From Loudersound.
Tony Iommi has spoken about the “surreal” experience of getting back together with his Black Sabbath bandmates for their three-song set at Live Aid in 1985.
The original lineup of Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward hadn’t played together since 1978 when they reunited at Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium for the historic show, which was organised to raise relief funds in light of the Ethiopian famine.
And with Live Aid celebrating its 35th anniversary earlier this week, Iommi has reflected on what it was like getting the band back together for the concert.
The guitarist tells SiriusXM: “It was great being with the guys again. It was a bit surreal to be honest because basically I’d been in the studio working. It was an unusual thing for us to come from the studio then suddenly here we are onstage in front of all the people.
“We’d never really done that before. We’ve always rehearsed for a proper show for a while, but this was like a quick rehearsal for an hour and the next day we were on stage.
“It was a bit nervy because you don’t know how things are going to go with the equipment and all the stuff – and we hadn’t been onstage together for so long. You have to sort of suck it and see what’s going to happen.”
Sabbath played three tracks at Live Aid: Children Of The Grave, Iron Man and Paranoid, with the US show, along with the UK concert at London’s Wembley Stadium, watched by millions around the world.
Black Sabbath brought the curtain down on their career with pair of shows in their hometown of Birmingham in February 2017, although both Ozzy and Iommi have expressed an interest in Black Sabbath possibly reuniting in 2022 to mark the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
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- Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Dutch - vinyl LP - £25.00, $33.25, €29.00 (New Item) (arrived 11-Apr-2025 16:21)on April 17, 2025 at 7:19 am
BLACK SABBATH Paranoid (1976 Dutch NEMS issue of the 1970 8-track LP, housed in a matte gatefold picture sleeve with 'Printed & made by Almere Printing bv, Holland' print on the inside right panel. The sleeve shows some notable edgewear and a small bump to the opening side whilst the vinyl is clean & grades EX/EX- with just faint paper scuffs not affecting play NEL6003) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Black Sabbath - Paranoid EP - Clear Vinyl - UK - 12" vinyl - £95.00, $126.35, €110.20 (New Item) (arrived 07-Apr-2025 12:36)on April 17, 2025 at 7:19 am
BLACK SABBATH Paranoid (1982 UK limited edition 4-track 33rpm 12" EP pressed on Clear Vinyl, also including War Pigs, Iron Man and Fairies Wear Boots. The glossy picture sleeve displays some general wear, mainly to the edges and the vinyl looks barely played 12NEX01)
- Black Sabbath - Mob Rules - 1st - Misprinted Label - EX - French - vinyl LP - £50.00, $66.50, €58.00 (New Item) (arrived 02-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 17, 2025 at 7:19 am
BLACK SABBATH Mob Rules (1981 first French pressed edition 9-track vinyl LP with TWO mis-spellings on the Side One black & silver 'spaceship' labels ['Bulter' instead of Butler and Track 5 is listed as 'Mob Brules' rather than Mob Rules'], later corrected & repressed - Their tenth studio album, the second to feature Ronnie James Dio on vocals and the first with Vinny Appice on drums. The picture sleeve does have some shelfwear evident to the edges but the vinyl remain in EX condition)
- Black Sabbath - Live Evil - VG - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £20.00, $26.60, €23.20 (New Item) (arrived 03-Apr-2025 13:59)on April 17, 2025 at 7:19 am
BLACK SABBATH Live Evil (1983 UK orange label 14-track double LP, featuring the band fronted by Ronnie James Dio thundering through a set that includes Neon Knights, War Pigs, Iron Man & more. The gatefold picture sleeve is Very Good with somepaper marks over time yet both vinyl discs still look barely ever played, remaining in Excellent condition SAB10)
- Black Sabbath - Live Evil: Super Deluxe Edition - UK - vinyl box set - £99.99, $132.99, €115.99 (Back In Stock) (arrived 03-Apr-2025 16:00)on April 17, 2025 at 7:19 am
BLACK SABBATH Live Evil: Super Deluxe Edition (2023 UK/EU Super Deluxe 40th Anniversary Edition FOUR VINYL LP Box Set comprising newly remastered and remixed versions of their 1983 first official live album which features live recordings from their performances in Seattle, Dallas and San Antonio on 23rd-24th April and 12th-13th May 1982. Complete with bonus extras including a 1982 Mob Rules Tour replica concert book, a 40-page book with photos, artwork & liner notes plus a 1982 Mob Rules Tour replica colour poster, all four discs are housed within two gatefold picture sleeves and a 13" x 13" x 1.5" two-piece picture box. The outer box shows just a little scuffing to the back and edges, however the contents are in Near Mint condition with the vinyl are Near Mint with no obvious signs of play)
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