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Heaven & Hell (band)

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Heaven & Hell
Heaven & Hell at Sauna Open Air Metal Festival 2007
Heaven & Hell at Sauna Open Air Metal Festival 2007
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresHeavy metal
Years active2006–2010
LabelsRhino, SPV, Roadrunner
Past members

Heaven & Hell was a British-American heavy metal supergroup active from 2006 to 2010, featuring guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice.

The four members of Heaven & Hell recorded and toured together as Black Sabbath from 1980 to 1982 and from 1991 to 1992. Dio had replaced founding Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne and Appice had replaced founding drummer Bill Ward. The decision to call the group Heaven & Hell was made to differentiate the project from the Osbourne-led Black Sabbath line-up. The name of the group is derived from the 1980 album Heaven and Hell, the first Black Sabbath album to feature Dio as vocalist.

After Heaven & Hell reunited to record three new songs for the 2007 compilation album, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years, they embarked on a 2007–2008 tour. According to Iommi, the name change was made to avoid confusion between the two different line-ups of Black Sabbath, so that fans at concerts "would not expect to hear 'Iron Man' and 'War Pigs' and all that... it's none of the old stuff, it's none of the Ozzy period. It's all Dio stuff. So by calling ourselves Heaven & Hell, it's revisiting that period."[1]

The group released one new studio album in 2009, and disbanded following Dio's death from stomach cancer in 2010.[2]

History

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Formation and early days (2005–2006)

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In an October 2005 interview with the programme "Masters of Rock", aired on BBC Radio 2, Ronnie James Dio revealed his plans to work with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi once again. He stated that two songs would be penned, and were to feature on a "project" entitled Black Sabbath – The Dio Years.[3] Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward were initially named as the rhythm section completing the project. At Iommi's behest, the group rebranded themselves Heaven & Hell to differentiate this incarnation from the Osbourne-fronted Black Sabbath which was then only on a hiatus.[4] However, for The Dio Years – for which the band would end up recording three new songs rather than two – the band continued to use the Black Sabbath name.

Ward, who performed on the 1980 Heaven and Hell album and the first half of the tour, ultimately declined to be the band's drummer before they recorded, citing musical differences.[5][6] His departure made way for a reunion of the other Dio-fronted Black Sabbath line-up which included journeyman drummer Vinny Appice. Appice had replaced Ward midway through the original Heaven and Hell tour in 1980, and he remained the Black Sabbath drummer for two years coinciding with Dio's tenure in the band from 1980 to 1982, and again when Dio reunited with the band in 1991 and 1992. He also backed the Osbourne-led version of the group briefly in 1998 while Ward was ill.

Following the recording of three new tracks for Black Sabbath – The Dio Years, the group embarked on a 2007 tour. This tour was voted "Comeback of the Year" at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards by readers of Classic Rock.[7]

The Devil You Know (2007–2009)

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Vinny Appice (left) and Ronnie Dio performing in 2007

Initially, the members had stated that their 2007 tour was a one-off and had expressed their intentions to go their separate ways at its conclusion. Dio planned to return to his eponymous band to produce Magica II and Magica III, sequels to their 2000 album Magica, while Appice would continue with his project 3 Legged Dogg. However, in a March 2007 interview, Dio and Iommi stated that while they were both tied to separate contractual commitments in 2008, neither would discount the possibility of future collaborations;[8] six months later, the band members announced their decision to continue their collaboration and record and release a new album.[9] In August, they took part in the Metal Masters Tour alongside Judas Priest, Motörhead and Testament.[10]

On 28 April 2009,[11] the band released the studio album The Devil You Know, containing the single "Bible Black". The subsequent promotional tour, the Bible Black Tour, spanned from 5 May to 29 August and featured supporting act Coheed and Cambria.[citation needed] It saw stops at the Sweden Rock Festival, the Hellfest in France, the Wâldrock Festival in the Netherlands, the Wacken Open Air[12] and the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, UK. The tour's final show in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA would prove to be Dio's final public performance.

Dio's death and break-up (2009–2010)

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In November 2009, Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer.[13] Prognoses were initially favourable,[14] however, and the band planned further activity following a brief period of rest for the singer. They were slated to tour in support of Iron Maiden in Europe from July to August, but the tour was cancelled on 4 May due to Dio's ill health. Dio died from this illness on 16 May 2010 at 67 years old.

The three surviving members performed a final Heaven & Hell set in tribute to Dio at the High Voltage Festival on 24 July 2010 with two guest vocalists: former Black Sabbath and Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes and Norwegian singer Jørn Lande of Masterplan fame. Former Pantera and Down vocalist Phil Anselmo also made a brief appearance in the song "Neon Knights".[15] All of the proceeds from the event went towards the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. The posthumous live album Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell was released on 16 November, recorded in Germany at the Wacken Open Air festival on 30 July 2009.[16]

In March 2011, after Heaven & Hell's dissolution, Appice joined Kill Devil Hill along with former Pantera and Down bassist Rex Brown. In November 2011, Iommi and Butler reactivated Black Sabbath with original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, announcing plans for a world tour and new record with producer Rick Rubin the following year.[17] The resulting Black Sabbath album 13 was released in June 2013.

Band members

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See also: List of Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell members

Live musicians

Discography

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[20] 		AUT
[21] 		CAN
[20] 		FIN
[22] 		GER
[23] 		JPN
[24] 		NOR
[25] 		SWE
[26] 		SWI
[27] 		UK
[28]
The Devil You Know
  • Released: 28 April 2009
  • Label: Rhino
  • Format: CD, LP
 8 37 24 5 17 28 15 8 31 21
Live albums
Recorded Released Title CD DVD RIAA certification
March 30, 2007 2007 Live from Radio City Music Hall 99 X Gold[29] Longform Video
2009 Wacken
Festival in Germany 		2010 Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell

Discography as Black Sabbath

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Album details Notes Certifications
Heaven and Hell
  • Released: 18 April 1980[30]
  • Label: Nems, Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 The album features original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward. Vinny Appice's association with Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell began after Ward quit the band in 1980. Gold (UK)
Platinum (US)
Gold (Canada)
Mob Rules
  • Released: 4 November 1981
  • Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 The first recording to feature the lineup that would later form Heaven & Hell. Silver (UK)
Gold (US)
Gold (Canada)
Live Evil
  • Released: January 1983[31]
  • Label: Vertigo, Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, LP
 First live Black Sabbath album to feature the lineup that would later form Heaven & Hell.
Dehumanizer
  • Released: 22 June 1992
  • Label: I.R.S.
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 Last studio album as Black Sabbath to include Dio and Appice.
The Dio Years
  • Released: 3 April 2007
  • Label: Rhino; Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD
 A compilation album, it included three newly recorded songs, all of which were included in later Heaven & Hell live setlists.
Live at Hammersmith Odeon
  • Released: 1 May 2007
  • Label: Rhino; Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, LP
 Although recorded in 1981 and 1982, this live album was released in 2007 coinciding with the reunion as Heaven & Hell. This album was only sold separately as a limited edition of 5000 copies, but the 2010 two-disc Deluxe Edition of Mob Rules includes the Live at Hammersmith Odeon on its second disc.

References

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  1. ^ Kotz, Pete. "Interview with Toni Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath/Heaven and Hell". Cleveland Scene.
  2. ^ "Heaven and Hell, it Goes On,....Tony Iommi confirms🤟". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  3. ^ "Ronnie James Dio To Collaborate With Tony Iommi on New Black Sabbath Project". Blabbermouth.net. 23 October 2005. Archived from the original on 19 March 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  4. ^ Wickstrand, Philip (February 2007). "Heaven and Hell". Metaleater. Icon Creative Works. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Bill Ward not participating in Heaven & Hell". Billward.com. 26 November 2006. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  6. ^ Russell, Tom (20 February 2010). "Ward on Quitting Heaven & Hell: I Was Uncomfortable With Some Things Surrounding The Project". Blabbermouth. Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  7. ^ "led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page officially a rock legend". AdelaideNow. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  8. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (16 January 2007). "Heaven And Hell: Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi Speak Out". Ultimate-Guitar.Com. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  9. ^ Elliott, Mike (1 November 2007). "Komodo Rock Talks With Ronnie James Dio". Komodo Rock. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  10. ^ "Judas Priest Head Up The Metal Masters Tour With Heaven and Hell, Motorhead and Testament". Antimusic.com. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  11. ^ "Billboard 10 February 2009: Heaven & Hell Feeling Devilish On New Album". Billboard. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Sweden Rock Festival". Official Sweden Rock Festival website. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  13. ^ "Dio Has Stomach Cancer". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  14. ^ "Ronnie James Dio battling stomach cancer". Stupid Celebrity. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Tony Iommi Talks Exclusively About Heaven & Hell's Tribute To Ronnie James Dio at the High Voltage Festival". Official High Voltage Festival. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  16. ^ "HEAVEN & HELL: 'Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell' CD, DVD Due In November – Retrieved on October 9, 2010". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Black Sabbath Announce New Album Produced by Rick Rubin". Rolling Stone. 5 January 2012.
  18. ^ BraveWords. "DIO / HEAVEN & HELL Keyboardist Scott Warren On RONNIE JAMES DIO - "He Was My Surrogate Father, My Brother, My Friend, My Teacher And My Loyal Advocate"". bravewords.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  19. ^ mikeladano (10 September 2013). "REVIEW: Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell – Live in Europe". mikeladano.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Heaven & Hell > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  21. ^ "Discographie Heaven & Hell" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  22. ^ "Discography Heaven & Hell". finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  23. ^ "Heaven & Hell > Longplay-Chartverfolgung". Musicline (in German). PhonoNet GmbH. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  24. ^ "ヘヴン・アンド・ヘルのCDアルバムランキング、ヘヴン・アンド・ヘルのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  25. ^ "Discography Heaven & Hell". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  26. ^ "Discography Heaven & Hell". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  27. ^ "Discography Heaven & Hell". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  28. ^ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  29. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database-Live from Radio City Music Hall". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  30. ^ "Heaven and Hell – Black Sabbath Online". black-sabbath.com. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Billboard" (PDF). Billboard. 8 January 1983. p. 1. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
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