Metal forefathers Black Sabbath are headed to Australia for their first headline tour with the classic reunion lineup in nearly 40 years, with fans stampeding the box office to get their hands on tickets to dates in April and May (with New Zealand rockers Shihad playing support).
The legendary British outfit have also been in the midst of recording their first new studio album in more than 33 years, helmed by seven-time Grammy winning producer, Rick Rubin, and as Rolling Stone reports they’ve now blessed their forthcoming record with a name.
13 will be the name of the new record, scheduled to arrive worldwide in June, and features the classic Black Sabbath lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler, marking the first the three have released material together since 1978’s Never Say Die! and will also see the group returning to Vertigo, their original record label, for their 19th studio album.
The group’s reunion hasn’t been without its troubles, particularly in the controversy surrounding original drummer Bill Ward stating he was being excluded from the reunion tour and album, while the band countered they were confused about his refusal to join the lineup after being offered.
Either way, it left the drum stool open for residency, and though it was originally reported that Tommy Clufetos,former drummer to Alice Cooper, was the likely candidate for the role, Rolling Stone now confirms that none other than Rage Against The Machine/ex-Audioslave drummer Brad Wilk will be replacing Ward.
Wilk is the featured sticksman on the ’15 or so’ tracks that were recorded for Black Sabbath’s 13, but it’s not yet clear if Wilk will making the trek from the studio to the stage to join Sabbath on the road, which includes their forthcoming touring schedule in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Given that Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello quashed rumours of the band re-uniting in honour of the 20th Anniversary of their incendiary self-titled debut (which Tone Deaf looked at in detail in our retrospective piece), that pretty much leaves Wilk’s calendar in the clear for the time being. It’s not a confirmation, but it’s certainly good evidence to keep your fingers crossed.
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Black Sabbath 2013 Australian Tour Dates
THURSDAY APRIL 25
BRISBANE, ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
SATURDAY APRIL 27
SYDNEY, ALLPHONES ARENA
MONDAY APRRIL 29
MELBOURNE, ROD LAVER ARENA
WEDNESDAY MAY 1
MELBOURNE, ROD LAVER ARENA
SATURDAY MAY 4
PERTH, PERTH ARENA
