Black Sabbath Updates Through February 2012

Black Sabbath at album / tour press conference on November 11, 2011.
Photo Copyright © Kevin Winter / Getty Images.

There has been a lot going on with the band Black Sabbath, involving both past and present members. Some of the news has been good, some has been quite unfortunate.

Cancer has hit founding member, guitarist Tony Iommi. Reunion tour dates for 2012 have been cancelled or changed to "Ozzy and Friends" events. There was a contractual disagreement between band and founding member, drummer Bill Ward.

On to the good news. Deluxe album reissues (import only for North America) are coming on March 19th from the band Dio, which featured former Sabbath lead vocalist, the late Ronnie James Dio. Former lead singer Tony Martin has apparently got his Tony Martin era Black Sabbath music playing band, Tony Martin’s Headless Cross, gearing up to tour.

To get all the details on these happenings and more, you should visit the fan site run by Joe Siegler. It's called Black Sabbath Online, and I post links to his updates on a fairly regular basis, because he makes sure he gets the story straight. If you want unbiased, factual and accurate information on Black Sabbath, and the group's family tree, you go to Joe.

To read up on the things I've listed above in particular, this is the link to the Black Sabbath Online archive for February 2012.

Today's Tune: "Dirty Women" By Black Sabbath

Happy Birthday to Richard Wilson! On July 9, 1936, Wilson was born (Ian Colquhoun Wilson) in Greenock, a town in the old county of Renfrewshire, in Scotland. He has spent many years as a very well respected actor, theatre director and broadcaster. Wilson is mostly remembered for playing the very unlucky and grumpy old Victor Meldrew, for more than 10 years, in the BBC sitcom One Foot In The Grave.

Currently, Richard portrays Gaius, Camelot's court physician, in BBC's television drama Merlin.

For this 'Today's Tune', we draw upon the title of the 1999 Scottish comedy film 'Women Talking Dirty', which starred Richard Wilson alongside the likes of Gina McKee ('Notting Hill', 'Greyfriars Bobby', 'Scenes Of A Sexual Nature'), Helena Bonham Carter ('Henry VIII', 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows', 'The King's Speech') and James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, 'Jekyll', 'Five Minutes Of Heaven'). It's screenplay and the novel it was based upon were both written by Isla Dewar ('Dancing In A Distant Place', 'Secrets Of A Family Album', 'Giving Up On Ordinary').

Our featured track for this installment is the somewhat similarly titled "Dirty Women", a fun Black Sabbath tune, full of great guitar licks by metal riff master Tony Iommi.

Black Sabbath - "Dirty Women" (1976)



Black Sabbath - "Dirty Women" Live (1997)

Today's Tune: "Country Girl" & "Neon Knights" By Heaven & Hell

Performing in Montreux, Switzerland, on July 7, 2007.
Photo by Sandro Campardo - AP Photo / Keystone.

One year ago today, singer and song writer Ronnie James Dio passed away (67 years old), by the hands of stomach cancer. Naturally, Ronnie has been on my mind, and remembered by millions and millions of other fans as well. Therefore, this 'Today's Tune' combo was selected to honor and remember that great man.

He was lead singer for some great bands in his time - Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. Both of these tracks are originally from the first two Black Sabbath albums that Mr. Dio recorded with the band. I was fortunate enough to see Sabbath on both of the subsequent tours that followed. I remember those times fondly, to say the least.

The following video is from a live Heaven & Hell concert. A taste of "Country Girl", from 'Mob Rules' (1981), starts it off. Then, "Neon Knights" (1980), which was a single from the album 'Heaven And Hell', goes into full flight.

Click here, to see my long post from a few days after Ronnie's death in 2010.

Heaven & Hell - "Country Girl" & "Neon Knights"
Live - June 16, 2009

Junior's Reading And Viewing List: January 1 - 10, 2011

Last Update - March 7, 2011 at 7:24 PM EST

Junior's January 1 through January 10, 2011 'Reading And Viewing List' includes title links with snippets from items that hit the internet in the beginning of January 2011.

This list includes the usual topics: films, hockey (Washington Capitals), music and racing (Formula One and WRC).


January 10, 2011

Mom, Baseball, Apple Pie and Assault Rifles
By Brian Lumley at Rumblings from the Man Cave

...The media is saturated with images; our twenty-four hour news channels manufacture "news" in order to stay competitive with one another. After all, how much real news is there on any given day?...


Huge entry for World Rally Championship opener
Posted at WRC.com

The 2011 World Rally Championship is set to get off to a thrilling start in Sweden next month after all the series' big guns lodged entries for the snow spectacular...


GZR Work On New Songs
By mdome at Classic Rock

GZR, the band featuring bassist Geezer Butler, appear to be back in some sort of action...


At Just Past The Halfway Mark of the 2010-2011 NHL Season
By Usually Frustrated Caps Fan at Mark's Musings

Well here we are, as of tonight - January 9, 2011 - every one of the 30 teams in the NHL have played 40 or more games with most having played 41 or more, so I think it's fair to say the NHL current 82 game season is halfway complete. So what can we say about the NHL this year? Here's my thoughts and conclusions...


January 9, 2011

A TWO-point night -- Game 42: Caps 3 - Panthers 2
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

...The Washington Capitals worked their way to 6-0-2 in their last eight games last night with a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers. The win was significant in several respects...


January 7, 2011

Major Philip Lynott Exhibition To Be Set For Dublin In March
Posted by Nightwatcher at Nightwatcher's House Of Rock

The Philip Lynott Exhibition, the biggest ever collection of memorabilia, song lyrics, exhibits, paintings, tributes and photographs of the late rock legend, is set to be seen in a very special exhibition in Dublin, Ireland beginning on March 4, 2011...


Raikkonen did not miss racing in 2010
Posted at WRC.com

Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who finished 10th in last year's world championship standings, has admitted he did not miss racing at all during his first season in the global series...


January 6, 2011

Praying Mantis Re-Record Old Faves
By mdome at Classic Rock

...Titled Metalmorphosis, this is released next month, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NWOBHM band’s debut album Time Tells No Lies...


Blackmore's Night To Release 'Autumn Sky' Stateside January 18th
Posted by Nightwatcher at Nightwatcher's House Of Rock

...Autumn Sky consists of 14 new Blackmore's Night songs, plus a cover of “Celluloid Heroes” from The Kinks. Recorded during Candice's pregnancy, Candice and Ritchie have dedicated the 'Autumn Sky' album to their newly born daughter Autumn Esmerelda Blackmore...

...Listen to “Highland” from Autumn Sky here:


January 5, 2011

Home Of Bon Scott
Posted at Home Of Metal

...A collection of memorabilla donated by fans, a commemorative stone, in this picture specially cleared of snow for Home of Metal, and regular Bon Scott associated music events bring visitors from far and wide. The staff at the museum were able to evidence this by referring to their records of visitor numbers on the weekends when Bon Scott events have taken place...



Sordo's MINI switch - it's official
Posted at WRC.com

MINI has ended weeks of speculation by confirming that Dani Sordo will drive for its new WRC Team in the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship...


Experts predict a great year ahead for the WRC
Posted at WRC.com

The introduction of new regulations, new cars and a new manufacturer arriving in the shape of MINI means this season’s WRC will be one of the most eagerly anticipated in years...


January 4, 2011

Stop watch
By Joe Beninati (Capitals Play-by-Play) at CSN-Washington, DC

I must admit, the old goalie in me had fun watching the work of Semyon Varlamov and Dwayne Roloson tonight. Both men were very much on their best behavior for over 62 minutes before one of those dreaded long-side rebounds cost the Capitals in overtime...


Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Tom Morello, Robert Randolph Among Those Appearing On New Robbie Robertson Album
Posted by Nightwatcher at Nightwatcher's House Of Rock

Where's Eric!, the Eric Clapton fansite is reporting that on April 5, 2011, 429 Records will release 'How To Become Clairvoyant', former guitarist for The Band Robbie Robertson's first new album in over a decade...


Former Survivor, Toto Singers Team Up
By mdome at Classic Rock

Former Survivor singer Jimi Jamison has teamed up with ex-Toto vocalist Bobby Kimball...

...Click here to see the pair presenting the album.


Florence of Arabia
By Brian Lumley at Rumblings from the Man Cave

I moved to Hawai’i at the tender age of twenty-six and, in my world view, was totally disappointed that I wasn’t greeted by Don Ho and his ukulele. After being there for a few days I was mystified at the lack of all the Polynesian girls in grass skirts. Or surfing competitions...


January 3, 2011

Plundering Western PA with a Reversal Invasion
By pucksandbooks at On Frozen Blog

It did not suck, slow shuffling out of Heinz Field late Saturday night, basking in the knowledge that Eric Fehr had fairly ruined the 2010 holidays for our friends in tattoos and mullets...


January 2, 2011

Vintage Live Robin Trower BBC Collection Due In February
Posted by Nightwatcher at Nightwatcher's House Of Rock


Due out February 15, 2011 via EMI, 'Robin Trower at the BBC 1973-1975' is the most comprehensive collection to date of Robin Trower’s recordings for the BBC...


Construction underway on Austin F1 venue
Posted at Formula1.com

Work has begun in earnest on the new United States Grand Prix venue in Texas, as race organisers push ahead with preparations for Formula One racing's return to the country in 2012...


January 1, 2011

Winter Classic Recap: Caps 3, Pens 1
By David Getz at Japers' Rink

...Yes, this rivalry is alive and well alright, and for one night on a national stage, the Capitals have the upper hand. In the long term (or even the short term, given that the teams meet again in early February) it might not end up meaning all that much, but that doesn't change that the Caps most important, most high-profile game of the 2010-11 season was also the one that was the most fun...


A Reveling Red Army Invasion of the Pittsburgh Riverfront
By pucksandbooks at On Frozen Blog

Surreal New Years Eve scene at Pittsburgh’s riverfront German bier hall Hofbrauhaus: from 9:00 on last night, easily 250-plus Capitals’ fans reveling with the aid of giant steins of frothy, bringing great spontaneous pageantry and passion to their chants of “Let’s go Caps!”...

Junior's Reading And Viewing List: September 1 - 10, 2010

Last Update - October 7, 2010 at 7:43 PM EDT

Junior's 'Reading And Viewing List' for September 1 through September 10, 2010 contains links to some of the places I visted via the internet during the first 10 days of last month. If you missed these posted items, or just want to revist and review them, I hope you find them as entertaining and/or informative as I did.

The topics covered below include films, travel, music, hockey (Washington Capitals) and racing (Formula One and WRC).

A couple 2010 F1 Italian Grand Prix Preview posts and 2010 WRC Rally Japan Preview posts made it into this list.


September 10, 2010

Classic Alice Cooper Movie Making Its Way To Blu -Ray
September 14th
Posted by Nightwatcher at Nightwatcher's House Of Rock

Alice Cooper's legendary 1973 concert film 'Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper' is making its way to Blue Ray restored and remastered for 1080p and 5.1 DTS. It's due to be released via Shout Factory! on September 14th.

'Good To See You Again' features the original Alice Cooper Band, namely guitarists Glen Buxton & Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith, captured on three dates of their record setting Billion Dollar Babies tour in 1973...

Uriah Heep To Release Live Album
By mdome at Classic Rock

...To be called Official Bootleg Volume II – Live In Budapest, Hungary 2010. As yet, though, there’s no release date.

Say the band: ”This is an official bootleg recording from our concert in the Petofi Hall, Budapest Hungary, on May 4, 2010...

2010-2011 Previews: Defensemen -- Tyler Sloan
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

Tyler Sloan is the Rodney Dangerfield among Caps defensemen. Here is a guy who was undrafted and hooked on with three teams by signing free agent contracts (Columbus in 2000, Hershey in 2007, and the Caps in 2008). He didn’t see his first NHL action until he was 27 years old, and in the first period of his first game drew a nine minute power play for the Caps...

Pre-Monza analysis - Alonso under pressure
Posted at Formula1.com

Fernando Alonso comes to Monza under the greatest pressure to deliver a strong result to keep Ferrari in the hunt for the world championship. And yesterday he admitted here that this race, and the next in Singapore, will have a crucial effect on his and the Scuderia’s chances...

Queen + Paul Rodgers Photo Book
By mdome at Classic Rock

There’s an official photo book on the brief career of Queen + Paul Rodgers on the way.

Titled Rockmos!, it’s to be published on October 1 and chronicles the band’s 22 shows in Europe and North America between 2005 and 2008. The 342-page book has a foreword written by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers...

WRC TV stage gets backing from teams
Posted at WRC.com

The FIA's announcement of a television stage on every round of next year's World Rally Championship has received universal approval from those involved in the sport...


September 9, 2010

The Human Bureaucracy.
By Brian at Rumblings from the Man Cave

...So it's about two ay-em and a slight rain is falling in D.C. The rest of my party ambles on over to the Korean War Veterans Memorial and I park it in the Lincoln Memorial so my camera gear won't get wet.

It's me, Abe, and a few D.C. cops. I strike up a conversation as the gentle mist is falling on the marble steps of the monument. I like standing on this one step; there's a marker stating that this is the spot that Martin Luther King stood when he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. I stand there, getting a little wet as I look out over the Reflecting Pool and imagine how electric that day must have been...

FIA Thursday press conference - Italy
Posted at Formula1.com

Drivers: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), Rubens Barrichello (Williams), Jenson Button (McLaren), Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India), Jarno Trulli (Lotus).

Q: Jarno, your home race. Tell us what it means to you. New team and all that.
Jarno Trulli: Yeah, it is always great to be back in a sunny Monza. We know Monza can also be very rainy and wet and no-one really enjoys that kind of circumstance. I enjoy Monza as it is a special atmosphere. It is a home grand prix. We have got the tifosi all around. A big Ferrari support but Italian drivers are always very welcome...

MINI World Rally Car up and running
Posted at WRC.com


MINI's new Countryman World Rally Car has turned its wheels in anger for the first time - successfully completing a shakedown test at Prodrive's private proving ground in the UK...


Really good Geezer Butler Interview
Posted by Joe Siegler at Black Sabbath Online

Short and sweet. If you haven't seen this interview with Geezer Butler, where he talks about the death of Dio, the Paranoid album, and a bunch of other things, you're missing out.

Go read this interview over at bravewords.com!

Ronnie Dio’s Memoirs On The Way
By mdome at Classic Rock

Following the news that Dio are to release a live album in November, now it seems more activity is being planned around the late Ronnie James Dio.

Talking to Rolling Stone, Wendy Dio said that there are plans for the singer’s memoirs to be published. “I’m just going to finish the end parts of it. It’s actually [intended as] a three-book deal – the memoirs of Ronnie, a book of illustrated lyrics and a photo book.”...

Italy Preview - Monza make or break for Ferrari?
Posted at Formula1.com

Monza, that wonderful cathedral of sport, could be the turning point of the world championship fight this weekend. Its long straights and the need for minimal downforce may militate against Red Bull, while Ferrari, fresh from no further penalties in their team orders hearing at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Wednesday, will decide their strategy for the rest of the season based on their performance here on their home ground...

Team boss Wilson expects strong showing from Ford pair
Posted at WRC.com

Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson says he expects his factory drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala to be competitive in all types of weather conditions on Rally Japan this week.

Hirvonen and Latvala have both highlighted the slight edge the works Focus has on rain-hit stages...


September 8, 2010

2010-2011 Previews: Defensemen -- John Erskine
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator

John Erskine is the designated “physical defenseman” for the Caps. In 182 games as a Cap he has recorded 391 hits (2.1 per game) and 294 penalty minutes. But there is another number that lurks ominously among Erskine’s tenure as a Cap – 87. Nope, not the player he’d like most to smear into the glass (ok, maybe). It is the number of games he has missed to injury over his four seasons with Washington...

Bonus points up for grabs on WRC events in 2011
Posted at WRC.com

Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has announced a number of changes to next year's World Rally Championship, including a bonus stage on every round where drivers will compete for extra championship points.

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council made the decisions at a meeting today (Wednesday) in Paris...

No further Ferrari penalty, team orders to be reviewed
Posted at Formula1.com

The FIA is to review the rules relating to team orders in Formula One racing after its World Motor Sport Council decided on Wednesday to impose no further sanction on Ferrari for their controversial one-two finish in July’s German Grand Prix.

Hockenheim stewards fined Ferrari US$100,000 for imposing team orders and bringing the sport into disrepute after Felipe Massa moved aside to let team mate Fernando Alonso win the race...

New 'Red' Clip: Helen Mirren 1, Armored Cars 0
By Rick Marshall at MTV's Splash Page

Way back in December, "Red" co-creator Warren Ellis offered a great response to one of the coolest additions to the cast of director Robert Schwentke's movie based on the 2003 Wildstorm comic. "Who wouldn't want to see Helen Mirren with a sniper rifle?" he asked.

And while we don't get to see the Oscar-winning actress with a sniper rifle in the new "Red" clip released by Summit Entertainment on Yahoo Movies, we do get to see her taking out a fleet of armored cars with something a little less... subtle...

FIA announces 20-race calendar for 2011
Posted at Formula1.com

Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has released the calendar for the 2011 world championship. The addition of the Indian Grand Prix makes for a 20-race season - one more round than in 2010 and the longest in Formula One history.

The Bahrain Grand Prix will kick off proceedings on March 13, followed by the Australian, Malaysian and Chinese rounds, before the championship heads to Europe. The inaugural Indian event will take place towards the end of the year on October 30, with the season drawing to a close in Brazil on November 27...

La Pista Magica - Magical Monza
Posted at Formula1.com

It’s a tough ask to follow Spa-Francorchamps on the Formula One calendar - but Monza can. The legendary circuit, which will host the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, boasts enough history, passion, speed and magic to offer up an unmissable event in front of some of the most fervent fans.

On paper it looks like no other track. Its layout is deceptively simple, but masks what is widely-regarded as one of the toughest challenge on the calendar. Dominated by long straights, but punctuated by slow chicanes, the circuit demands minimum downforce and maximum speed. Affectionately labelled a ‘car-breaker’, nowhere is tougher on brakes and engines than Monza, which boasts average speeds of around 250 km/h and top speeds of 340 km/h...


September 7, 2010

Red Skull Will Be 'Rather Frightening' In 'Captain America' Movie, Says Kevin Feige
By Blair Marnell at MTV's Splash Page

Earlier this year, Hugo Weaving signed on to portray the villainous Red Skull opposite Chris Evans in "The First Avenger: Captain America".

And while the casting of Weaving has generally been met with fan approval — thanks in part to his memorable turn as Agent Smith in "The Matrix" trilogy...

2010-2011 Previews: Defensemen -- John Carlson
By The Peerless at The Peerless Prognosticator


Since John Carlson was taken by the Capitals with the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NHL entry draft, John Carlson’s career seems to have been an unbroken arc of advancement and success. After being drafted by the Caps, Carlson joined the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League and led all rookie defensemen in that league in goals, assists, overall scoring, and plus-minus; and was an important ingredient in London’s advancing through the playoffs...


Top Names To Perform For ITV Legends
By mdome at Classic Rock

Some of the top names in prog and 60s rock are to play a series of shows at Metropolis Studios in West London, under the banner of ITV Legends.

Each of the shows will be filmed by ITV, and there will only 140 tickets per gig. Not only does everyone there get to see the concert (surprise, surprise), but also meets the band after the performance, and has photos taken with them. In addition, you’ll get your name on the DVD, which is to be commercially released (as well as getting a free copy)...

Ford in search of victory hat-trick in Japan
Posted at WRC.com

After winning the last two versions of Rally Japan in 2007 and 2008, the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team heads to Hokkaido this week intent on sealing a third consecutive win there...

Sordo and Raikkonen team up again for Rally Japan
Posted at WRC.com

After making their team debut together on Rally Finland, Dani Sordo and Kimi Raikkonen will be Citroen Junior team-mates again this week in Japan, round 10 of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship.

With Sebastien Ogier promoted to the main factory team for the remaining gravel rounds in Japan and GB, Sordo is back in the number two squad alongside WRC new boy Raikkonen. But with the same C4 WRC machinery at his control, Sordo is determined to get stuck into the battle with the frontrunners...

Sandy Denny Box Set In November
By mdome at Classic Rock

The late Sandy Denny is to have a massive box set released by Universal on November 1.

Self-titled, it will have 19 CDs, 11 of which will showcase all her commercially released music with Fairport Convention, Fotheringay, Strawbs, Alex Campbell, John Silvo and also as a solo artist...

BMW Sauber retain Kobayashi for 2011
Posted at Formula1.com

BMW Sauber announced on Tuesday that Kamui Kobayashi will continue to drive for the team next season. Kobayashi has scored 21 world championship points so far this year and has made it into the top-ten qualifying shootout on three occasions.

“We enjoy having our rookie as part of the team - both as a driver and a person,” said team principal Peter Sauber. “We never had any doubts about working with him again in 2011. Kamui has definitely fulfilled our expectations in terms of his speed and fighting spirit. Plus, his work with the engineers and his technical understanding has also developed very well...


September 6, 2010

Chandhok samples Korean Grand Prix circuit
Posted at Formula1.com

Karun Chandhok became the first man to drive a Formula One car around the all-new Korean International Circuit (KIC) on Saturday when he got behind the wheel of a Red Bull as part of a special demonstration event.

In front of 4000 spectators, Chandhok - on loan from regular team HRT - completed 14 laps of the Yeongam venue, which will host the inaugural Korean Grand Prix on October 22-24. The ‘Circuit Run 2010’ also included demonstration laps by Formula BMW and Korean touring cars...

Dio To Release Donington Live Album
By mdome at Classic Rock

Dio are to have their first release since the death of Ronnie James Dio in May.

It’s a double live CD titled Dio At Donington UK: Live in 1983 & 1987. To be released by Niji Entertainment Group, this is due out on November 9...


September 5, 2010

Freddie Mercury
Posted here by Dan, Jr. of Junior's Eyes

Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara), the greatest Rock 'N Roll singer of all time in my opinion, was born on September 5, 1946.

Since he died of bronchial pneumonia (resulting from AIDS) on November 24, 1991, it doesn't seem like a time to say "Happy Birthday!". However, September 5th is a day I usually spend revisiting all my fond memories of Freddie and his band, Queen. The music, the concerts and the man - as much as I knew of him.

Let's enjoy one of those fun old tunes now. How about his cover of "The Great Pretender" (November 24, 1992)? Yes, it was released a year after Freddie passed away.

Freddie Mercury - "The Great Pretender" Extended Version (1992)

September 4, 2010

Halford: New Album This Month
By mdome at Classic Rock

Halford, fronted bny Rob Halford of course release their new album on September 27.

It’s called Halford IV – Made Of Metal, and was produced by Roy Z. The full track listing is:...


September 3, 2010

wrc.com countdown to Rally Japan
Posted at WRC.com

After a two-year absence, Japan returns to the World Rally Championship calendar for the first time since 2008. After several years based in the smaller city of Obihiro, the last running of Rally Japan took place in the metropolis of Sapporo - which hosted the winter Olympics in 1972 as well as the football World Cup in 2002...

The Latest Classic Rock Podcast Is Live!
By gbarton at Classic Rock

The Classic Rock Podcast is back with its latest instalment – come inside to have a listen.

Geoff Barton, Malcolm Dome and sultry newbie Kylie Olsson discuss the Classic Rock awards nominations, Axl Rose’s volatile behaviour, the dearth of modern-day rock superstars and a whole lot more besides. Go here for an epic hour-long earful!

Dan, Jr. / Junior's Eyes Note: Good stuff, this!


Cult Heroes No. 28: Rock Goddess
By gbarton at Classic Rock


Without wishing to come across all pompous and highbrow on you, the time has come for a serious reappraisal of Rock Goddess, three (occasionally four) hard-rockin’ girls who sashayed out of the seething musical hotbed of Wandsworth, south London, in the early 1980s...


September 2, 2010

Gordo’s Goal: Health
By Mike Vogel at Dump 'N Chase

Caps center Boyd Gordon is in town preparing for his seventh NHL season. The longest-tenured Capital from the standpoint of continuous service, Gordon was a first-round (17th overall) selection in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He has been here through the highs and lows of the 2000s, and has seen his own career plagued by a back injury that he thinks is finally under control...

Capitals On The Hot Seat
By J.P. at Japers' Rink

It goes without saying that expectations headed into this coming season for the Washington Capitals are sky-high. The team was the NHL's best through 82 games a season ago before imploding in the first round of the playoffs after taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the Canadiens.

Most of the team's players are back, a year older, a year wiser, and a year hungrier... you'd hope. That combination of talent and disappointment, built up over a couple of years, results in a few organizational pressure points - men who are on the hot seat, as it were...

Gronholm to test for Mini
Posted at WRC.com

Two-time World Champion Marcus Gronholm will make a return to the wheel of a Prodrive-run rally car for the first time in over a year, when he tests the new Mini Countryman WRC in Portugal next week.

The eagerly-anticipated car had an initial shakedown test at the British firm’s proving ground in Warwick this week, but the forthcoming Portugal test marks the first serious running that the Mini will carry out on gravel...

Italy preview quotes - Bridgestone, Ferrari, Virgin,
Force India & more
Posted (Last update on September 9, 2010) at Formula1.com

With average speeds of 250 km/h and top speeds of 340km/h, Monza is one of the quickest circuits on the calendar, as well as one of the oldest. Also home to the Tifosi, the track isn’t short on atmosphere either. The drivers and team members explain why they love Monza and discuss their prospects for the Italian Grand Prix...

Deep Purple: Two More Reissues
By mdome at Classic Rock

Deep Purple are to have two more albums reissued by EMI on October 25.

The first is Come Taste The Band, the sole studio album from the MKIV line-up and originally put out in 1975...

...The other is the compilation Deepest Purple, which was first issued in 1980...

Pirelli ahead of schedule after French test
Posted at Formula1.com

Pirelli’s preparations to return to Formula One racing in 2011 as the sport’s sole tyre supplier continued apace this week, thanks to a successful test at France’s Paul Ricard circuit. The firm’s official test driver Nick Heidfeld was again on track following his debut outing for the tyre manufacturer at Mugello in Italy last month...

The Secret Life of Jarno Trulli
Posted at Formula1.com

He’s Italian but he’s never driven for Ferrari; he’s scored 246.5 points over the course of his 14 year Formula One career; his first - and only - victory came at the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix; he has raised almost 670,000 Euros for Abruzzo since a devastating earthquake hit the region in April 2009; and he owns a vineyard. These are just some of the things you probably do know about Jarno Trulli. Now find out a few you don’t, with the help of the latest installment in our Secret Life series...


September 1, 2010

Lisa Hillary’s Greatest Hits
Posted by The OFB Team at On Frozen Blog

Via CSN Washington:...

Austin circuit layout revealed
Posted at Formula1.com

Race organisers for the forthcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, have released a draft layout of the new circuit that will stage the event from 2012, when Formula One racing returns to the country for the first time in five years...

Hard Rock Hell Tickets Are Selling Fast...
By gbarton at Classic Rock

...But there’s still time to grab a piece of the action, with day tickets still available. Click here to get your Hard Rock Hell tickets.

The fourth annual Hard Rock Hell festival takes place December 3-5 at Pontins Holiday Village, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales.

The line-up is as follows:...

Alonso: Ferrari's fortunes must improve at Monza
Posted at Formula1.com

He arrived at Ferrari amid much fanfare, but Fernando Alonso has endured more downs than ups during a fraught 2010 season. However, as the dust settles on a particularly tough Belgian Grand Prix, Alonso is determined to stay positive ahead of the Italian team’s home event at Monza next weekend - a race he says could prove critical to his dwindling title hopes...

F1 in Schools gears up for 2010 World Finals
Posted at Formula1.com

Students from around the world are putting the finishing touches to their model Formula One cars ahead of the 2010 F1 in Schools World Finals, which will be held in Singapore next month.

The global educational challenge, which is privileged to have the support of the Formula One fraternity, draws together the best young engineers, business minds and designers, as they compete for the coveted Bernie Ecclestone World Champions trophy as well as Automotive and Motorsport Engineering scholarships to City University London...

Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath And Heaven & Hell Update

It's been a while since I've posted anything specifically about guitarist Tony Iommi and the guys from Black Sabbath or the Sabbath / Dio fusion band Heaven & Hell. I have included a few updates on singer Ronnie James Dio and his battle against stomach cancer, but you might want to read a little more about Tony, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne and drummer Vinny Appice too.

I came across an article (with photo above) at BirminghamPost.net that I wanted to share with you metal heads. It's an interview with Tony Iommi from March 12th, just a couple weeks ago, but still would have liked to have pointed it out sooner. Click here to visit the entire article. Meanwhile, read the excerpts below to see if you'd like to read more. I have to warn you, the author loves him some clichés.


They started with news about Tony's mates ...

...Everything was heavenly but then came the ‘hell’ part of the equation. Last November Iommi was forced to take a break for an operation on his hand so 67-year-old Ronnie James Dio arranged a tour with his band, Dio. However, it was suddenly cancelled when the singer was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Meanwhile, Vinny Appice was forced to have surgery on his shoulder, injured while touring, putting him out of action for five months.

‘‘It sounds like Emergency Ward 10,’’ says Aston-born Tony, who now lives in Lapworth. ‘‘Geezer is the only healthy one at the moment.’’

He has good news on all three casualties, however...


Later on, they got around to Tony himself ...

Tony’s hand is also healing well. The operation, involving stem-cell treatment, was something he’d put off for some time.

‘‘The cartilage between the thumb joints of my right hand, my fret hand, was rubbing, bone to bone. They’ve cured that but the bone’s been pushed back and I’ve been told I may need another operation to pull the bone up. I don’t particularly want to go there because I have a friend, also a guitar player, who had that operation and it all went pear shaped which put me off a bit.’’...


They discuss things other than health issues as well. Again, here's the link to the full story.

Download Geezer's “Beach Skeleton” For Free

Heavy metal bassist Geezer Butler, most famous for his time with Black Sabbath, is now offering a free download of a song from one of his own ("solo") albums. Until now, "Beach Skeleton" was only available on the Japanese version of the 1997 album titled 'Black Science'.

The free download was offered within the following post about Geezer's new website design at GeezerButler.com on Wednesday, March 3rd.


New Geezer Site Launched!

If you can see this message, then you’ve already seen the big changes at the Geezer Butler website. The old site design has been replaced with this new design. It was time for an update, and we’ve got something we enjoy, and we hope you do too.

We, however, aren’t just presenting you with just a new coat of paint, we’re also giving you something cool you can download and check out. Available now for free download is the Geezer track, “Beach Skeleton”. Astute Geezer fans will note that Beach Skeleton was the bonus track on the Japanese version of the 1997 album “Black Science”. Beach Skeleton was never available anywhere else (legally, anyway) outside of Japan until now. You can download the track here:

http://www.geezerbutler.com/sounds/14%20-%20Beach%20Skeleton.mp3

Enjoy the track, and let us know what you think of the new site!

Today's Tune: "Black Sabbath" By Black Sabbath

Happy Birthday Black Sabbath! Today is actually the birthday of the English rock band that many say invented "Heavy Metal" music, because it's the 40th anniversary of the release of their first album, also titled 'Black Sabbath' (Recorded in 1969 / Released in 1970). My choice for the 'Today's Tune' is naturally the title track, "Black Sabbath", so no big surprise there.

For much more on the band and the anniversary, check out today's post by Joe Siegler over at Black Sabbath Online. Otherwise, enjoy this great tune. It started a genre of music that many millions of people, including myself, love a great deal.

Black Sabbath - "Black Sabbath" Live in Paris (1970)


Original Band Members:

Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals and Harmonica
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Bill Ward – Drums
Geezer Butler – Bass

Today's Tune: "Junior's Eyes" By Black Sabbath

The 'Today's Tune' for this day is "Junior's Eyes" (1978), by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. There are some very big reasons for picking this song today.

I'm not going to link this song to anything of great historical importance. Posting it on this date has nothing to do with anybody's birth date. It's not because someone I admired or was interested in died on this date.

So, just what are my reasons for picking "Junior's Eyes"? Well, it's nothing Earth shattering, really.

The song title matches my blog title, and there's a good reason why. I named my blog after it. After considering many original name ideas, conjured up from words involved in my many different interests, I picked a song title that wouldn't tie me down into any one particular area of subject matter.

Also, after hunting for a good video (live action, audio only, etc.) of the track off and on since I began this blog on December 1, 2007, somebody finally posted one on YouTube recently. Yeah, I know, I should've uploaded the music myself. But, I didn't.

I've got another very good reason for picking today to feature this brilliant Sabbath tune. There wasn't enough time in my day for finding another song, with a quality linking reason for posting it.

Finally, I Love It! It's very different from earlier Black Sabbath records. It actually goes back toward their blues and jazz like roots, from before they started recording albums to be released to the masses.

Black Sabbath - "Junior's Eyes"


Band Members - Original 1978 Recording:

Ozzy Osbourne – Lead Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar
Bill Ward – Drums
Geezer Butler – Bass Guitar

Today's Tune: "Who Are You?" By Black Sabbath

Happy Birthday Tom Baker! Today, January 20, 2010, is English stage, film and television actor Tom Baker's 76th birthday.

Baker is most remembered for his 7 year (1974 - 1981) run as the fourth incarnation of the Doctor, in the classic BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. More recently, he worked on both the BBC Radio (2001 - 2003?) and BBC Television (2003 - 2006) as the narrator on the naughty comedy sketch series, Little Britain (and Little Britain USA in 2008). He has also authored two books, 'Who On Earth Is Tom Baker?' (1997) and 'The Boy Who Kicked Pigs' (1999).

I wish I had been able to find the time to do a more detailed separate post on Tom for his birthday, but sadly that wasn't the case. Some time in the future then. While you anxiously await that blog entry, you can visit the Wikipedia page on Tom Baker. However, I suggest you head over to Tom's official web site. There, you will find an almost limitless amount of information on Mr. Baker. His full and accurate biography, excerpts from his books, video clips and photos, and the lists of all his movie and television appearances. He even does a monthly news letter (or blog).

When I think of Tom Baker, my thoughts are drawn to the time he spent as Doctor Who. So, for the 'Today's Tune', I picked the song "Who Are You?" by England's heavy metal pioneers, Black Sabbath. It was first released on the 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' album in December of 1973. The album tour began in January of 1974, the same year Tom Baker began his tour as the Doctor.

Black Sabbath - "Who Are You?" (1973)

The Latest Updates On Singer Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk on January 17, 2007.

In case you missed them, I just wanted to share with you the latest updates posted by singer Ronnie James Dio (Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell) and his wife Wendy on his web site.

It was reported in late November of 2009 that Ronnie had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, after having taken ill earlier that month. Fans were advised to send get well cards and letters to the fan club. Wendy then wrote about the beginning of his treatment in last update I posted here. Here we go now, with one from Ronnie just before Christmas, and the last one from Wendy came this past Wednesday.


Holiday message from Ronnie
12/21/2009 at 1:46:54 PM

Happy holidays everyone,

I'd like to take the time to thank everyone for the most wonderful gifts I have ever received. The list includes your good wishes, your prayers, your support, your tears and laughter, your anger and rejoicing, and most of all the unwavering love you've bestowed upon me. I guess I've always felt that we were one person and that you've allowed me to be our spokesman, but until this time of my greatest peril the truth was perhaps slightly hidden. It is hidden no more. Together we' shall face the foe and live on to climb higher mountains and explore greater magic. Together we cannot fail. Please accept my never ending love and dedication to you all. So it is written, and so it shall be.

MAGIC,
FROM RONNIE JAMES DIO


An Update on Ronnie from Wendy
01/13/2010 at 6:57:50 PM

After a few hiccups between Christmas and New Year’s, such as a blood clot, a trip to the emergency room, and a three day stay at the hospital, we had a quiet holiday spent with family and close friends. Ronnie and I just returned from Houston, where Ronnie had his third chemo treatment, and all seems to be going well. Ronnie and Simon Wright went to see Avatar, which he thought was amazing! He has also been writing more chapters for his book.

While at M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre on his second trip, he met a DIO fan named Carmen who has been having treatment every other day for a year, and is eagerly awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Ronnie and Carmen have become fast friends. Carmen is a very positive happy person whose existence, like Ronnie’s, depends heavily on music and sports. On the third trip, we also met his mom and sister, whose total support is so important to all cancer patients. They have become part of our family as well.

The support we get from all of our friends and fans is such a blessing to Ronnie and I.

Ronnie, Geezer [Butler], Tony [Iommi] and Vinny [Appice] will be doing some interviews in the upcoming weeks to be included in the new 30th anniversary Heaven and Hell DVD due out sometime this year.

We would like to thank Simon Wright, who has been such a help with everything and a good, good friend, of course our doctor at MD Anderson, Dr. Ajani, and especially our family doctor, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, without whose quick diagnosis and help with all the nurses and hospitals, we would be lost. His care and compassion is unwavering.

Thanks again to all of Ronnie’s friends and fans, and --- by the way ---- Ronnie has not lost any hair yet!

------ Wendy Dio

Ronnie James Dio Stomach Cancer Update - December 10, 2009

Ronnie James Dio in 'The Devil You Know' promotional picture.
Photo by Chapman Baehler / Rhino Entertainment.

Wendy Dio posted another update on the health of her husband, singer Ronnie James Dio (Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell), on his site late yesterday afternoon. I thought I'd follow up on the recent announcement of Ronnie being diagnosed with stomach cancer, with the latest news about how things are going.


Latest Update - Ronnie Aces 1st Chemo Treatment with Flying Colors
12/10/2009 5:19:51 PM

Here is an update from Wendy Dio on Ronnie's battle with stomach cancer:

Well, it has been a very exhausting month – after all the neverending tests in Los Angeles, we flew to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and as soon as we arrived, we got a call from the MD Anderson Hospital that they had an appointment for us with the doctor we originally wanted, so we then flew to Houston to the clinic, and of course MORE tests, but Ronnie finished receiving his first chemo treatment on Wednesday, and all is going very well.

I would like to thank Tony Martell from the T.J. Martell Foundation, Dr. Stuart Aaronson from Mount Sinai, Lindsay Brown and Mike Carden from Eagle Records, and our very own Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, for all your help in getting us into MD Anderson, and also our friends Geezer and Gloria Butler, who flew to Houston to be with Ronnie while he had his chemo.

Ronnie and I are totally overwhelmed by the amount of well wishes that we have received from friends and fans - we are reading them all. Some make us laugh, some make us cry, but all of them are so filled with love that it gives us so much support and makes Ronnie even more determined to fight this battle and win. Thank you all for the positive energy and prayers.

--Wendy Dio

Belated Birthday Wishes For Geezer Butler And Brian May

Over this past weekend a couple of the musicians I admire the most officially got another year older. On Friday the 17th of July, bassist Terence "Geezer" Butler (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell) turned 60 years old. Guitarist Brian Harold May (Queen) hit 62 on Sunday the 19th.

Butler is currently on the road, touring with Heaven & Hell. They seem to be doing very well together these days. Geezer has kept very busy throughout his long career, with solo work, playing with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and Heaven & Hell.

May always has something going on as well. Of course he also spent many years with a very high profile band named Queen. Queen hooked up with singer Paul Rodgers for the last few years, but the Queen + Paul Rodgers venture seems to be over. Brian, who has appeared on many other artist's recordings (including many Black Sabbath members) and some fine solo work himself, always has many irons in the fire. He could show up for more "We Will Rock You" (the musical) special appearance performances. Maybe he will get back to some more solo work. If these things don't amuse him, he could just spend his time watching his actress wife Anita Dobson (EastEnders, Split Ends, Hamlet)get naked on stage with her lady friends at performances of "Calendar Girls". Mercy, so many things to choose from.

Anyway, I hope the lads both had a fine weekend and birthday celebration. Here's to many more, guys!

'The Devil You Know' Tour Brings Heaven & Hell To North America In August

Heaven & Hell - 2009 photo by Chapman Baehler / Rhino Entertainment.

'The Devil You Know' is the first studio album by Heaven & Hell and was released last month. The band started touring South America on May 5th, and are currently back in the USA for a short break. They'll hit the road again starting in Moscow, Russia this coming weekend, followed by a trek across Europe that lasts through July. The North American leg starts in Vancouver, Canada on August 7th. Tickets for all the dates scheduled through August 2009 are currently on sale, except for the Merriweather Post Pavilion show in Columbia, MD, which go on sale Friday, June 5th.

Venue and ticket information links for all concerts remaining on the schedule can be found on Heaven & Hell's tour page. For fan submitted concert reviews and pictures, head over to the 2009 Tour Date Page at Joe Siegler's Black Sabbath Online. Reviews and photos from the April 26th Van Nuys, CA rehearsal gig are also available there.