Tony Martin - Sab opera may be PR stunt

[Big Ears]

This was posted yesterday on the Classic Rock magazine website. Former Black Sabbath singer, Tony Martin, says the feud with Ward could be a stunt on the basis that he (Martin) never heard a bad word about the drummer. Martin should know about the Sabbath machinations, as he was badly treated himself by Iommi:

Sabbath feud ‘seems like PR stunt’

Former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin says he doesn’t understand how the band’s relationship with drummer Bill Ward collapsed – and he wonders if it’s a publicity stunt.

Last November the Birmingham outfit announced their original lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ward would reunite for a world tour and their first album together since 1979.

Plans were soon rocked when Iommi was diagnosed with cancer the next month, leading to the cancellation of all but three concerts.

But fans were even more astonished when Ward announced he wouldn’t take part in Sabbath’s activities because he hadn’t been offered a contract he considered “signable.”

Singer Osbourne later admitted none of them had spoken directly to Ward, and all communication had been through lawyers – but recently told the Times: “There was no row, no argument. The door ain’t closed. Whether we work something out up the road, I don’t know.”

Now Martin, who fronted Iommi’s outfit for ten years from 1987, says he’s bewildered at the “Sab opera” – and suggests Ward’s lack of recent experience might be a factor in the disagreement.

Martin tells Metal Shock FInland: “I don’t get it. I really don’t. I’ve heard all the stories, and not once did anyone ever speak badly of Bill. They’ve never had a bad thing to say about him. They’ve always rated him. He’s had his little moments like we all have, but basically they love him.

“I don’t understand why they didn’t give him time to get his thing together. He may have been out of the band for a long time, but set up some rehearsal or something – go and help him out.

“It seems a bit like a publicity stunt in that they’s saying, ‘Well, we can’t be bothered to go and do any rehearsals to get him to learn all the stuff again, so let’s keep him for another time so we can have another reunion later on.

“A bit like a publicity stunt in that way. But I don’t know – I wasn’t privy to any of the conversations and I haven’t seen the contracts they were talking about. So I can’t say for sure, but I just don’t get it.”

 

[METALPRIEST]

 

[LG]

Sounds plausible to me...but you'd think the band themselves would have Talked to each other about a reunion, to think they could just get onstage and pick up where they left off is ridiculous. If Bill needs to knock the rust off to get ready then take the time make the effort and get it done, as a band.

Because of their stature in the rock universe this sure comes across like amateur hour to me.

And what did Iommi do to Martin when he left Sabbath years ago?? I never heard or read anything about that dust up.

 

[Big Ears]

The Forbidden (1995) album, recorded by the classic Tyr lineup of Black Sabbath, was unsuccessful (with Cozy Powell jumping ship), so Tony Iommi put them on hold and worked instead with Glenn Hughes on the DEP sessions. This soon gave way to the original band Reunion project. Tony Martin felt there had been no commitment to the Tyr lineup as it had been a convenient way for Iommi to satisfy contractual commitments, ditch Martin (himself replacing Dio, unhappy after the Oakland debacle) and make way for the Reunion. Furthermore, it was not Martin's fault that the album was unsuccessful, as it was recorded with members of Body Count in rap-rock style.

 

[LG]

Thanks for the back story Martin.

I cannot stand any of the hip-hop/rap rock hybrids myself to think anyone associated with Sabbath in any form would do that is well...embarrassing.

 

[Big Ears]

Tony Martin has too good a voice to waste on rap and shouted swearing. Although he didn't play any instruments with Black Sabbath, he is also a multi-instrumentalist. His own albums are very good heavy rock and are well worth tracking down.

 

[E-Z]

Tony 'the cat' Martin done a good job i thought, especially on the ETERNAL IDOL which was a 'very good' Tony Iommi album (although it says Black Sabbath on the tin) but the album i've been waiting for them to re-release (for 10-15 years) is FORBIDDEN from 1995.

I did have the FORBIDDEN cd onetime back in 1995/96 (i liked the first track with rapper Ice-t doing his rap thing in the middle of it) but i havan't seen this cd for about the last 10-15 years anywhere so come on somebody RE-RELEASE THIS CD!!.

There was a 'previously unreleased' track from the FORBIDDEN sessions that turned up on a cd called THE SABBATH STONES which was a very good track i recall which should be added to any future re-relese of this album hopefully??.

 

[Big Ears]

Tony Martin said he thought most of the Forbidden material was good as they recorded it in the studio. Indeed, the album is 90 percent good, with some experiments that don't work. Tony Martin is an old-fashioned melodic singer and not a rapper. If they wanted rap, someone else should've done the rapping. Unlike LG, I'm not totally anti-rap rock. One Minute Silence were pretty good, while The Workhorse Movement were a great band and very Sabbath sounding.

I didn't know about the Forbidden track on Sabbath Stones. I'll have to look into that.

= = = =

I've checked Wiki, was it Loser Gets it All from the Japanese version?

 

[Powerage]

I don't think it's a publicity stunt, just business.

A great PR stunt would have seen Bill and not Tommy behind the kit when the curtain raised at Download last month and then kicking into 'Black Sabbath'. But that wasn't the case.

 

[E-Z]

Hey BIG EARS Tony Martin didn't rap on the FORBIDDEN album ICE-T (the US rapper) done a short rap in the middle on the first track.

ICE-T also produced the FORBIDDEN album as well if i remember correctly?.

Also Martin Popoff (Canadian rock/metal critic) reckoned that Tony Martin's voice was "shot" on this album and he does sound a bit rough singing on it i must admit BUT i still like the album all the same.

The extra track that i mentioned was called- LOSER TAKES IT ALL and was a bonus track on the Japanese version of the album.