So, imagine something for a second:

It’s 1982, and you hear that there’s a bitchin’ party at your older brother’s friends’ house.  The guy’s 37, lives in his mom’s cramped basement, and has taken in a stray pitbull who constantly pees on the carpet, but he’s a notorious party animal.  His furnishings consist of three tattered bean bag chairs and a flannel couch that he had found along the side of the road.  Descending into his basement is an assault on the senses, with the smell of stale bong water, burnt hair and pee.  After claiming some space on the cigarette pocked couch, the bong is passed and you take your first-ever hit of the thick, skunky-smelling smoke. Suddenly you find yourself mesmerized by the massive black light Black Sabbath poster on the wall.

“Who are they?” you ask, your words but a whisper.

“What? You’ve never heard of Black Sabbath?!” your brother’s friend replies.

You slowly shake your head as you stare at Ozzy, Geezer, and Iommi in awe.  You hear a shuffling from across the room, and the distinct sound of a needle hitting vinyl, before the darkest, most haunting melody reaches your ears. Your mind soars…

Is God real? Is he damned? Is he alive? Is he dead?  You’ve never really given any thought to these questions before, but now you find yourself more than a little curious about them. You find yourself lost in your own thoughts when the track fades, and then notice the 37-year-old burnout looking at you with a half smile, and…pride?  He takes another hit, blows milky smoke into your face, and says:

“THAT, my young friend, is Black Sabbath.”

…

…

…

What you’ve just read is the new Black Sabbath single, “God Is Dead,” in a nutshell.  Simply put, Sabbath is back and better than ever, and I can’t wait to hear what else they have in store for us.  Check out the full hypnotizing ten minute single below. Enjoy, I know I certainly did.

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Black Sabbath has a lot on their plates recently.  Between their new album, “13,” set to be released June 11th, the album’s first single, “God Is Dead?” coming out this Thursday, AND an appearance on “CSI” May 15th, the kings of darkness barely have time to breathe, but have managed to grace us with upcoming United States tour dates!  The album, frontman Ozzy Osbourne says:

“I’m so over the moon about the way the album turned out … It’s better than my wildest dreams; it’s so good”

Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, “13” is Sabbath’s first album with Ozzy in 35 years, and features original Sabbath members Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, along with Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine on drums.  The first leg of US tour dates can be seen below, and tickets go on pre-sale this Thursday.

8/4 — Holmdel, N.J. — PNC Bank Arts Center
8/14 — Toronto, Ontario — Air Canada Centre
8/24 — Seattle, Wash. — Gorge Amphitheatre
9/3 — Los Angeles, Calif. — Los Angeles Sports Arena

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For this week’s edition of Throwback Thursday, I have the absolute pleasure of honoring the Queens Of Noise and a couple of my personal greatest inspirations: The Runaways! The Runaways were Cherie Currie (vocals,) Joan Jett (rhythm guitar, vocals,) Lita Ford (lead guitar,) Sandy West (drums,) and Jackie Fox (bass.)  All ages between 15-18 during the time of formation, the fantastic five were managed by insane dog-obsessed crackhead Kim Fowley, who had worked with artists such as Kiss, Alice Cooper, and Frank Zappa, before turning his sites on creating the world’s first all girl hard rock band.  After meeting a young Joan Jett in downtown Los Angeles in 1975, Fowley introduced her to drummer Sandy West and original bassist, Micki Steele, settling on a power trio.  After Steele left the band for the ultimately more commercially successful Bangles stateside, auditions were held for the remaining three spots, which were quickly filled by Ford, Currie, and Fox.

The Runaways were snatched up by Mercury Records in 1976, releasing their self-titled debut album the same year, before immediately beginning a US tour, having the opportunity to play legendary venues such as CBGBs and the Starland Ballroom.  The first album was not at all received well in the states, with the public apparently not ready to embrace a group of teenage girls singing so frankly about independence and life on the streets.  After just barely scraping the bottom of the album charts, the group went in an entirely different direction, heading overseas to Japan shortly after the release of their sophomore album, “Queens Of Noise.”  Japan showed the girls true stardom, with the rebellious, catchy song, “Cherry Bomb” (written by Jett & Fowley the same day they met Currie,) quickly helping the group go gold and playing to sold-out stadiums.  Shortly after returning to the states, Jackie Fox left the band, leaving Joan to pick up the pieces as bassist for remaining performances.  Fox was replaced by Lita For look-a-like Vicki Blue and Laurie McAllister just before frontwoman Cherie Currie also decided to quit, leaving Joan once again to cover another spot, stepping up as lead singer for a short while before completely disbanding in 1979.

After the dissolution of The Runaways, Joan Jett went on to become a force of nature in the rock world, taking the states by storm with her band, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, 1981 cover of The Arrow’s “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” which was released on her own label with partner Kenny Laguna, Blackheart Records.  In addition to still running Blackheart and touring to this day, Jett has appeared on broadway as Columbia in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and “Light Of Day” with Michael J. Fox.  She most recently produced “The Runaways,” a movie starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, which was based on Cherie Curries 1989 autobiography, “Neon Angel.”  After Cherie left the band, she starred in “Foxes” with Jodie Foster and released an album with twin sister Marie, before finding a new passion: chainsaw carving.  In between the occasional performance, Currie now focuses on her art and home life with her son Jake.  Lita Ford followed her love of heavy metal to stardom in the 80’s after The Runaways, working with the likes of Twisted Sister and Ozzy Osbourne.  She continues to tour today and has two sons, James and Rocco with ex-husband Jim Gillette.  Jackie Fox went on to be a contestant on The Dating Game in 1980 (yes, really,) before becoming an entertainment lawyer and part-time blogger.  Sandy West toured the California with The Sandy West Band throughout the 80’s and 90’s before becoming a drum teacher.  While writing her autobiography in 2005 she was diagnosed with lung cancer, and succummed to the disease on October 21st, 2006.  A benefit concert was held in her honor shortly after.

Although reunion rumors have been tossed around throughout the years, nothing has ever come of it.  Reunion or not, The Runaways have undoubtadly succeeded in inspiring countless with their rebellious additude and no-holds-barred take on rock and roll.  Keep on rockin’, Runaways, we love you!

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Every musician has a “Rock Face.” What exactly is a “Rock Face,” you ask?  It’s the face a musician makes onstage right as they start to wail.  We’re talking complete vein-popping, eardrum-bursting, hair-raising screams that get crowds going and bras flying.  This being said, what better way to start off a dreary Monday than with a gallery of the 20 absolute best Rock Faces in the business?!  Check out the full gallery below, and let me know!  Do you think I missed anyone, or are you in agreement?

[wzslider info=”true”]

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It’s been a long 35 years without Ozzy in Black Sabbath, and the heavy metal Gods are making sure everyone knows about their sure to be INCREDIBLE reunion album.  Fans now have the privilege of seeing Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Toni Iommi, and substitute drummer Brad Wilk (of Rage Against The Machine,) in their natural habitat – no, not chewing on bat heads – in the recording studio!  The just-released inside look at the Sabbath recording sessions are infused with just the right amount of spooky for metal lovers young and old, and is produced by superstar Rick Rubin.  Check it out below, and make sure to mark your calendars for the Black Sabbath reunion album, “13,” out in April of this year!

Paranoid (Live)

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Heavy metal Gods, Black Sabbath, made rock fans dreams come true earlier this year when they announced that they were FINALLY releasing a reunion album featuring the bands original lineup of Geezer Butler, Toni Iommi, and the Price of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, after an over 30 year hiatus. Now Geezer Butler has opened up to “That Metal Show’s” Eddie Trunk, saying,

The album is the group’s first studio project since 1978’s “Never Say Die,” and is plans to be promoted through touring in New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. Make sure to check out the video below, where Geezer Butler talks more in depth about Sabbath’s songwriting process and the possibility of more tours!

http://youtu.be/Tpdc5wLiWAk

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The Prince of Darkness got the wakeup call of a lifetime this past Thursday morning when he woke up to his living room in his Beverly Hills home completely engulfed in flames!  After some speculation about what could have started the fire, Ozzy’s wife, Sharon, revealed that the scare was due to a candle that she had forgotten to blow out before bed, which later exploded, setting the rest of the room ablaze.  In a panic (and rightfully so,) the couple attempted to put out the flames. Sharon explained, “We are two idiots: everything you’re not meant to do – go to bed with candles alight, open the doors, put water on – we did it all.”

Ozzy and Sharon escaped the fire, but not without injury.  The Black Sabbath frontman suffered facial burns, hair loss, and a re-opened cut from a recent surgery, after attempting to bat out the fire with his arm.

This situation sounds absolutely terrifying, but thank goodness everyone is okay, and here’s to hoping for a speedy recovery for Ozzy.  Stay safe, everyone!

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