Tony Iommi looks back on Black Sabbath’s “surreal” Live Aid reunion experience

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 OsbourneGeezer 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 GraveIron 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 - Live At Last - UK - vinyl LP - £20.00, $25.20, €23.40 (New Item) (arrived 23-Mar-2024 12:36)
    on March 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    BLACK SABBATH Live At Last (1980 UK 9-track vinyl LP released by Nem Records with picture labels, considered unofficial at the time as it was released without permission from the band - Recorded at Manchester and The Rainbow Theatre in Londonduring March 1973, this was intended to be released but, being unhappy with the results, the band shelved the project until former manager, Patrick Meehan, arranged the release in 1980. The band eventually came to acknowledge the recording andissued the whole album as part of the two disc live compilation 'Past Lives' in 2002. The glossy picture sleeve shows some shelfwear to the edges / corners and the vinyl itself has only light signs of play BS001)

  • Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - UK - CD album - £10.00, $12.60, €11.70 (New Item) (arrived 15-Mar-2024 16:42)
    on March 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    BLACK SABBATH Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1996 UK 8-track CD album, remastered from the original master tapes, with faithful reproduction artwork, including addional photographs, notes and lyrics ESMCD305)

  • Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Dutch - vinyl LP - £25.00, $31.50, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 23-Feb-2024 10:30)
    on March 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    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 cornerwear andminor edge creasing along with some light foxing to the inner gatefold 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 - Sabotage - 1st - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £65.00, $81.90, €76.05 (New Item) (arrived 28-Feb-2024 12:14)
    on March 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    BLACK SABBATH Sabotage (1975 UK first press 8-track LP with black & silver design with 'Nems Records & Tapes' logo & '9119 001' catalogue number, their sixth studio album including Hole In The Sky & Symptom Of The Universe, housed in the original textured picture sleeve with the same catalogue number on the spine & the back. The sleeve shows some light ring wear and edge scuffing, whilst the vinyl is clean & grades VG+/EX- with just a few faint spindle marks & the occasional lighthairline not affecting play)

  • Black Sabbath - Sabotage - 1st - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £175.00, $220.50, €204.75 (Back In Stock) (arrived 06-Mar-2024 11:27)
    on March 28, 2024 at 6:30 pm

    BLACK SABBATH Sabotage (Rare 1975 UK first issue 9-track vinyl LP with 'Nems Records & Tapes' logo and catalogue number '9119 001', their sixth studio album was recorded in the midst of a legal battle with their former manager Patrick Meehan andwas co-produced by guitarist Tony Iommi with Mike Butcher; including the uncredited album closer 'Blow On A Jug'. The textured picture sleeve has the same catalogue number printed on the spine & the back and shows some light edge scuffing visible whilst the vinyl is in wonderful condition showing minimal signs of play!)

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