BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler Talks New Album - "It's Sort Of Got The Feel Of The First Three Albums... Back To The Basic Rawness"

January 25, 2013, 11 years ago

hot flashes news black sabbath

In a new interview with 96.7 KCAL Rocks, conducted at the annual NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, currently underway at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler talks to Frankie DiVita about a number of topics, including Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi's cancer treatment, the recent fire at Ozzy Osbourne's Beverly Hills home, and Black Sabbath's forthcoming new studio album.

Talking up the new album, Butler says of the title, 13: "Well, it was sort of a temporary name, that we had something to refer to the album as, and I think it kind of stuck. But I don't know whether that's going to be the final title or not. Originally we were gonna put 13 tracks on the album. We ended up doing 16 tracks, so I'm not sure what's gonna be on the album and what isn't."

About the vibe in the studio this time around, compared to the old days: "This is the first time we've done an album together sober... none of us have been drinking or doing drugs or anything, so it's been more professional in that way. And we've stuck to a schedule every day, we'd go in at one o'clock and finish at six, just to keep everything fresh."

Discussing the inspiration for the album, Geezer says: "It's sort of got the feel of the first three albums... back to the basic rawness. And the lyrics are very - they're just about life. Life and death and doom and everything else. You get Prozac with each album."

Watch the video interview below:

13 will be released this June (exact date TBA). Original members OZZY OSBOURNE (vocals), TONY IOMMI (guitar) and GEEZER BUTLER (bass) - have recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles and were joined at the sessions by drummer Brad Wilk (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

Produced by Rick Rubin (seven-time Grammy winner, two of those as Producer Of The Year), the album will be released on Vertigo (worldwide) and Vertigo/Republic in the US. 13 marks the Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductees’ return to Vertigo, the band’s original label; it’s the group’s first studio album together since 1978’s Never Say Die! They have sold over 70 million albums together.

In advance of the album’s release, Black Sabbath will head to New Zealand, Australia and Japan for live performances (see below for tour dates). Additional tour plans will be revealed in the coming months.

Current Black Sabbath dates are below:

April

20 - Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
22 - Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
25 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre - Brisbane, Australia
27 - Allphones Arena - Sydney, Australia
29 - Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne, Australia

May

1 - Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne, Australia
4 - Perth Arena - Perth, Australia
12 - Ozzfest at Makuhari Messe - Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan

Fans in Australia and New Zealand will witness the first shows from the reunited Black Sabbath in April. Check out commercials from New Zealand and Melbourne TV below:



Featured Video

KELEVRA - "The Distance"

KELEVRA - "The Distance"

Latest Reviews