Friday, February 17th 2012
News: Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath Cancels 2012 Tour (Also: Fuck Cancer)
It appears as if the greatest news to hit heavy metal in years was too good to be true: The Black Sabbath camp has cancelled nearly their entire 2012 tour due to guitarist Tony Iommi’s ongoing battle with lymphoma, according to an issued press release. The band has announced that they’ll now only be performing at Download this summer.
“Sabbath have had to put some plans on hold due to Tony Iommi’s battle with lymphoma,” says a statement on the band’s Facebook. “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.
As consolation to the promoters and fans, Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne will now perform the majority of the previously scheduled 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) and longtime former Ozzy band member Zakk Wylde, as well as ex-GNR guitarist Slash.
As Tony Iommi continues to make progress in treatment, Black Sabbath are reportedly continuing to write and record music in the U.K. for their upcoming album, their first with the current lineup in over 33 years.
OZZY AND FRIENDS tour dates:
5/23 Helsinki, Finland Hartwall Arena
5/25 Stockholm, Sweden Stadium
5/27 Jelling, Denmark Jelling Festival
5/29 Bergen, Norway Bergen Calling Festival
5/31 Oslo, Norway Spektrum
6/2 Malmo, Sweden Malmo Stadium
6/4 Dortmund, Germany Westfalenhalle
6/6 Prague, Czech Rep O2 Arena
6/15 Vitoria, Spain Azkena Rock Festival
6/17 Clisson, France Hellfest
6/22 Dessel, Belgium Graspop Metal Meeting
6/24 Milan, Italy Gods of Metal Festival
6/26 Vienna, Austria Stadthalle
6/28 Belgrade, Serbia USCE Park
7/1 Athens, Greece Rockwave Festival
Sad
Sad sad sad, merciless disease. I hope he gets better.
I was almost in shock when I saw the headline as I got tickets to Download but at least I’ll still get to see them. My heart bleeds for those who have tickets for the other shows, seriously, tears of sadness are falling from my cheeks like Victoria falls for all the disappointed fans.
Not a huge fan of Sabbath anyway but its a fucker when somebody gets ill like Iommy. I heard some people in Syria are being massacred too, thats a bitch as well.
Not only I won’t see Black Sabbath in Paris (where I was going to see them as they wouldn’t play in Poland) but Ozzy as well. My show has been canceled, and I’ll never forgive whoever is responsible for ruining my dream of seeing Black Sabbath live. Still, I wish Iommi will fuck his cancer and throw it out of his body. Maybe in 2013…