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

Today's Tune: "Mystery" By Dio

Happy Birthday to Jonathan Firth! Jonathan, younger brother of much more well known Colin Firth (Pride And Prejudice, 'Love Actually', 'The King's Speech'), is also a fine English film and television actor. Since he has a strong resemblance to his older brother Colin, it might take a few minutes to realize that you are actually watching a quality performance by Jon. Not as well known in the US, most of his work can be found in British productions, and that's fine with me.

Jonathan has appeared in many of the television series that I love so much. These programmes include murder mystery shows like Inspector Morse (1987), Poirot (1994), Midsomer Murders (1996), and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002).

Keeping that mystery theme in mind, I've picked Dio's 1984 single "Mystery" for this 'Today's Tune'. It's probably my least favorite song by the group. If you want to see the studio video for this track, follow this link. It's so odd that it's hard to watch, and I couldn't bring myself to include it. A live performance is much more enjoyable, so that you can find below.

Dio - "Mystery" Live 1984 at Philadelphia Spectrum

In Remembrance Of Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio, one of the most extraordinary singers, songwriters and entertainers of all time, passed away early Sunday morning - May 16, 2010. He was a brave and determined man, but stomach cancer won the battle anyway.

Forgive me for not posting something sooner, but besides being busy with the ever crumbling world that is my personal life, I have spent much of the free time that I do have grieving over the loss of Ronnie.

Not too long after Sunrise on Sunday morning, I signed off the internet. The last thing I had read was that Ronnie James Dio was still alive, and that reports of his death were merely rumors. The first thing I saw when I got back on the internet on Monday, was confirmation that he did pass away. It was just a little later on, while I was taking my dog for a short walk.

He had lived a lot and given a lot during his time on this Earth, but 67 years isn't all that old, and I know he had a lot more to give. The force that was Ronnie James Dio lives on in the people who loved and respected him. His influence can be heard in many a rock singer's vocal style.

I'm sure fans new and old are pulling out their Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell records, CD's and DVD's, emersing themselves as I have done, and playing RJD recordings over and over again.

It's been a while, but I had the pleasure of going to five or so Black Sabbath and Dio concerts with Ronnie as lead singer. They were all good and satisfying times. Memories I shall cherish until my own demise. Thank you, Ronnie!

In remembrance of Ronnie James Dio, I've chosen to include a few videos of him singing what I know was one of his favorite songs to sing. From the very first Rainbow album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975), I offer "Catch The Rainbow". I just can't seem to get enough of this tune right now, and I don't feel like picking only one video. Each of the following includes different pictures and live action. My favorite is the last one, apparently a small intimate show, where Ronnie is obviously very happy. It's not the whole (long version of the) song and recorded somewhat poorly from one side of the small stage, but I love watching him enjoying life. I wish he could be doing so right now.


Service announcements from the official website:

Public Memorial Service For Ronnie James Dio
5/19/2010 2:21:32 PM

There will be a Public Memorial Service for Ronnie James Dio on Sunday, May 30th at 2:00 PM at The Hall Of Liberty located at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.

This will be a celebration of the life and music of Ronnie James Dio and is open to all of his friends and fans from around the world.

For those of you that will be flying in from out of town or out of the country, we have made special rates at various local hotels available to you! Just go to our official Facebook Page for hotel information!

Official Ronnie James Dio Facebook Fan Page

The Ronnie James Dio "Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund
5/19/2010 11:59:40 AM

Wendy Dio has requested in lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to the Ronnie James Dio "STAND UP AND SHOUT CANCER FUND". Please send your donations to the Niji Entertainment Group, 12400 Ventura Blvd. #624, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. From all of us at Niji Entertainment Group, we thank you! For those that want to use Paypal, a link will be set up at RonnieJamesDio.com .


For the long version by Rainbow, live in Munich, Germany in 1977:
Part 1 (10:35) here, and then Part 2 (7:47) here
- Oberhoffer posted May 18, 2010.

Original Rainbow audio with pics, vids - akrug79 posted May 18, 2010



Original Rainbow audio w/ pictures - BJB333333 posted May 17, 2010



Dio at Sofia, Bulgaria in 1998 - angelpriest posted May 04, 2008



Dio at Gothenburg, Sweden 1997 - japiedio posted Nov. 21, 2008

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.

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

'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.

Australia, New Zealand & South America Welcome 'The Devil You Know' May 7th

Following their previous European distribution announcement, Roadrunner Records will release the new Heaven & Hell album 'The Devil You Know' on May 7, 2009 in Australia, New Zealand and South America. The track listing appears to be the same as on the USA (April 28th via Rhino Entertainment) and European (April 27th via Roadrunner Records) versions. For more details, see the full press release.

'The Devil You Know' In Europe And Russia Via Roadrunner April 27th, Followed By 2009 Tour

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

Roadrunner Records' 'The Devil You Know' Europe, Russia Press Release includes tour dates:

ROADRUNNER RECORDS WELCOMES HEAVEN & HELL

Roadrunner Records is honoured to announce the worldwide signing (ex-North America, Japan, & Asia) of the highly respected, legendary group Heaven & Hell. The label is proud to include Heaven & Hell in their celebrated roster of bands at the top of their game.

Heavy metal icons Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice are set to release a brand new album - their first under the moniker Heaven & Hell, with Black Sabbath's last studio album having been 17 YEARS AGO – on April 27. Titled The Devil You Know, this is an event for every classic rock and metal fan to get excited about!

After finishing several heralded world tours as Heaven & Hell last summer, the influential band were tighter than ever before, both musically and personally. Agreeing that it would be a shame to stop making music together at tour’s end, the quartet began writing, first in England at Iommi’s home studio and later in Los Angeles at Dio’s studio. “The band had gotten too good to just walk away,” Dio says. “We wanted to show people that we were still capable of giving them new music that measured up to what we’d done in the past.” With that goal in mind, the band once again converged on Rockfield Studios in Wales last winter, the same place they used 17 years earlier to record their last album, Dehumanizer. The result is the long awaited new album The Devil You Know, featuring 10 soon-to-be-classic tracks from the Dio-fronted version of Black Sabbath.

Bible Black, the epic first single, begins with Iommi on acoustic guitar behind Dio’s plaintive wail before the rhythm shifts to a menacing stomp for the rest of this dark tale about a book of sinister scriptures. One of the first songs written for the album, Dio says it established a tone for the rest of the album. “When you start off with a blockbuster like that, it makes the rest of the album so much easier because it gives you a benchmark to measure the other songs against.”

Iommi proves he hasn’t lost the ability to inspire six-string envy, unleashing riffs like a pack of rabid hellhounds on Atom And Evil, Fear, Neverwhere, and Eating The Cannibals, a tune about doing more than biting the hand that feeds. Butler and Appice slow the pace while ramping up the intensity on Follow The Tears and Double The Pain and Breaking Into Heaven, the latter diverging from its glacial procession for Dio’s majestic chorus about fallen angels planning an attack on paradise.





Track Listing:

Atom And Evil
Fear
Bible Black
Double The Pain
Rock And Roll Angel
The Turn Of The Screw
Eating The Cannibals
Follow The Tears
Neverwhere
Breaking Into Heaven


When the songs were finished, Dio says he, Iommi and Butler marveled at their own brutal efficiency. “We almost felt guilty to tell you the truth. We looked at each other at one point and said: ‘Is it really done? I can’t do it any better. Can you? No. Then I guess were done’,” he recalls laughing. “At the end of the day, I think what separates this band is that we know who we are. We want to do one thing well and not try to be something we’re not.”


Heaven & Hell appear at the following dates this summer:

MAY
30 – Moscow, Russia – B-1
31 – Moscow, Russia – B-1

JUNE
1 - St Petersburg, Russia - New Arena
2 – Helsinki, Finland - Icehall
4 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
6 – Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rocks
8 – Giessen, Germany - Hessenhallen
9 – Berlin, Germany - Zitadelle
10 – Bamburg, Germany - Jakoarena
13 – Bergum, Holland - Waldrock
14 – Karlsruhe, Germany - Europahalle
16 – Bonn, Germany - Museumplatz
17 – Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus
19 – Clisson, France - Hellfest
21 – Zaragoza, Spain - Metalway Festival
26 – Dessel, Belgium - Graspop
27 – Milan, Italy - Gods of Metal

JULY
27 – Athens Festival, Greece
31 – Wacken Festival, Germany

Heaven & Hell Online Premiere Of "Bible Black"

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

"Bible Black" is the first single from the new Heaven & Hell album 'The Devil You Know'. The track was made available for online streaming today. There are a couple places where this is possible, including the Heaven & Hell MySpace player and also at Noise Creep.

'The Devil You Know' Update Press Release

The album cover art comes from a painting called "Satan", which is
apparently by an artist named "Per Øyvind Haagensen" from Norway.
The version used on album cover is slightly modified from the original.

Latest album update Press Release for North America, from Rhino (included cover art shown above):

HEAVEN & HELL INTRODUCES THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Highly Anticipated New Album from Dio, Iommi, Butler, and Appice,
Their First in 17 Years, Features Epic First Single "Bible Black"

Available from Rhino April 28

LOS ANGELES -- After finishing several heralded world tours as Heaven & Hell last summer, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice were tighter than ever before, both musically and personally. Agreeing that it would be a shame to stop making music together at tour's end, the quartet began writing, first in England at Iommi's home studio and later in Los Angeles at Dio's studio. "The band had gotten too good to just walk away", Dio says. "We wanted to show people that we were still capable of giving them new music that measured up to what we'd done in the past."

With that goal in mind, the band once again converged on Rockfield Studios in Wales last winter, the same place they used 17 years earlier to record their last album, Dehumanizer. The result is the long awaited new album THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, featuring 10 soon-to-be-classic tracks from the Dio-fronted version of Black Sabbath. The highly anticipated set arrives on April 28 from Rhino for a suggested list price of $18.98 (physical) and $9.99 (digital).

It took less than three weeks to finish the album, with most of the songs only needing a couple of takes. "It was good to play them live in the studio. It keeps you on edge", Iommi says. "I mean, somewhere along the line we were gonna have to play them live; might as well start in the studio." Butler adds: "We've learned from the past that you can kill a song doing it over and over. The first Sabbath albums were done in two or three days. Technically they weren't great, but vibe-wise they were great. If you capture that feeling, that's all you need."

"Bible Black", the epic first single, begins with Iommi on acoustic guitar behind Dio's plaintive wail before the rhythm shifts to a menacing stomp for the rest of this dark tale about a book of sinister scriptures. One of the first songs written for the album, Dio says it established a tone for the rest of the album. "When you start off with a blockbuster like that, it makes the rest of the album so much easier because it gives you a benchmark to measure the other songs against."

Iommi proves he hasn't lost the ability to inspire six-string envy, unleashing riffs like a pack of rabid hellhounds on "Atom And Evil", "Fear", "Neverwhere", and "Eating The Cannibals", a tune about doing more than biting the hand that feeds. Butler and Appice slow the pace while ramping up the intensity on "Follow The Tears" and "Double The Pain" and "Breaking Into Heaven", the latter diverging from its glacial procession for Dio's majestic chorus about fallen angels planning an attack on paradise.


THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
Track Listing

1. "Atom And Evil"
2. "Fear"
3. "Bible Black"
4. "Double The Pain"
5. "Rock And Roll Angel"
6. "The Turn Of The Screw"
7. "Eating The Cannibals"
8. "Follow The Tears"
9. "Neverwhere"
10. "Breaking Into Heaven"

Heaven And Hell Album To Be Released April 2009

The following is a February 10, 2009 press release from Rhino Entertainment about the upcoming debut(?) studio album from Heaven And Hell, or the first studio album from Black Sabbath since 1995, depending on how you want to look at it.

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HEAVEN & HELL SET TO REVEAL THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Highly Anticipated New Album From Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice To Be Released April 28 From Rhino

LOS ANGELES --Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice returned to the stage after 15 years in 2007, launching a triumphant world tour as Heaven & Hell. Revitalized and inspired by its time on the road, the quartet recently returned to the studio, recording the band's first album since 1992's Dehumanizer. The highly anticipated album, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, will be available from Rhino on April 28.

"Everyone had so much fun playing together that we didn't want it to end", says the group. "We started writing together and the songs started flowing like we never stopped. We wound up writing and recording an album that stands up to anything we've ever done. We're really proud of the music and excited for people to hear it."

The dark tone heard on THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is clear from several of the album's song titles, such as "Bible Black", "Rock & Roll Angel", "Breaking Into Heaven", "Atom & Evil" and "Eating The Cannibals".

The seeds of the new album were planted in 2006, when Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice returned to the studio to record a trio of new songs for Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, a recent compilation of essential tracks taken from the quartet's four albums together. Soon after, the band launched a run of sold-out shows around the world, electrifying audiences with its malevolent metal fury.

Rhino Entertainment 3400 West Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA 91505

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I lifted the press release from Joe Siegler's Black Sabbath Online. Joe also posted an update on the track listing for 'The Devil You Know'. The complete list should be known soon. Check on the latest tour date information via the band's official site.

Heaven And Hell Update From Classic Rock Mag

It's been a long time since I've posted any news about the metal band Heaven And Hell (half Black Sabbath and half Dio), so I wanted to pass along the following update. The article below is the latest from Classic Rock Magazine.

Heaven And Hell:
Classic Rock Hears Their New Songs
terrybezer / Communication Breakdown, News / 06/01/2009 16:57pm

Classic Rock has heard three unfinished tracks from Heaven And Hell’s debut album. In a world-exclusive we visited vocalist Ronnie James Dio, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Vinny Appice on the final day of tracking at Rockfield Studios in Wales.

Some final touches were still to be added; for example Iommi wanted to add guitar solos at his home studio, and the material was in an unmixed state.

Due to be released in late April, the album’s 10 tracks were co-produced by the group and engineer Mike Exeter.

The songs we heard were a moody, thuddingly malevolent number called Rock ’N’ Roll Jesus, the pacier and more anthemic Neverwhere, and a slice of sloth-like majesty that’s likely to be titled Breaking Into Heaven.

Other tracks expected to appear include Bible Black, Double Pain and Atom + Evil.

With the band having recorded three tracks for the Black Sabbath: The Dio Years anthology and played around 100 shows as Heaven And Hell, writing began at Iommi and Dio’s houses in England and California respectively, either side of the Metal Masters tour of America with Motörhead, Judas Priest and Testament.

“Each of us submitted a CD of our ideas, and we narrowed it down from there,” explains Iommi. “In some ways it was like picking up where we’d left off with Dehumanizer [Sabbath’s 1992 album], which was also done at Rockfield.”

“I never thought this band would get back together, but here we are,” marvels Appice. “Everyone’s more mature, and when we play together it’s just a monster.”

Touring plans are currently being finalised, with appearances at the Sweden Rock Festival, France’s Hellfest and Waldrock in Holland already confirmed.

*See exclusive photos of Heaven And Hell at Rockfield Studios
in the February edition of Classic Rock, on sale Wednesday, January 7.

Black Sabbath's "Rules Of Hell" In Stores July 22nd

Do you plan on buying the new Black Sabbath box set? Have you already pre-ordered the five disc version? You could win a free copy of "The Rules Of Hell".

The following are parts of what was posted today at Black Sabbath Online by Joe Siegler.

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Win a free copy of the "Rules of Hell" Box set!

It's giveaway time again! This coming Tuesday is the US release date for the Black Sabbath Box Set "The Rules of Hell". If you've been living under a rock, then you don't know this is the Dio era of Black Sabbath's remastered box set offering. It contains the three studio albums Dio Sabbath released, plus the tepid live release, "Live Evil". This is the first time these albums have been remastered from the original Warner Bros source masters (the 1996 Castle versions were a different source master). I've had a pre-release copy in my hands for a few weeks now, and I have to say, they sound improvement is quite noticable (especially on H&H and MR)...


...Anyway, I'm here to give away some copies of the box as has been my custom on this site for quite some time now. I've got five copies of the box set that are being given away. First off, I wanted to thank the folks over at Rhino Records for providing me with the copies to be given away...

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For all the details about the giveaway and the different available versions, including the extra disc Best Buy special edition, see the entire article by clicking here.

Black Sabbath "The Rules Of Hell" Animated Trailer

More Heaven And Hell In 2008?

Will there be more Heaven And Hell in 2008? Recent reports from BLABBERMOUTH.NET and Artisan News Service (Vinny Appice 3 part Interview) say yes, it looks that way. The band, which includes Black Sabbath's guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, along with former Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice and former lead singer Ronnie James Dio toured last year and released a live CD and DVD "Live At Radio City Music Hall" at the end of 2007. The latest word is that they are working on new material, with hopes of getting a studio CD out in 2008.

The band name Heaven And Hell comes from the first album they did together as Black Sabbath in 1980. They did a few albums and tours together in an on again off again relationship from 1980 - 1982 and 1991-1992. If they manage to release a studio CD album of new material this year, it will be the first time in over 15 years.

.

Personally, I much prefer the original Black Sabbath lineup formed in the late 1960's with Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals and Bill Ward on drums. They've had many member changes from time to time, and I've liked them all. But, the first lineup, which stayed in tact until 1979 was definitely best. I was lucky enough to see most of the different versions of the band live, including the "Reunion" tour with Ozzy and Bill when they were in Columbia, MD at Merriweather Post Pavilion August 14, 1999.

.

I look forward to the new release later this year. Don't expect Heaven And Hell to tour in 2008 like some are saying. It's more likely to happen in early 2009. The rumor that Judas Priest will tour with them seems unlikely, as they start a world tour soon. Whenever it happens, I'd like to make it to this reunion tour as well.