Heaven & Hell (band)

Heaven & Hell

Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Heavy metal, doom metal
Years active 2006–2010
Labels Rhino, SPV, Roadrunner
Associated acts Black Sabbath, Dio, GZR, Rainbow, Iommi
Past members Vinny Appice
Geezer Butler
Ronnie James Dio
Tony Iommi

Heaven & Hell were an English-American heavy metal band active from 2006 to 2010. The band was a collaboration featuring founding Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler along with former Black Sabbath members Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice.

The four members of Heaven & Hell recorded and toured together as Black Sabbath from 1980 to 1982, and again from 1991 to 1992. After they reunited to record three new songs for the 2007 compilation album, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, they embarked on a 2007–2008 tour. Iommi, owner of the Black Sabbath name, decided to call the touring group Heaven & Hell[1] to differentiate the project from the Ozzy Osbourne-led Black Sabbath.[2] The moniker was taken from the first Dio-fronted Black Sabbath album, Heaven and Hell. According to Iommi, the name change was made so that fans at concerts would not expect "to hear “Iron Man” and “War Pigs” and all that... it’s none of the old stuff, it’s none of the Ozzy period. It’s all Dio stuff. So by calling ourselves Heaven and Hell, it’s revisiting that period."[3]

The group disbanded following Dio's death from stomach cancer in 2010.[4]

History

Formation and early days (2005–2006)

In an October 2005 interview with the programme "Masters of Rock", aired on BBC Radio 2, Ronnie James Dio revealed his plans to work with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi once again. He stated that two songs would be penned, and were to feature on a "project" entitled Black Sabbath - The Dio Years.[5] Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward were initially named as the rhythm section completing the project. At Iommi's behest, the group rebranded themselves Heaven & Hell to differentiate this incarnation from the Osbourne-fronted Black Sabbath which was then only on a hiatus.[2] However, for The Dio Years - for which the band would end up recording three new songs rather than two - the band continued to use the Black Sabbath name.

Ward, who performed on the 1980 Heaven and Hell album and the first half of the tour, ultimately declined to be the band's drummer before they recorded, citing musical differences.[6][7] His departure made way for a reunion of the other Dio-fronted Black Sabbath lineup which included journeyman drummer Vinny Appice. Appice had replaced Ward midway through the original Heaven and Hell tour in 1980, and he remained the Black Sabbath drummer for two years coinciding with Dio's tenure in the band from 1980 to 1982, and again when Dio reunited with the band in 1991 and 1992. He also backed the Osbourne-led version of the group briefly in 1998 while Ward was ill.

Following the recording of three new tracks for Black Sabbath – The Dio Years, the group embarked on a 2007 tour. This tour was voted "Comeback of the Year" at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour awards by readers of Classic Rock.[8]

The Devil You Know (2007–2009)

Initially, the members had stated that their 2007 tour was a one-off and had expressed their intentions to go their separate ways at its conclusion. Dio planned to return to his eponymous band to produce Magica II and Magica III, sequels to their 2000 album Magica, while Appice would continue with his project 3 Legged Dogg. However, in a March 2007 interview, Dio and Iommi stated that while they were both tied to separate contractual commitments in 2008, neither would discount the possibility of future collaborations;[9] six months later, the band members announced their decision to continue their collaboration and record and release a new album.[10] In August, they took part in the Metal Masters Tour alongside Judas Priest, Motörhead and Testament.[11]

On 28 April 2009,[12] the band released the studio album The Devil You Know, containing the single "Bible Black". The subsequent promotional tour, the Bible Black Tour, spanned from 5 May to 29 August and featured supporting act Coheed and Cambria. It saw stops at the Sweden Rock Festival, the Hellfest in France, the Wâldrock Festival in the Netherlands, the Wacken Open Air[13] and the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, UK. The tour's final show in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA would prove to be Dio's final public performance.

Dio's death and breakup (2009–2010)

In November 2009, Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer.[14] Prognoses were initially favorable,[15] however, and the band planned further activity following a brief period of rest for the singer. They were slated to tour in support of Iron Maiden in Europe from July to August, but the tour was canceled on 4 May due to Dio's ill health. Dio died from this illness on 16 May 2010 at 7:45 A.M (CDT), at 67 years old.

The three surviving members performed a final Heaven & Hell set in tribute to Dio at the High Voltage Festival on 24 July 2010 with two guest vocalists: former Black Sabbath and Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes and Norwegian singer Jørn Lande of Masterplan fame. Former Pantera and Down vocalist Phil Anselmo also made a brief appearance in the song Neon Knights.[16] All of the proceeds from the event went towards the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. The posthumous live album Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell was released on 16 November, recorded in Germany at the Wacken Open Air festival on 30 July 2009.[17]

In March 2011, after Heaven & Hell's dissolution, Appice joined Kill Devil Hill along with former Pantera and Down bassist Rex Brown. In November 2011, Iommi and Butler reactivated Black Sabbath with original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, announcing plans for a world tour and new record with producer Rick Rubin the following year.[18] The resulting album 13 was released in June 2013.

Band members

Live musicians

Timeline

Discography

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[19]		 AUT
[20]		 CAN
[19]		 FIN
[21]		 GER
[22]		 JPN
[23]		 NOR
[24]		 SWE
[25]		 SWI
[26]		 UK
[27]
2009 The Devil You Know
  • Released: 28 April 2009
  • Label: Rhino
  • Format: CD, LP
 8 37 24 5 17 28 15 8 31 21
Live albums
Year Title CD DVD RIAA certification
2007 Live from Radio City Music Hall 99 X Gold[28] Longform Video
2010 Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell

Discography as Black Sabbath

Album details Notes Certifications
Heaven and Hell
  • Released: 25 April 1980
  • Label: Nems, Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 Although Vinny Appice does not appear in this album, it is crucial to the Heaven & Hell formation, and is the inspiration of the name of the band. Gold (UK)
Platinum (US)
Gold (Canada)
Mob Rules
  • Released: 4 November 1981
  • Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 The debut album from the complete Heaven & Hell line up. Silver (UK)
Gold (US)
Gold (Canada)
Live Evil
  • Released: December 1982
  • Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, LP
 First live Black Sabbath album with Heaven & Hell lineup.
Dehumanizer
  • Released: 22 June 1992
  • Label: I.R.S.
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 Last studio album as Black Sabbath from Heaven & Hell lineup.
The Dio Years
  • Released: 3 April 2007
  • Label: Rhino; Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD
 Although it was a compilation, this album included three new songs, all of which they played live while touring under the name "Heaven & Hell".
Live at Hammersmith Odeon
  • Released: 1 May 2007
  • Label: Rhino; Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD
 Although recorded in 1981 and 1982, this live album was released in 2007 coinciding with the reunion as Heaven & Hell. This album was only sold separately as a limited edition of 5000 copies, but the 2010 two-disc Deluxe Edition of Mob Rules includes the Live at Hammersmith Odeon on its second disc.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "site reports "During his weekly radio show, "Friday Night Rocks", on New York's Q104.3 FM (Friday, November 24), Eddie Trunk offered the following recap of his chat with the members of Heaven and Hell"". Metalman.skynetblogs.be. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  2. 1 2 Wickstrand, Philip (February 2007). "Heaven and Hell". Metaleater. Icon Creative Works. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  3. ↑ http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2007/05/09/interview-with-toni-iommi-guitarist-for-black-sabbathheaven-and-hell
  4. ↑ "Heaven and Hell is over, Iommi confirms". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  5. ↑ "Ronnie James Dio To Collaborate With Tony Iommi On New Black Sabbath Project". Blabbermouth.net. 2005-10-23. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  6. ↑ "Bill Ward not participating in Heaven & Hell". Billward.com. 2006-11-26. Archived from the original on 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  7. ↑ Russell, Tom (20 February 2010). "Ward On Quitting Heaven & Hell: I Was Uncomfortable With Some Things Surrounding The Project". Blabbermouth. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page officially a rock legend". AdelaideNow. News Limited. 2007-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  9. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (2007-01-16). "Heaven And Hell: Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi Speak Out". Ultimate-Guitar.Com. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  10. ↑ Elliott, Mike (2007-11-01). "Komodo Rock Talks With Ronnie James Dio". Komodo Rock. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  11. ↑ "Judas Priest Head Up The Metal Masters Tour With Heaven and Hell, Motorhead and Testament". Antimusic.com. 2008-04-22. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  12. ↑ "Billboard 10 February 2009: Heaven & Hell Feeling Devilish On New Album". Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  13. ↑ "Sweden Rock Festival". Official Sweden Rock Festival website. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  14. ↑ "Dio Has Stomach Cancer". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  15. ↑ "Ronnie James Dio battling stomach cancer". Stupid Celebrity. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  16. ↑ "Tony Iommi Talks Exclusively About Heaven & Hell's Tribute To Ronnie James Dio At the High Voltage Festival". Official High Voltage Festival. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  17. ↑ "HEAVEN & HELL: 'Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell' CD, DVD Due In November - Retrieved on October 9, 2010". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
  18. ↑ "Black Sabbath Announce New Album Produced by Rick Rubin". Rolling Stone. 5 January 2012.
  19. 1 2 "Heaven & Hell > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  20. ↑ "Discographie Heaven & Hell" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  21. ↑ "Discography Heaven & Hell". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  22. ↑ "Heaven & Hell > Longplay-Chartverfolgung". Musicline (in German). PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  23. ↑ "ヘヴン・アンド・ヘルのCDアルバムランキング、ヘヴン・アンド・ヘルのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  24. ↑ "Discography Heaven & Hell". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  25. ↑ "Discography Heaven & Hell". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  26. ↑ "Discography Heaven & Hell". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  27. ↑ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  28. ↑ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database-Live from Radio City Music Hall". Retrieved 4 March 2009.
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