Fix It Again, Tony (Fiat): Sabbath Edition
Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 12:01AM Today's post is from our friend HIM.
If you missed the subtitle, let me assure you that I am not going to be chatting about the abomination of the automobile world (though those in the know can email me if they want to hear about my near fatal experience driving a Fiat Panda in Italy last summer).
No, this is about Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath’s legacy. The guitar god has been going on a bit of a media blitz these days, no doubt because they finally released the Anno Domini 1989-1995, the Tony Martin-era box set. Heck, he even extends the courtesy to sit down with Martin and do respectful interviews (though they don’t seem like they will be going on vacation together anytime soon), after slagging him up and down in his otherwise decent autobiography, Iron Man.
Ah, the Martin-era of Sabbath. It was obviously a tough time for the brand. And clearly a tough time for the one guy who stuck it out and tried to hold things together. Sure, there were some bright spots. Eternal Idol (1987) wasn’t bad and isn’t in the box set because of contractual issues. There were also some other bright spots here and there. I still contend that “Black Moon Rising” off of Headless Cross (1989) is a near-perfect song. But it gets harder and harder to pick out the good stuff during the Martin-era. Granted, the guy has got great pipes, seems well-grounded (not in terms of electricity), and falls all over himself to stress that, if not for Sabbath, he likely would not have the career he has had. But, again, the bright spots? Even Geezer and Ward couldn’t stick around. Sure, Iommi had Bevan and even the (while cashing a check) glory of Cozy. But really, this was the fallow times. Dropped by labels. Chasing a reunion with Dio that did happen, and then promptly fell apart, with only Martin to answer the call for vox (again). Forbidden (1995)? You can’t shine a turd. And that turd, polished or not, falls on Iommi, not on all the umbrage he takes with Ernie C. That is too convenient, Tony (the guitar, not the vocals, guys). You were running this ship. And you ran it into the ground . . . until fate intervened, and you got the old band back together (I still remember seeing the ‘Sab Four’ at Ozzfest and worrying that Ward was going to pass out at his kit given his absolutely monstrous playing on a very hot day in SoCal). And then you got the other old band back together under a new, Sharon-proof, moniker. And then you got the old band back together again, until all of that had to stop as the wheels of time took their toll.
But here’s the thing: why don’t you go back and finally polish the two albums that you did before the Martin-era? Recently, you are again talking about Born Again (1983). Yes, please. While it still feels like a drunk decision made at a bar (which it was), I think it retains a “that is so crazy it might work” feel to it. Gillan’s pipes were still in full view. “Zero the Hero” and “Disturbing the Priest” absolutely slay, even with the muddier than muddy production. Some of the instrumental stuff is engaging. “Digital Bitch” hasn’t aged well and “Trashed” is still a fun-if-sloppy take on a real-world experience that happened during production. I even find charm in the cringe-inducing cover (EVIL BABY!!!) and the set that inspired the great take-down in This is Spinal Tap. And when you are done there, attempt to tighten up the other album that you wanted to be a solo effort, Seventh Star (featuring Tony Iommi, 1986). I mean, come on: it featured Glenn-effing-Hughes, who could still sing like an angel no matter what intoxicants were flowing through his veins as he continued to grow in, well, ‘stature’. While the quality of these songs varies, there are some truly haunting moments on this album. Go back and listen to “Danger Zone,” a song sung by a man that was clearly aware of what those lyrics might portend. One piece of advice though: don’t include any of the scraps that featured Ray Gillen live. A talented and troubled singer that should, based on how he put a number of people at risk, be made into an asterisk or a footnote. I get that some of you love his bluesy swagger. But potentially infecting women just so you can live out your (short-lived) rock star dreams is not cool.
One final note: it is nice that Ozzy wants to do at least one more show with Ward. And it was equally nice that you thought it was ‘nice idea.’ But you should have considered that when the last reunion was happening. You shouldn’t have slagged Ward and made him look like a problem. At that point, Ward wasn’t the weak link in the cash cow that was your final tour. And both of you know that. You could have offered him something that was respectful of his deficits and allowed the band to go out, in some form, as a band of brothers. Retrospectively pining for the "good old days" might initially sound great. Thing is, you (Ozzy and Iommi and Butler) ultimately made the decision to air your laundry and disparage Ward in the press. It could have been different. Could it be now? Given where we are, not likely. So, the better thing to do is apologize. Because even that ‘huge risk’ who ‘doesn’t have the chops’ now admits, years later, that what you pinned on him then is now true: he can’t do it. Thing is, he likely could have done it when you made your Faustian bargain and treated him like he didn’t have a place at the table.
I still give you props though. Aside from a few stumbles, Iommi, you have been a rare instance of grace in an otherwise sullied world of musicians who let me down (not that they were working to prop me up). And you provided us with a window into your world while you courageously battled cancer and pushed it back, only to come back and keep offering us the gifts of your genius. Now do the fans one last favor. Give us some nice copies of the stuff pre-Martin, when you were already struggling to find a path forward and still hit on some unexpectedly great moments.
And don’t forget, readers: Bombers (Can Open Bomb Bays). Until they can’t.
Black Sabbath
Reader Comments (5)
Please, let me know how you do it.
Fletch, hope you are doing well. Not sure I understood the implied question. Feel free to reply and I will do the same.
I hope everyone has a good weekend.
I sorta' have a problem. Things that matter to me, music or otherwise, stick in my mind like amber and glue. So, when I get a new dose of information that doesn't really comport with what I recall, my first thought is: "Really?!?! Is that how it happened?" Sometimes, turns out, I was wrong. Something from my past wasn't really. I misremembered a past that didn't happen (and, as many of us know, that happens more as you get older). But, other times, what I remember did happen . . . and the people telling the tale today (sometimes, the ones who actually lived it) are lying, or fudging, or forgetting. This was one of those cases.
As much as I love Iommi and Geezer, and loved Ozzy, they are given to fudging when it comes to the corporate sides of things . . . especially when they are selling something to us, the fans. Ward? He has had demons and has done damage to himself. Thing is, he admits it. When the final tour came around, I could understand why the band might have a guy waiting in the wings. What I couldn't understand was why they treated Ward like garbage and slagged him.
Now? Oh, we wish for the good old days! Yeah. Nice. You had that chance back then. And you don't have it now. How do I know? Ward said so, at least when it comes to a tour. So the idea of an album with all of them is still kind of appealing to me (even as I have mentioned that I did like _13_ for what it was). But, why didn't you do attempt that back when _13_ was being made and then toured, esp. after you announced it with Ward standing by your side, all three of you? I know why. So do they. They gave in to all the outsiders and again (as they have done before) surrendered to a financially beneficial outcome. But why the animus to Ward then and the warm feelings now?I know that too. Time is limited. Life is short. Thing is, Ward was hurt that Ozzy, his closest friend in the band, betrayed him. But I also understand if he did a new album (or song, or performance) with them. Why? That was his band as much as it was their band. And there are some fans, such as myself, who would like to see all of them on stage or hear them on tape one last time, even it would be with a slightly clenched jaw.
Thus, my suggestion of an apology to Ward before you start painting rosy pictures of what you want, instead of more realistic pictures of what you did. And, again, that applies to Iommi here too . . . and to his treatment of Martin before this new box set came out. You are a godfather of metal and rock. But don't act like fans don't remember how you acted. We do. Why? Because we are fans. You slagged a guy you hired during one of the lowest points in Sabbath's career. But who hired him? Who brought him back? You! And you now tell a positive tale of fans finding these lost treasures after you decided to say that Martin was a bad frontman for your band?!?!? Come on, Iommi!
And I should add that I am not a computer spewing out opinions. While I often write from the hip (check out all those typos!), I do occasionally cross-check my recollections with the historical record. Not often. But occasionally. Specific dates, etc. It helps to be accurate when you are taking a stand. Otherwise, a stand on sand falls into the sea, eventually (with apologies to Hendrix).
Again, Fletch, thanks for clarifying.