Black Sabbath Add Adelaide Date To 2013 Australian Tour

After announcing their much anticipated 2013 Australian tour, Black Sabbath, the band credited with creating heavy metal and one of the most influential bands of all time – has heeded South Australian pleas, confirming that their first Australian tour in nearly 40 years will now include Adelaide for one show only.

Original band members – the Prince of Darkness himself: Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi – along with New Zealand rock royalty Shihad will wrap up their first Aussie tour since 1974 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Tuesday May 7.

Having sold in excess of 70 million records worldwide, Black Sabbath is currently recording their first new studio album in more than 33 years, helmed by seven-time Grammy winning producer, Rick Rubin. The album, 13, is due for release this June.

Last November saw the long-awaited reunion of the classic lineup of Black Sabbath – well, three-quarters of the original lineup to be more precise, with the controversy surrounding drummer Bill Ward’s non-inclusion continuing to unravel.

It was just the latest surprise in the Black Sabbath reunion trail, which has seen its fair share of ups and downs since confirming the long-awaited rumours of the reunion of the original lineup in nearly 33 years. By January however, fans were shocked to learn that guitarist Tony Iommi had experienced complications in his ongoing battle with lymphoma.

His intensive treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy forced the newly reunited Sabbath to axe all shows from their world tour, save for their homecoming show in their native Birmingham, as well as their triumphant headline slot at UK’s Download festival last month and an upcoming Lollapalooza appearance.

It wasn’t the first – or even biggest – controversy facing the newly reunited band, with original drummer Bill Ward saying that he would be sitting out until a contract would be written up that was “signable”. The 63-year-old sticksman making his thoughts public with an open letter published on his personal website, saying he couldn’t proceed until a contract that “reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band” is drawn up.

A move that baffled many, particularly former vocalist Tony Martin (who fronted the band from 1987-97 while Iommi was running the show), who remarked in July that the whole reunion saga, including the relationship collapse between Ward and his former bandmates smacked of being a publicity stunt.

Meanwhile, Ward’s spot was filled by Tommy Clufetos, whose previous skin-thumping duties included drumming for Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent and Sabbath’s own Ozzy Osbourne. The vocalist commenting at the time of Ward’s departure and refusal that “there was no row, there was no argument.”

Though admitting that he had not spoken directly to Ward, communicating only through legal representatives, he added that the group were not averse to having Ward back. “The door ain’t closed, whether we work something out up the road, I don’t know,” said the frontman.

“It’s not a personal thing,” added Iommi. “If he phoned us up tomorrow, which he hasn’t, but if he did…

Joining them will be special guests Shihad have chalked up a number of enviable milestones during their 25 years as a band: they have released eight albums – four of which hit #1 in their home country, were inducted in the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame and toured the globe multiple times.

Prepare to be blown away by these living Rock Legends: Black Sabbath, with special guests Shihad. Never Say Die!