February 15, 2007 Heaven And Hell Pre Tour Interview with Vinny Appice / All Access Magazine
Sing me a song, you're a singer... Do me a wrong, you're a bringer of evil
The devil is never a maker... The less that you give, you're a taker
So it's on and on and on, it’s...
By Maya Dawn Henderson
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Black Sabbath and DIO fans rejoice! Announcing the biggest concert news, the biggest rock act to hit in decades... Ladies and Gentlemen... presenting . . . . Heaven & Hell !!!
If you haven’t heard by now, Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Vinny Appice are reuniting for a giant tour in 2007, under the moniker, Heaven And Hell. This was the name of the first album DIO recorded with Black Sabbath back in 1980. Getting wind of this news, I spoke with Vinny Appice and got the low-down.
I started by asking Vinny about the first call he received asking if he’d be interested in participating and how it all came about? “I received a call from Wendy Dio, DIO’s manager, right before Thanksgiving. She explained the Heaven and Hell plan and how Bill Ward wasn’t going to be involved. She asked if I was interested and I replied, “of course.” Next thing I knew, I was on a plane to London. Once there, I took a car to the outskirts of Birmingham and checked into an incredible huge old hotel in the countryside. The hotel is close to the recording studio where I recorded drum tracks for three new songs, written by Tony, Ronnie and Geezer to be included in the upcoming release, “Black Sabbath – The DIO Years”.
It was 1980 when Appice joined the legendary Black Sabbath. They recorded the Mob Rules and Live Evil. In 1983 he played with Ronnie DIO, recording seven albums, four of which went platinum and two gold. Vinny went back with Sabbath on their Dehumanizer Tour in 1992. So when was the last time this legendary line-up was all in the same room together? He excitedly described the rock icon reunion in detail, “I haven’t seen Ronnie in three years, we haven’t played together since 1998. Tony and Geezer, about four or five years. We also last played together in 1998 for the first Sabbath reunion with the Ozzy European tour... When I walked in the studio, I heard Ronnie laying down a vocal on one of the new tracks. Man, it sounded great!! When he finished he came out and we hugged. It was fantastic seeing him again. Next, Tony walked in... it was magic! Same for the Gez too! We got along great! Within a few minutes it was as if we never broke up. We were having a good time together and having great laughs! Right there, I knew this was going to be amazing!” So, be it safe to say you guys are all equally revved up? “Oh yeeaaaah”. When did this vision surface - has it been in the works for some time? “I think it was in the works since last Summer.”
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Getting back to those songs your recorded in London over Thanksgiving - What are they called? You’re fans will be salivating to get their hands on them. “I can’t tell you the names yet.”. Shaking my head, I move on, alright then, I asked, what do they sound like and who wrote them? “It sounds so f***** heavy, it shakes the house! Tony and Geezer are playing great, Ronnie sounds on fire, like it was 1983 again. The songs were written between them.” So when will we finally get to hear them? I assured him the world is waiting with baited breath. “They’ll be released later this month.” These shows you’ll be doing in the U.K. sound over-the-top amazing. The Monsters of Rock in the U.K. 2007 and Sweden’s Rock Festival in Sovesborg, Sweden. When are those concert dates? He explained the itinerary, as he knew it so far. “We will be starting the tour in March in Canada. Then on to New York City, where Radio City sold in only 45 minutes! Then on to South America and after that Europe in summer, where we’ll be headlining a bunch of huge festivals…and then another place somewhere and back to the US…very exciting.” Sounds like some venues are still being worked out. Do you know who else will be on those bills? “ Megadeth and Down, for the first run.” Vinny confirmed that the New York City show in March really is the only US date until late Summer ’07.
There is so much buzz about the decided name/moniker, “Heaven And Hell” on the internet; Blabbermouth.com, etc. It seems as if there’s some controversy about this, along with endless different opinions. What are your thoughts on this, if any? He spoke openly,” I think it brings a new freshness to this line-up. The reaction for “Heaven And Hell” has been incredible, without even calling it Black Sabbath.” Since we’re discussing the controversial, what is the story with Bill Ward’s decision to not play when originally asked? “Bill is an incredible guy and one of my drum heroes while growing up. I don’t know the exact reason for Bill withdrawing from the project. There has been a lot of false postings on the net. Don’t believe everything you read.” I knew those Bill Ward postings were false, Ward had stated they were. However, I did read on the internet, that Heaven And Hell will be grinding out longer than average sets... two hours long. Are you all gearing up for this differently than you used to? I mean, are you all training and working out for this? Vinny laughed, “Where did you hear this? We don’t have trainers but we all get up at 5:00 a.m. and can be seen running down Mulholland in our jogging suits.” Thank you for that visual. (I forgot I was talking to a comedian). He went on to break the news that Heaven And Hell will be rehearsing right here in LA beginning in March. What kind of set will you be playing? Can you tell us about your kit? “I have a new huge kit on order from DW. The drums have an amazing wood finish and they’re loaded with the highest drum technology from John Good and Company ever attempted. I think I’ll even be able to check my email while on stage playing these new drums! I will be using Sabian cymbals, Aquarian drum heads and Vic Firth sticks.”
What else can you tell us about the tour and the shows? How about the light show? The set? How big of a crew? How many trucks? I want to know everything! “All I can say, is... it will be huge!” This is some major exciting news to your many fans. Vinny closed up by saying, “We are excited t be able to go out and play these songs for all the fans that have listened to us and supported us all these years. This is going to be Kick Ass because... the fire is still not out... and... The Mob Rules! www.heavenandhelllive.com www.vinnyappice.com/
~Maya Dawn Henderson ~