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Appice’s, Iommi’s and Butler’s final thunder?

This is a concert report from Heaven And Hell’s tribute to Ronnie James Dio this weekend at London’s High Voltage Festival.

Ronnie James Dio cancer fund t-shirts at High Voltage 2010

A big cheer goes up from the crowd. We’re at London’s High Voltage Festival waiting for Heaven And Hell to do their tribute show to Ronnie James Dio, and we’re kinda ready to get started. The big cheer greets a photo of Ronnie James Dio on the screens by the stage. The photo turns into a short gallery with images of Ronnie from the Elf days onwards. Then “E5150” comes over the speakers.

Vinnie Appice appears behind his somewhat scaled down drumkit. He greets the crowd and positions himself to start throwing his thunder. Then Iommi and Butler appear. This is Heaven And Hell. Any second now, a smiling Ronnie James Dio will bounce out from the side of the stage…

No! We are all here because Ronnie isn’t with us anymore. And we’ve come from all over. There’s the Japanese girl who travelled here by herself only for this show. She only heard of Ronnie James Dio a few years ago and bought her High Voltage ticket in January before Ronnie’s condition took a turn for the worse and H&H cancelled all their summer shows. Now they’re back on the bill for one last time, and the Japanese girl is here to pay her respect.

So are thousands of other Dio fans. All kinds of languages are spoken throughout the incredibly well planned festival site. The amount of Dio t-shirts is unreal; from recent ones honouring his memory, loads of Cancer Fund shirts, and a wealth of well worn shirts from past Dio tours.

Heaven And Hell’s rescheduled show at High Voltage comes with equal amounts of anticipation and apprehension. How will it feel seeing Jorn Lande and Glenn Hughes sing with the band instead of Ronnie? Will it bring closure to the sadness and anger over his much too early and unjust death?

The band launches into “Mob Rules”, and Jorn Lande storms onto the stage, wild eyed and eager. The lump in the throat swells up. This is Ronnie James Dio’s band and he is sadly missed. But Jorn Lande does a splendid job. He sings the song unselfishly. He is focused and very well rehearsed – even if he is reading the words off a cue sheet, but that’s allowed.

Vocally Lande is on the ball. He knows the piece and captures the energy beautifully. In front of the stage all kinds of emotions are raging. It’s so wrong that Ronnie is not there, but Jorn is doing a great job and there’s no reason not to enjoy the full roar of Heaven And Hell one last time.

This must be difficult for them. Geezer pretty much sticks to his spot, plucking away incessantly at his bass, hair flying. Iommi remains the grand old riff master, resplendent in blue tinted glasses and long black coat. Stylish, calm and collected. The big screens reveal in close up Appice’s contorted face as he hammers home every stroke with brutal force and that dramatic dragging groove that is unmistably his own.

But who knows how they feel? And who knows what Lande is feeling. He doesn’t say much, quickly asks how we are doing and introduces the next song. “I” off “Dehumanizer”. Gorgeous. Again he pretty much nails it RJD-style with excellent timing and phrasing. In front of him, the full festival crowd has shifted from an ecstatic welcome to (almost) quietly observing the band and trying to suss out exactly how to handle this special situation.

After “I”, Jorn Lande respectfully announces “Ladies and gentlemen, mr. Glenn Hughes.” For the rest of the show, the singers trade place every two songs.

Curiously enough, Glenn Hughes’ first song is “Country Girl”. He prances about the stage, strutting his weird designer haircut and makes gestures and faces at the crowd that are taken straigh out of chapter one of The Heavy Metal Frontman textbook. It’s sort of embarrassing, but perhaps he’ll settle down once the nerves are calm.

It’s not fair to be too critical of Glenn Hughes at this gig. Apparently he was one of Ronnie’s favourite singers, and he sang at Ronnie’s funeral, so his efforts deserve respect. But as it turns out, Glenn Hughes has finally found his match – or insurmountable mountain if you will. His voice, splendidly powerful and refined as it is, simply doesn’t fit this band. He delivers Ronnie’s rich and melodic tunes with a strangely staccato feel that sounds strained and unnatural.

On the other hand, Jorn Lande is a rock solid no nonsense frontman. Without too much fuss and bother he sings everything just right. You might argue Glenn is doing a tribute to Ronnie, interpreting the songs in a different way while Jorn is copying Dio’s way of doing them. Suffice to say, should the band decide to carry on after this, it will be difficult to imagine a singer better suited to their sound than Lande. Simply add some new songs and a new name, and this band would once again be equipped wth a great vocalist and a promising future.

But even combined, tonight’s two magnificient singers – Glenn Hughes and Jorn Lande – can’t match Ronnie James Dio in terms of his masterful and inspirational singing and an inimitable frontman skills. He would capture your attention and hold it effortlessly as he lead you through his shows with infectious enthusiasm.

For the eerie and spellbinding opening to “Falling Off the Edge of the World” Glenn Hughes comes close to the spirit of Ronnie’s singing. It is a touching piece as it is, but the circumstances tonight reinforce the power in the opening lines; “I think about closing the door, and lately I think of it more…” Shivers run hot and cold down the spine, and the eyes mist over. I can’t be the only one fighting with the feelings and the memories. All around me people are watching in silent awe.

The same thing happens during Tony Iommi’s guitarspot and during other instrumental bits. Close your eyes and it’s almost as if Ronnie is there getting ready to sing the next verse…

After “Die Young”, Wendy Dio is invited onstage. Terribly nervous and overcome with emotion, she reads out a short speech praising Ronnie and urging everyone to support the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. Indeed, judging by the number of complimentary donator t-shirts seen around, many in the audience already have.

The band has chosen to a set of songs that loosely reflects the show they’ve been doing the past couple of years. Songs from their first two albums together, “Heaven And Hell” and “Mob Rules”, one from “Dehumanzier” and even one from Ronnie James Dio’s last album, “The Devil You Know.” Glenn Hughes does a competent version of “Bible Black” but seems uncomfortable with the darker aspects of the lyrics.

One ‘new’ old addition to the set is “Turn Up the Night”, sung by Jorn Lande. A refreshing reacquaintance. The last two songs are shared between the two singers – and suddenly during “Neon Knights” an intruder appears; Phil Anselmo of Down has decided he’ll sing with the guys onstage – who obviously haven’t approved the idea.

Heaven And Hell’s final show at High Voltage is a chance for the fans to get together and celebrate and revel in the music that was a big part of Ronnie James Dio’s life. For such an occassion, it is important to allow room for feelings and expression. Sadly, the sensitive atmosphere between the band and the thousands of devoted Dio fans is mauled by Glenn Hughes’ shameless prancing and his abrasive attitude. He allows nothing to breathe on its own.

The song “Heaven and Hell” has long been a crowd favourite and highpoint of any Heaven And Hell concert. The crowd would take over the riff and sing it back to the band – often with breathtaking power. Tonight this moment of united band-crowd magic is spoiled. “I want you to sing this riff,” instructs Glenn Hughes before the song has even started. He has no right. How much grander had it felt, and how much more release had it offered, if Glenn had stood back and let it evolve spontaneously?

And this is where the show falls short. It brings no closure. It does not allow the crowd to unite with the band. Jorn Lande knows when to hold back and be respectful, but Glenn Hughes is a poor but dominant custodian of the honour bestowed upon him tonight.

The band wisely skips that section of “Heaven and Hell” about the big black shape looking down at us. Routinely, all the stage lights would go out and Ronnie would lean over a red spotlight nested between his monitors, so he was lit up from below like the devil himself – to great theatrical and dramatic effect. Fortunately this piece of Dio magic is left alone in everybody’s memories.

By the end of the show the crowd is left emotionally drained and confused. It wouldn’t have been right to let Jorn Lande handle all the vocals, but you wish the band had invited a couple more singers along to help spread the burdon.

What High Voltage did offer was one final, triumphant dose of the Black Sabbath that Ronnie James Dio helped revive in 1980. This was a splendid celebration of Sabbath’s most musical and most skilled singer and frontman. And it was exhilarating to experience again the blasting power of Appice, Butler and Iommi at full whack. Even without Ronnie they’re a giant force, and hopefully we have not seen the last of them together.

– Rasmus Heide

Setlist and singers:
E5150
Mob Rules (Jorn)
I (Jorn)
Country Girl (Glenn)
Children of the Sea (Glenn)
Turn Up the Night (Jorn)
Voodoo (Jorn)
Bible Black (Glenn)
Falling Off the Edge of the World (Glenn)
Die Young (Jorn)
Wendy Dio’s speech
Heaven and Hell (both)
Neon Knights (both)

Vocals: Jorn Lande / Glenn Hughes
Guitar: Tony Iommi
Bass: Geezer Butler
Drums: Vinnie Appice
Keyboards: Scott Warren



48 Comments to “Appice’s, Iommi’s and Butler’s final thunder?”:

  1. 1
    George says:

    It is the best concert review I’ve ever read in my life!
    Thanks Rasmus, you managed to bring all those spirit and emotions from London to everywhere in the world, from where someone reads this brilliant review…
    Sadly I think that it was the end of one of the greatest rock band – Black Sabbath! They will remain in our memory of course…
    R.I.P Ronnie

    P.S. What about Glen, he never was my cup of tea…

    ————–
    Thanks for the review

  2. 2
    AndreA says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyYjYIX-LGc&feature=player_embedded#!

    Lande 1 – Hughes 0
    🙂

    I am joking of course…

  3. 3
    AndreA says:

    I hope that Butler Iommi and Appice will be together for playing music in future. I hope only this. About GH,he is a great rock funky singer,not a BS’voice even if I love his THE7THSTAR with Iommi.

    GH often suffer from mania of magnitude/grandeur so he risk to be ridicule…to much ego in his behaviour.

    I do not want to hurt anyone with my words here,this is what I think as I think he has a great voice .. but …

    ciao purplefriends

  4. 4
    RainbowRising says:

    Agree totally with Rasmus. Thought that Glenn is too much ‘me me me’ for this sort of occasion. He’s just too full of himself and this detracted from the occasion. And who on earth let that imbecile Anselmo on to ruin part of H&H? However still very enjoyable and emotional. First saw Ronnie live on the Rising tour in September 1976 just a few days before the German shows that were recorded in Stuttgart, Cologne & Munich. All three of the main players were absolutely on the top of their game that night and it is still the best gig I ever saw (& there have been 100+ since).
    RIP Ronnie & Cozy.

  5. 5
    Eddie6String says:

    Whilst Dave lee & EVH were strutting their stuff in support of ‘Slack Haddock’ (As their backline crew affectionately referred to them) at the Odeon New street Birmingham – Our drummer Paul Franklin was chatting to Ozzy in the wings – side stage.
    Ozzy made the comment to Paul, that the guys were great performers, but lacked the ‘Togetherness’ or identity of a band – they didn’t mesh on a personal level & he felt that they wouldn’t be together in many years time –
    How ironic that it wasn’t all that long until Ozzy’s words rang true for himself & Sabs – Mr Dio was employing his significant stage craft amid great quantities of Dry Ice on that very same stage kicking any doubts we had about him fronting said band into touch.
    The performance of songs from the then newly released ‘H & H’ gave the band a whole new identity & a more graceful, refined yet awesome power. I know the gentle mr Ward (What a nice bloke!) had problems with anyone other than Ozzy fronting the band, yet the word amongst the crew was, Ronnie was so easy to work with the creative juices kept flowing for Geezer & Tony to great effect.
    I had seen Ronnie front Rainbow many times & had mixed feelings about this (Sabs) career choice, but it has to be said, any output from the Butler, Iommi, Dio camp outshone the ‘Long live Rock ‘n’ Roll’ sessions – In my ‘umble opinion guv!!!
    Never got to shake his hand in this system of things, but maybe I will in the next?

    Ronnie James Dio = RESPECT!

  6. 6
    MacGregor says:

    If this gig review is how it happened, I am not surprised by the Hughes fiasco! I always wondered why they had him as one of the vocalists for this tribute, if anyone is going to murder another vocalist melodies & sound, Glenn Hughes will be the one. He is embarrassing to say the least! Well at least Lande nailed it, just like Tony Martin used to also nail Dio vocals back in the 90’s.
    I always said they should have had Martin perform, not the Hughes clown! RIP Ronnie James DIO!

  7. 7
    Ray says:

    Great review!!! Even if this was a tribute to RJD , it almost sounded like this show should of never happened in the first place. Nobody will fill the shoes of RJD.

  8. 8
    Kio says:

    You hit the nail on the head; Hughes is great, many years under his belt, but nowhere near the singer that Dio was. Jorn Lande, what can one say…he was picked to sing there for a reason…sheer power, tone & closeness to Dio’s vocals. More than any other singer, currently, period. Hughes always was nervous onstage, it was one of the reasons he was removed before Sabbath toured with Ray Gillen, from what I’ve read. He definitely should not have done all that jumping about, as it’s “not” a G.Hughes & Sabbath show, it was a tribute to Ronnie…And Anselmo, well…as inappropriate as it was, if “I” knew the guys in that band as he did for so many years, I may have been overcome with emotion & jumped at the chance to sing one final verse or so with a band as legendary as they are, too…

  9. 9
    George says:

    When I first read news about H&H making tribute to Dio, with Hughes on vocals, I thought that it would be the worst choice Black Sabbath/Heaven And Hell has ever done. Sadly, now it seems that I was right!

    He spoils that song so much and onstage acts like he’s a H&H leader.
    Fortunately Jorn brings back all that powerful and dark spirit to the H&H song…

  10. 10
    T says:

    Glenn Hughes was chosen for his obvious association to the history of this band.

    At least he was there. I can think of another singer who should have–but wasn’t.

  11. 11
    Joanna says:

    Thanks, Rasmus!
    It was very kind of Glenn Hughes to sing with Heaven and Hell. I know his album with Black Sabbath- it’s one of the best. I wish I were there!

  12. 12
    Purple Sitner says:

    Thanks for this exact review which makes it pretty ease to relive that show. I first saw Ronnie with Elf opening for Deep Purple in Graz, Austria in April 1975(check out Made in Europe) and was instantly deeply impressed by this (at least for me at that time) unknown vocal giant. Throughout the years he always managed to keep up this impression by his records as well as by his shows and sympathetic stage appearance. Which leads me to Glenn Hughes who also performed with (Joe Lynn Turner – it took me five seconds to even remember his name). His show in Graz was so selfish if not to say close to ridiculous and the impression I’ve always had was proven then – his voice might be all right but his behaviour is not. What a difference to the gentle Ronnie we all knew. And some of my forewriters say that it isn’t the same voice singing H&H tunes are right in my opinion and I think that is why Ian Gillan is clever enough NOT to sing any songs which Coverdale and Hughes had performed. Meanwhile keep on rocking all over the world and all the best from Graz, Austria (and this goes out to Purplepriest 1965 – still like what you like, this is just my humble and modest opinion – your invite for a beer in your place is still up ?)

  13. 13
    Purple Sitner says:

    Thanks for this exact review which makes it pretty ease to relive that show. I first saw Ronnie with Elf opening for Deep Purple in Graz, Austria in April 1975(check out Made in Europe) and was instantly deeply impressed by this (at least for me at that time) unknown vocal giant. Throughout the years he always managed to keep up this impression by his records as well as by his shows and sympathetic stage appearance. Which leads me to Glenn Hughes who also performed with (Joe Lynn Turner – it took me five seconds to even remember his name). His show in Graz was so selfish if not to say close to ridiculous and the impression I’ve always had was proven then – his voice might be all right but his behaviour is not. What a difference to the gentle Ronnie we all knew. And some of my forewriters say that it isn’t the same voice singing H&H tunes are right in my opinion and I think that is why Ian Gillan is clever enough NOT to sing any songs which Coverdale and Hughes had performed. Meanwhile keep on rocking all over the world and all the best from Graz, Austria (and this goes out to Purplepriest 1965 – still like what you like, this is just my humble and modest opinion – your invite for a beer in your place is still up ? At least I hope so and we’ll do it soon)

  14. 14
    Daniel Todorov says:

    Just heard the bootleg of the show. Jorn Lande nailed it!

  15. 15
    George says:

    When I first read news about H&H making tribute to Dio, with Hughes on vocals, I thought that it would be the worst choice Black Sabbath/Heaven And Hell has ever done. Sadly, now it seems that I was right!

    He spoils that song so much and onstage acts like he’s a H&H leader.
    Fortunately Jorn brings back all that powerful and dark spirit to the H&H song

  16. 16
    Purple Prem says:

    If Glenn was chosen for his obvious association to the history of the band, then defintely Tony Martin should be leading the pack as he had done more albums with BS than Glenn who was associated more with Tony’s solo albums. And Tony would sung RJD’s songs a lot better which can be seen from his cross purposes live DVD. Now if only a certain man in black aside from making Autumn sky and babies too can pick up that strat again for atleast a tribute concert to RJD, it wold be a fitting finale.

  17. 17
    Purple Prem says:

    If Glenn was chosen for his obvious association to the history of the band, then defintely Tony Martin should be leading the pack as he had done more albums with BS than Glenn who was associated more with Tony’s solo albums. And Tony would sung RJD’s songs a lot better which can be seen from his cross purposes live DVD. Now if only a certain man in black aside from making Autumn sky and babies too can pick up that strat again for atleast a tribute concert to RJD, it would be a fitting finale.

  18. 18
    John says:

    I guess Glenn performed the way he always does and since he was invited by the remaining members of H&H to perform a tribute, it’s fine. In that sense, he sang the songs the way he chose to sing them in tribute. I’m sure H&H didn’t ask Glenn to fill Ronnie James Dio’s shoes, and I’m glad Glenn was himself. Glenn gets bashed a lot for not sounding like Ian Gillan in DP, or being over the top when he sings. No, I say it’s just Glenn Hughes’ style. It was a nice thing of him to agree to do, and it was only a one time thing. I guess it depends on your particular taste if you liked it or not, but I for one wouldn’t mind owning this concert on DVD. I particularly like Glenn Hughes and his vocals, and I don’t consider him over the top. I just accept it and enjoy it for what it is … the immense Glenn Hughes on vocals. ‘Nuff said.

  19. 19
    stoffer says:

    @9 Was the “other singer” invited?? maybe there were conflicting schedules…. quit defending GH, if he screwed up the show it sure won’t be the first time, anyway it sounds like everything else went great a wonderful tribute to a great rock singer and a member of the DP family.

  20. 20
    big al says:

    bollocks! glen hughes was excellent, and as a friend of ronnie and tony a great choice, so what if he cant quite reach ronnie’s range, its a flamming tribute gig!what was sad was the crap attitude of parts of the crowd, too quiet, moaning and generally not getting into it until heaven and hell itself. hats off to mr lande a superb performance, check out masterplan asap, and special mention to phil for injecting a bit of fire into the show! after all, ronnie once said, you sing long long live rock n roll, not lets go home and drink a beer!

  21. 21
    biz says:

    Glenn did a fine job. I don’t know what these people are complaining about. He didn’t sound like Dio because, surprise surprise, his name is Glenn Hughes, not Dio… Their voices are completely different. But he sang it really well. I’m sure Dio wouldn’t not sound like Glenn on ‘Holy Man’ or ‘This Time Around’ if he tried to sing it but it doesn’t mean he would be worse. just different. the same situation here. the points that the reviewer make prove that he was just trying to find some bad things to write about Glenn’s performance because I can’t see any reasonable argument from the MUSICAL point of view there.

  22. 22
    HINH says:

    I am a big, Big, BIG fan of Seven Stars. But this days Hughes scream to mutch. Bring in David Coverdale for Black Sabbath

  23. 23
    Victor says:

    Very nice! Thank you!!!

  24. 24
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    Fantastic review from one’s standpoint. I’m sure there are others who attended that saw it different. Either way, the WASN’T HEAVEN and HELL. It wasn’t supposed to be. Heaven and Hell was gone when DIO died. Heaven and Hell was invented due to contractual restraints and actually was an Official Black Sabbath Line-up…..Period.

    This concert was a closing Tribute to that particular Sabbath Line-up which can no longer exist due it’s front man being dead. The show was to honor that point in Sabbath History….Period.

    Hughes has every right to be a part of it. More so than Jorn Lande. He sang many of those songs in his short stint fronting Black Sabbath when promoting “Seventh Star”. For those whom were looking for a DIO Clone gig, it just can’t happen. He Was one of a kind. Though I always did find Tony Martin to do a fantastic job emulating the Master of the Moon. Glenn’s problem is that he probably forgot he was there in Tribute to Dio and took to the stage as though it was his gig. Who knows…maybe he was actually in his own selfish way ‘auditioning’ for the position. He has made it clear that he wished to join with IOMMI again for a Sabbath outing. Well, there it was, and probably his last due his over zealousness and lack of focus on what the gig was about….DIO.

    My feelings regarding this Tribute are even more reinforced now that I have read this review…..
    As I stated originally when the thing was first announced, the proper thing to do would have been to bring in ALL the past Sabbath singers ONLY and let them all trade of doing his songs. That would have been the proper Send Off to this Sabbath Legend. Sabbath can still continue, but Heaven and Hell can NOT. Looks like too little thought was put into planning this event and now I believe the Band and the Fans feel as though Ronnie James DIO was RIP-ped Off.

    A not so Cheery Cheers……

  25. 25
    George Martin says:

    T
    I can also think of another guitarist that should have been there but wasn’t! It would have been a nice gesture to celebrate all the years that RJD gave us. Just a thought.

  26. 26
    John says:

    Glenn has recently posted a video of “Country Girl” from the performance on his web site. He also has a video of “Catch the Rainbow” from the Dio memorial.

    Also, and I know this is off topic, it appears that Ritchie Blackmore and wife Candace Knight are proud parents of baby Autumn Esmerelda. They posted the info on the Blackmore’s Night website.

  27. 27
    Kurt Senn says:

    Glenn is a great singer, i’m not the self opininon than Rasmus & George!

  28. 28
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    T…

    Using that logic, then the stage should have been shared by over a thousand other performers DIO performed with. This wasn’t a DIO Tribute. It was a Heaven and Hell Tribute to DIO. The ‘Other’ Guitarist you mentioned (obviously Blackmore) wasn’t involved with Sabbath nor Heaven and Hell. He could obviously do his own Tribute to DIO if he found it in is loins which at the present are tightly sewn up in his little green tights. This was an offering from DIO’s Present band Heaven and Hell whom again….is BLACK SABBATH from the DIO years. That is why it was lame as to the Vocalists whom were present. DIO was the Vocalist for Heaven and Hell. The other members were there. They just needed a proper representation of singers whom also graced the stage as Sabbath Frontmen to do the honors proper.

    Cheers

  29. 29
    RainbowRising says:

    Didn’t have any problem with GH being chosen as one of the ‘guest’ vocalists, he has a great voice. Whether or not he was best suited for the position is a matter of opinion. My point was that he didn’t come across as sincere and should have handled it all with a bit more decorum.

  30. 30
    perro. says:

    I wish i was there.
    Saw the videos on Youtube and have no problem with Hughes and his attitude, is 100% Glenn Hughes (close firend to Ronnie & Iommi). IF someone was waiting for a clone act, better go and see another gig.
    This was H&H Dio´s bandmates tribute, not a Dio Clone show. Glenn nailed it. Jorn has a style much closer to Ronnie´s, so obviously if you are expecting to hear Ronnie, he´s the man (Yes, would have loved to see Tony Martin there as well) and was there for that reason.

    Stop the crying.

  31. 31
    stefan says:

    Glenn is GOD…………Period !!!!!!

  32. 32
    PJ says:

    Hold the front page!!!
    Rasmus writes a review and slags off Glenn Hughes.

    Rasmus – if it was a fashion show then it might be fair to criticise Glenn’s hair.
    Rasmus – if it was theater you could bash Glenn’s onstage mannerisms.
    Rasmus – if it was a regular gig you could knock Glenn for overdoing the crowd interaction, but it wasn’t – this was a tribute to one of Glenn’s mates.

    I see that the Sabbath fans on Joe siegler’s unofficial Sabs forum are generally in favour of Glenn’s performance and positive to him “owning the stage” and acting like a “true frontman”.

    IMO Glenn did a great job – added his own personality to well loved classics, whilst treating the songs, the band, the paying public and most of all Ronnie’s memory with class, style and dignity.

    Rasmus – thanks for the “review”, but in future stick to the music please.

  33. 33
    George Martin says:

    My only point was it should have been a Dio tribute. To only focus on one part of his career I thought was incomplete. He gave us so much great music it’s kind of sad that this was not represented. Again just a thought.

  34. 34
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    I just listened to the whole show. Quite powerful. I must say here, Hughes did a great job Singing the songs. Didn’t much care for his between song banter though. Jorn pretty much nailed DIO to the cross.

    On that note, Jorn has a new album out called DIO. It’s a Covers Tribute to Ronnie. The first song is an original in tribute DIO. Great song. I gave whole thing a quick listen. He is definitely making it known that he can pull off DIO style songs. Looks to me like HE is EYEING for a spot in the next Sabbath/Rainbow incarnation should one arise. Might be a battle between him and Hughes. Maybe they will team up as Hughes did with JLT and do a Duet tour…..”HLP”.

    Hey, you know what they say….”Never let a good Tragedy go to waste”…..

    Track list:

    1. Song for Ronnie James
    2. Invisible
    3. Shame on the Night
    4. Push
    5. Stand Up and Shout
    6. Don’t Talk to Strangers
    7. Lord of the Last Day
    8. Night People
    9. Sacred Heart
    10. Sunset Superman
    11. Lonely Is the Word
    12. Kill the King
    13. Straight Through the Heart (Live)

    Cheers

  35. 35
    purplepriest1965 says:

    I m not sure yet what to think of Glenn s part in the TRIBUTE TO DIO event.

    I already tried to download it but , that often happens here unfortunately…..,cant find it on my pc yet.
    I did it through HOTFILE, not the matrix one.
    There is also a text which said PAGE CANT BE FOUND.
    After which the downloading seemed to begin anyway……

    Right now I m trying to do some more downloading but still struggling.
    Please dont tell me to read related manuals or sites! It does just not attach to my kinda brain.

    That Jorn Lande Cd will be nice for the collection probably.

    I m not sure if Jorn has enough of his own to join any old supergroup because he ll always be compared to the great ones before him.

    Stiil sad Tony did not get to do it.

    Tony Martin!!!!!
    Hope YOU ll find the possibility to gig somewhere overhere in Holland soon.
    Love both your solo albums, incl SCREAM!!!!!, OZZY eat your heart out…., and the BS albums.
    Still have to exploit some more of the other works as well.

    So little time to do everything and reflect upon it in a proper way like we used to when we were not spoiled by a avalanche of material.

    You put me in a deep freeze!!!!

    Guess not, I m defrosting right now.
    Hopefully summer is not over already.

    It looks like Autumn, no pun intended, already.

    So, both old Rog and Blackers a baby?
    Maybe its contagious…..

  36. 36
    Twanky says:

    @ 32 Totally agree. It seems to be the norm here to have a go at Hughes

  37. 37
    purplepriest1965 says:

    @ 36

    Thats true, HE showed them the way!!!!

    BIG DADDY!!!!!

    Hows old Cov doing?

    Anything after his son from 1997 or about?

  38. 38
    T says:

    Re: #28

    Tracy…you misread my post.

  39. 39
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    Sorry T:

    Actually I didn’t misread your post, I meant that response to ‘George Martin’ @33 who responded to your post @10.

    Cheers

  40. 40
    AndreA says:

    I’ ve read on a music-magazine that H&H will be appear on stage for two live concert omn next autumn 2010 (LA and London) in memory of RJD. Vocals will be performed by R.Halford.

    ciao purplefriends

  41. 41
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    The latest issue of “Classic Rock” Magazine has an awesome tribute to DIO. There are many great stories unveiled here that give such credence to the Man on the Silver Mountain…(Where he is today). One thing that I found annoying was one of the writers expressing how “Born Again” was such a joke….

    Yeah, I know at the time it was looked at negatively by Sabbath Worshippers, but to listen to it today and not find it an incredible contribution to Sabbath’s legacy would be terribly centerminded. As a matter of fact, if you listen to it openly, one could hear Ozzy singing most of the songs from that album. You can’t hear him doing anything from the DIO years, nor the rest, but Ozzy could have done anything from Born Again, outside the ‘Gillan Screams’ of course. Just listen to any of them and put Ozzy’s voice there and remove the Gillan Screams and tell me he couldn’t have done that album. The Sabbath Fans actually missed the boat when they downplayed Born Again and welcomed DIO. Just my opinion, and not by any means discrediting DIO. He did it up big and it worked. I’m just saying here that Born Again got a Raw Deal when it is being reviewed. Still my most played Sabbath Album to date.

    Cheers

  42. 42
    jantchc says:

    i love both their voices and think they both did a magnificent job at the concert, for what I could see on youtube and hear on the bootlegs..

    my problem was just that GH didn’t fit with the band look-wise..

    he looks like a modern rock instead of a metalhead, so it seems strange..

    but i think he sang great

  43. 43
    AndreA says:

    http://www.black-sabbath.com/news/index.html
    Tony Iommi’s Guitar
    was stolen at the tribute show Heaven and Hell.

  44. 44
    AndreA says:

    This my drawing is for you all,friends…
    in memory of our RJD

    http://www.rockradio1.com/modules/Forums/files/rjdiodisegno_134.jpg

  45. 45
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    AndreA @44…

    Fantastic!!!! Truly Catches the Rainbow of the Man on the Silver Mountain.

    A Toast to you.

    Cheers

  46. 46
    Travis says:

    I have to disagree with several of the comments. Hughes’s voice is so much more suited for Dio’s music than Jorn’s is. Jorn could not hit any of the higher notes…not even just the high notes, I’m talking *higher* notes. His voice does not have a fraction of the range Dio’s does.

    Some of Glenn’s banter was a little off. He has said he always feels uncomfortable singing without his bass. Sure his voice is not as full as Ronnie’s but I was surprised at the songs each sung. I figured Glenn would have done a much better version of Turn up the Night or Die Young while Jorn would have actually done a halfway decent Bible Black.

  47. 47
    Tracy Heyder (aka Zero the Hero) says:

    Travis @#46….

    The fact of who sounds like DIO is truly irrelevant. Doesn’t matter. The Tribute wasn’t to do a duplicate of him, it was to acknowledge him. Hughes made his own mark in the Sabbath World when he did Seventh Star. Though short-lived, a great effort and one I love to play. Actually, I would have love for DIO to have done some of those songs when he got back with Sabbath for the ‘Dehumanizer’ album LIVE. Can you imagine him on songs such as ‘No Stranger to Love’ from the Hughes days? Or even the others…”Zero the Hero” from the Gillan days and “Headless Cross” from the Tony Martin days. He would have done it His way, just as he did Paranoid, Warpigs and Iron Man.

    That’s who I want fronting Sabbath in the future. One whom will sing songs from All the Sabbath Era. Just as I wish the Singer for Purple would do…..

    Cheers

  48. 48
    purplepriest1965 says:

    I heard Tony s voice is not good anymore.

    If not so, I always felt that HE should have been the one to do the tribute.

    I hate it when Glenn impersonates Michael Jackson with that high childish voice on songs which were truly monumental.

    I saw a few tubes of the High Voltage Festival and I cringed.
    TERRIBLE!

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