aNewDomain — Back in March, I wrote that Black Sabbath will die on November 23, after playing a final, career-ending concert in Japan. But it isn’t happening. Not at the time. Not in that place. So shoot me.
But there’s still a promoted “The End” sequence for the band, so say promoters.
According to the promoters, the boys in Black Sabbath are putting together what it and its management insist is “The End.” Catch the creative promo video below to see what they mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYCvRV5ME3w
Video: Black Sabbath: The End Tour Announcement
According to the promo, the tour kicks off next January, though the final concert date of “The End,” which in fact would mark the end, has yet to be announced.
At this writing, the Black Sabbath End Tour dates are:
- Jan. 20: Omaha, NE (CenturyLink Center)
- Jan. 22: Chicago, IL (United Center)
- Jan. 25: Minneapolis, MN (Target Center)
- Jan. 28: Saskatoon, SK (Sasktel Centre)
- Jan. 30: Edmonton, AB (Rexall Centre)
- Feb. 1: Calgary, ON (Scotiabank Saddledome)
- Feb. 3: Vancouver, BC (Rogers Arena)
- Feb. 6: Tacoma, WA (Tacoma Dome)
- Feb. 9: San Jose, CA (SAP Center)
- Feb. 11: Los Angeles, CA (The Forum)
- Feb. 13: Las Vegas, NV (Mandalay Bay Events Center)
- Feb. 15: Denver, CO (Pepsi Center)
- Feb. 17: Kansas City, MO (Sprint Center)
- Feb. 19: Detroit, MI (The Palace of Auburn Hills)
- Feb. 21: Hamilton, ON (FirstOntario Centre)
- Feb. 23: Montreal, QB (Bell Centre)
- Feb. 25: New York City, NY (Madison Square Garden)
- April 15: Perth, Australia (Perth Arena)
- April 17: Adelaide, Australia (Entertainment Centre)
- April 19: Melbourne, Australia (Rod Laver Arena)
- April 23: Sydney, Australia (Allphones Arena)
- April 25: Brisbane, Australia (Entertainment Centre)
- April 28: Auckland, New Zealand (Vector Arena)
- April 30: Dunedin, New Zealand (Forsyth Barr Stadium)
Now, Ozzy Osbourne and crew, excepting original drummer Bill Ward, have said that they’ll be announcing more tour dates in October.
Black Schism
Ward, who refused to be on the previous studio album, 13, and supporting tour, has publicly stated that he doesn’t like the band’s present contractual agreement and also has become “emotionally and spiritually” distant from Osbourne because the frontman made disparaging and allegedly false comments about the drummer in 2012.
Ward demands that Osbourne recant before he’ll consider playing with him. Osbourne has told various press that he wants Ward to be on the tour and final studio album. But so far, no recanting in the interest of a final studio album.
If there is a final studio album, that is.
No announcements have been made about that at the time of this writing, and likewise there’ve been no reports of the band members writing any new material. All that anyone has talked about or confirmed is the new tour, which the band members and management insist is going to be the most spectacular live production ever by Black Sabbath.
Guitarist and metal riffmeister Tony Iommi, who completed a treatment course for lymphoma cancer in the Summer of 2014, has made it clear that his fight with cancer had nothing to do with the changed tour plans. In April 2015 he told the press:
I’m not sure how the rumor of my being unwell started as I was away on holiday! Once you’ve had something like lymphoma, the fear that it will return never leaves. All I can say is that right now I’m fine and have regular blood tests,” although his doctors have also informed him that his tumors “more than likely … will come back and it could be any time.”
For those who want to see the band one last time, stay alert for more tour dates to be announced in October. I know I’ll be doing so.
For aNewDomain music news, I’m Brant David.
All photos: Courtesy of the Black Sabbath official website, All Rights Reserved.
