustic) *

* Bonus track for Japan

Aerosmith: "Rock For The Rising Sun"; New DVD Out In June

In March 2011, Japan was beset by a huge earthquake, a monstrous tsunami and the subsequent meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant. In the autumn of 2011, despite advice to the contrary, Aerosmith brought their "Back On The Road" tour to Japan, a country with which they'd always had a special relationship. The Japanese fans came out in their droves and Aerosmith responded with some of the finest gigs of their distinguished career.

"Rock For The Rising Sun" follows the band on that tour combining full-length live tracks with behind-the-scenes footage which is at times touching and emotional and at others humorous and insightful. More than anything else it demonstrates the Japanese fans' love affair with Aerosmith and their music.

Steven Tyler wrote on Facebook about the movie: "Hey, ya'll…How 'bout sum of our new movie!!! 2 start ur day or nite. Can't wait for u to see it."

"Rock For The Rising Sun" was directed by Casey Patrick Tebo, and combines live performance material with behind-the-scenes footage that shows the nation coping with the destruction. The movie is due for release on DVD and Blu-ray in June.

Check out a trailer for the film below.

Black Sabbath: Bill Ward Was 'Out Of Condition' During Black Sabbath Reunion Rehearsals, Says Ozzy Osbourne In New Mojo Interview

Ozzy Osbourne spoke to Mojo magazine about original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the band's reunion early last year.

Regarding Ward's absence from the Sabbath reunion, Ozzy told Mojo: "I guess it's to do with finances or something. But there was also another side to it. When Bill came along, we all had to ask, 'Can he do an hour-and-a-half, two-hour gig? Can he cope?' My suggestion was that we run through a set and see how he got on because he was so out of condition and the drummer is the most demanding job in the whole band. We looked at Bill, and he couldn't remember what the fuck we were doing. But he didn't come clean and say, 'I can't cut this gig, but can we work something out, guys, where I'll come on but with another drummer backing me up?' Or, 'I'll come and play a few songs.' That would have been cool."

He continued: "I get where he's coming from, though. His pride was hurt and I get it. I really do get it. The guy will always be a dear, dear friend and a brother to me, but ... He can't be surprised that he didn't get the gig. ... You know them yellow fucking stick-on memo notes? He had them all over his fucking drums. I was like, 'What the fuck's that for, Bill?' He said, 'I can't remember what I'm doing.' I go, 'How are you gonna remember out of those 500,000 bits of paper stuck all over your kit, which one you're looking at,Bill?' (He said) 'I'll know.' Ah, OK great. I'm not gonna give Bill a hatchet job, but at the same time we haven't got the patience to deal with it."

Black Sabbath: LIve In Sydney April 27; 46 Minute Video Posted

A 46-minute collection of fan-filmed video clips of Black Sabbath's April 27 concert at Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia can be seen below.

Featured songs:

0:00 - War Pigs
4:40 - Into The Void
6:20 - Under The Sun
8:22 - Snowblind
10:47 - Black Sabbath
14:40 - Behind The Wall Of Sleep
16:29 - N.I.B.
17:51 - End Of The Beginning
21:00 - Fairies Wear Boots
24:00 - Symptom Of The Universe
26:30 - Drum Solo
29:00 - Iron Man
32:00 - God Is Dead?
37:10 - Dirty Women
41:30 - Children Of The Grave
44:05 - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath / Paranoid

Note: Missing from the footage is "Electric Funeral", which was performed after "Snowblind" and before "Black Sabbath"