BLACK SABBATH: ‘Reunion’ Album To Receive Vinyl Release With 2 Remixed Bonus Tracks

BLACK SABBATH’s “Reunion” live album, which was originally released in October 1998, will be made available on vinyl for the first time on October 13

Arriving via Legacy Recordings, the 3LP set on purple smoke vinyl captures the original band lineup of BLACK SABBATH live from their 1997 reunion tour, and features 16 live performances of their greatest hits remastered from the original source tapes, along with two remixed bonus tracks.

“Reunion” was the first new release featuring the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — since 1978’s “Never Say Die!” and Osbourne‘s subsequent firing the following year.

The live tracks on “Reunion” were recorded on December 4, 1997 and December 5, 1997 at the NEC in Birmingham., England. Along with live versions of classics such as “Paranoid”, “N.I.B.”, “Black Sabbath” and “Iron Man”, the double album also included two newly recorded studio tracks: “Selling My Soul” and “Psycho Man”. These two new songs, which were recorded in April-May 1998, were also released on a CD single in the United States. Music critics applauded the band’s decision to surprise fans by including unexpected songs which had not been played live in many years, such as “Spiral Architect” and “Behind The Wall Of Sleep”.

Track listing:

Side A

01. War Pigs
02. Behind The Wall of Sleep
03. N.I.B.

Side B

01. Fairies Wear Boots
02. Electric Funeral
03. Sweet Leaf
04. Spiral Architect

Side C

01. Into The Void
02. Snowblind
03. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Side D

01. Orchid/Lord of This World
02. Dirty Women
03. Black Sabbath

Side E

01. Iron Man
02. Children Of The Grave
03. Paranoid

Side F

01. Psycho Man
02. Selling My Soul
03. Psycho Man (Danny Saber Remix)
04. Selling My Soul (Danny Saber Remix)

In the year 2000, a monumental moment struck for BLACK SABBATH as they clinched their inaugural Grammy Award. The coveted accolade was bestowed upon them for their electrifying live rendition of “Iron Man,” extracted from the timeless masterpiece “Reunion.”

Fast forward to February 2017, and the curtains descended on an era as SABBATH concluded their groundbreaking 49-year journey with an unforgettable crescendo – “The End” tour, culminating in their hometown of Birmingham.

Yet, every saga has its final chapter. The curtain call for “The End” signaled the twilight of BLACK SABBATH‘s live performances, with a poignant reason resonating behind the scenes. A heartfelt farewell was necessitated by Tony Iommi’s health battles; his valiant fight against lymphoma since 2011 had rendered extended travel impractical.

Tony Iommi‘s resilience and strength during this period were awe-inspiring. The guitarist, who announced his cancer diagnosis early in 2012, underwent rigorous treatment while recording “13,” an album that not only reunited him with vocalist Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler after 35 years but also formed the foundation for a subsequent tour.

The year 2017 marked a triumphant milestone in Iommi‘s health journey, as he emerged victorious from a surgery to extract a noncancerous lump from his throat, solidifying his resilience against adversity.

“13” wasn’t merely an album; it was a reuniting of forces that time had temporarily separated. Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, and Geezer Butler, the trio that had forged the essence of BLACK SABBATH, came together after decades apart to craft an opus that resonated with fans old and new.

Meanwhile, Bill Ward‘s role in the saga of SABBATH‘s reunion was woven with complexities. Initially part of the reunion announcement a decade prior, Ward later receded from the forefront. Citing contractual disputes as the cause, Ward’s absence from recording and touring sessions took center stage. While contract terms were claimed as the cause, whispers of physical readiness circulated, revealing the intricacies behind the scenes.

BLACK SABBATH‘s legacy is one marked by accolades, struggles, and a profound camaraderie that defied the passage of time. From Grammy glory to health battles, they etched their story into the annals of rock history, leaving an indelible mark on music and hearts alike.