Tony Martin, the former singer of BLACK SABBATH, was asked if he would be interested in working with Tony Iommi once more in the future in a recent interview with Niclas Müller-Hansen of RockSverige.
In response, he replied, “I would and I’ve previously stated that I’d be up for it if he felt like doing something.
Tony doesn’t seem to be truly What’s the word? I believe he has outlived his need to accomplish things. This is not necessary for him to perform.
He’s not really interested in touring, as you get older and he had that issue with the cancer stuff. I’m not sure whether he needs to, but he could make the strange appearance.
Though it’s one of these things, I’d like to As long as people are still living, anything can happen. In theory, they could theoretically start over by getting Bill Ward back into the band.
That’s not something you can sort of do after people start passing along. I already expressed my willingness to participate if they showed interest. We’ll observe the outcome.
Regarding his involvement in the compilation of the Rhino box set “Anno Domini 1989-1995” featuring SABBATH tracks from the Martin era, which was released on May 31, the vocalist said, “No.” It was put together without my involvement at all.
They did inform me that they would carry it out, and I offered some ideas for possible inclusions. They couldn’t really have anything considered “new BLACK SABBATH,” so they had to focus on what they already had. Some of the missing stuff that I have that hadn’t been utilized before, but they couldn’t do that because of the contract thing.
They did tell me, but Iommi and his engineers handled everything themselves, and they did a great job. A few months back, I went to his place and, as I sat there listening, I thought, “Holy crap, this sounds really good.”
Even “Forbidden,” which they remixed, sounds like it’s matured and grown into an adult. They have the current SABBATH sound to them. It sounds more like Sabbath, but with a little less keyboard influence.
The albums “The Eternal Idol” (1987), “Headless Cross” (1989), “Tyr” (1990), “Cross Purposes” (1994), “Cross Purposes Live” (1995), and “Forbidden” (1995) were released by BLACK SABBATH including Martin on vocals. Martin and his “Forbidden” era comrades were eventually kicked out when Iommi got back together with the other founding members of SABBATH.
In addition to remixing “Forbidden,” Iommi remastered the albums “Headless Cross,” “Tyr,” and “Cross Purposes” for the CD/LP combo “Anno Domini 1989-1995.”
“There’s some great stuff with Tony Martin,” Iommi said in a recent interview with DPA. “The ironic thing is that it was challenging to have that lineup together since not everyone was on board at the time.
“I paid for the trip, the busses, and all the other expenses associated with that initiative. “I personally paid for it,” he declared. “I had a great time playing in the band and performing the things we were doing.
The LP version of “Anno Domini” features the vinyl premieres of several albums, while the CD version includes three bonus tracks that are only available in Japan: the Japan-exclusive releases “What’s The Use” and “Loser Gets It All,” as well as the B-side “Cloak & Dagger.” The collection includes a booklet with liner notes, artwork, and photographs by Hugh Gilmour. A replica concert book from the “Headless Cross” tour and a poster are also included in the collection.
The narrative of BLACK SABBATH is taken up in “Anno Domini” in 1989, two decades and numerous lineup changes into the band’s revolutionary career as the forerunners of metal. At the time, the band’s core consisted of founding member and riffmaster Tony Iommi, singer Tony Martin, pianist Geoff Longtime collaborator with BLACK SABBATH, and veteran drummer Cozy Powell (JEFF BECK, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE).
“Headless Cross” was the first of four albums SABBATH recorded for I.R.S. Records, and it was first issued by the group on that label in 1989. The band’s 14th studio album, which was praised by both critics and fans, yielded three singles: “Devil And Daughter,” “Call Of The Wild,” and the title tune. After joining for the “Headless Cross” tour, bassist Neil Murray (WHITESNAKE, GARY MOORE) continued on to record SABBATH’s next album, “Tyr,” in 1990. Called after the Norse god of war, “The Battle of Tyr” and “Valhalla” are two of the tracks on the album that go into comparable mythical topics. The band transforms Old Testament fire and brimstone into a traditional bruiser on “The Sabbath Stones”.
