The Hand That Rocks The Purpose!
The Line Up.
It's been clear how Tony Martin felt about being set out in order to have Dio revein. That Sabbath had gained a lot of ground. It was heading in the right direction. Joining him in that frame of mind were Neil Murry and Cozy Powell. But he didn't just sit around waiting by the phone. Tony filled his Polydor deal with the Back Where I Belong album. Joining Cozy Powell and Neil Murray on the road to perform songs off that album. As well as some Rainbow, Sabbath, and Whitesnake hits. The troubled yet still great quality album Dehumanizer carried Sabbath through 1992. Leading to a set of dates in Costa Mesa. Which led the second Dio ship to sink. After the Costa Mesa reunion with Ozzy, the guys tried to reform and do an album and tour. Things moved slowly, so Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler went to work on an album in the meantime. Iommi called up Tony Martin about giving it another go and doing this album. Work spilled over on both the album and the Ozzy reunion. But needless to say, the Ozzy reunion falls flat. Months spent on contract deals drive down the plans. So, the music that would be Cross Purposes is on the drawing board full-time. I'll get into the dispute over the 'band' name later.
A couple months into the sessions, it was time to start auditioning drummers. Bobby Rondinelli connects with Robert Gambino. Tour Manager for Doro Pesch who at one point was an assistant to Tony Iommi. Bobby expressed to Robert that he'd love to get a chance at the Sabbath drummer's seat. Robert had actually not talked to Iommi in some time. But he passed Iommi's house number to him. The former Rainbow skin beater called up Iommi's wife (at that time) and asked for an audition. It wasn't until ten minutes later that Iommi called and said that Bobby was already on the short list. Without an audition, he got the position. With the words from Iommi that if he didn't play well, he wouldn't keep the job. Rondinelli has said that Cozy Powell was supposed to work with the guys, but things weren't working out. He was told to stay away from Cozy while he auditioned. So Cozy wouldn't suspect anything. (Masters of Reality 2008 DVD is where he says this.) For some odd reason, while Bobby was brought in, Iommi called up Ray Gillen. To have a chance at the vocal spot. But he declined (Per Al Romano, who played with Gillen in Sun Red Sun). With good ole Geoff Nicholls standing tall on the keyboards, we have the Cross Purposes line-up.
A couple months into the sessions, it was time to start auditioning drummers. Bobby Rondinelli connects with Robert Gambino. Tour Manager for Doro Pesch who at one point was an assistant to Tony Iommi. Bobby expressed to Robert that he'd love to get a chance at the Sabbath drummer's seat. Robert had actually not talked to Iommi in some time. But he passed Iommi's house number to him. The former Rainbow skin beater called up Iommi's wife (at that time) and asked for an audition. It wasn't until ten minutes later that Iommi called and said that Bobby was already on the short list. Without an audition, he got the position. With the words from Iommi that if he didn't play well, he wouldn't keep the job. Rondinelli has said that Cozy Powell was supposed to work with the guys, but things weren't working out. He was told to stay away from Cozy while he auditioned. So Cozy wouldn't suspect anything. (Masters of Reality 2008 DVD is where he says this.) For some odd reason, while Bobby was brought in, Iommi called up Ray Gillen. To have a chance at the vocal spot. But he declined (Per Al Romano, who played with Gillen in Sun Red Sun). With good ole Geoff Nicholls standing tall on the keyboards, we have the Cross Purposes line-up.
For a far more detailed history of the Tony Martin Years of Black Sabbath, please check out the book available at all major outlets.
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Books-A-Million
The Album.
There was at least one song pulled from the Dehumanizer sessions. On one of the songs on the Dehumanizer Demos, you can hear a bit of Psycophobia. Either or not anything Tony Martin did during his 1991 brief return was used. is up in the air. Althou Tony Martin said on Facebook, "I went to a rehearsal when they were trying to get the Ronnie thing together, and sang on some of the songs, but none of it was used. And when I rejoined the band, I didn’t hear any of the stuff again." But going by the interviews done since then, the album-making process went smoothly. Geezer most noted that he was happy that he didn't have to heavily take control of the lyric front. Iommi and Butler just expressed that it was time to do more modern lyrics and to lean away from the devil and myths. Which Martin agreed to do.
Virtual Death is the one that Geezer mentioned he had the most input on. Altogether about 30 songs was nearly completed. The band would take only about six weeks to in England to work up the batch of songs. Most of it was worked out with the band in one room. Tony Iommi went into great detail on the band's working relationship during a Kerrang Magazine article. That he and Geezer would come up with riffs. And Martin would come up with words and a vocal melody almost as soon as the music was played. And the first melody would usually be the one the carried throu the whole song's life. Geezer and Iommi would every once in a while say he could do a better melody. And he would have another one to go "like a snap of a finger". In another interview Geezer Butler backs Iommi's words. And he does say this album was one of the easiest to make. In only six weeks the album was completed. One of the fastest in Sabbath's history. As far as the songs of the album goes. The music is a very clear mix. Not tons of overdubbs were done. With everything a Sabbath fan could want. Not as heavy as Dehumanizer but it's not the same flavor throu out. Which is my only complaint (for lack of a better word) of the Dehumainzer album. The lyrics do have a good look at the world in 1994. The first song released to radio and music video is The Hand That Rocks The Cradile. Which is about the hospital worker Beverly Allit. She murdered severial kids under her tenures. Reflected in lines like "Oath to save, not steal the live". "Sweetest soul to look throu human eyes". I Witness is simply about the Amish people. But the bet song from the album was to be Cross Of Thorns. All the band members, most of the fans I know, and the press all hold this song above the rest. The idea came from when Tony was touring with Cozy in Irelind. The IRA group caused trouble for many of people. One night at a pub (bar) Martin was talking about these troubles with people and one guy said it was like wearing a cross of thorns. Needless to say that group of words went into the Tony Martin mental backlog. One song I don't hear much about is Dying For Love. A song about refugees which I would say belongs on a Tony Martin era anthology cd. A ballad with maybe Iommi's best solo on Cross Purposes. One track that gets talked about alot is Whats The Use. That was used as a Japan only bonus track. I've read from severial that say it was the best track from the Cross Purposes sessions. I'm not of thatj opinion but it is a good track. Van Halen-ish to my ears According to Geezer altogether there was 30 song completed. So there is some material for a bonus cd. Severial album titles floated around for some time. Tony Martin came up with Souled Out. Which survived a long time until the cover art came along. Unknown to the band the burning angel image was used before on a Scorpions single.
The Name.
When it comes time to plan the album's release Butler and Iommi have trouble. Geezer openly spoke to interviewers like Steven Rosen that this was not a Black Sabbath album. The whole time they were moving forward with the original band reforming. Tony Martin and Bobby Rondinelli have both been asked this several times thru interviews and facebook. Black Sabbath was the band they were making an album for. In his more direct words "No fucking way, I was asked to join Black Sabbath" "An Iommi / Butler album makes no sense" came from Rondinelli. I guess it's a useless point to argue over now. Only Iommi and Butler know the answer on this one.
There was at least one song pulled from the Dehumanizer sessions. On one of the songs on the Dehumanizer Demos, you can hear a bit of Psycophobia. Either or not anything Tony Martin did during his 1991 brief return was used. is up in the air. Althou Tony Martin said on Facebook, "I went to a rehearsal when they were trying to get the Ronnie thing together, and sang on some of the songs, but none of it was used. And when I rejoined the band, I didn’t hear any of the stuff again." But going by the interviews done since then, the album-making process went smoothly. Geezer most noted that he was happy that he didn't have to heavily take control of the lyric front. Iommi and Butler just expressed that it was time to do more modern lyrics and to lean away from the devil and myths. Which Martin agreed to do.
Virtual Death is the one that Geezer mentioned he had the most input on. Altogether about 30 songs was nearly completed. The band would take only about six weeks to in England to work up the batch of songs. Most of it was worked out with the band in one room. Tony Iommi went into great detail on the band's working relationship during a Kerrang Magazine article. That he and Geezer would come up with riffs. And Martin would come up with words and a vocal melody almost as soon as the music was played. And the first melody would usually be the one the carried throu the whole song's life. Geezer and Iommi would every once in a while say he could do a better melody. And he would have another one to go "like a snap of a finger". In another interview Geezer Butler backs Iommi's words. And he does say this album was one of the easiest to make. In only six weeks the album was completed. One of the fastest in Sabbath's history. As far as the songs of the album goes. The music is a very clear mix. Not tons of overdubbs were done. With everything a Sabbath fan could want. Not as heavy as Dehumanizer but it's not the same flavor throu out. Which is my only complaint (for lack of a better word) of the Dehumainzer album. The lyrics do have a good look at the world in 1994. The first song released to radio and music video is The Hand That Rocks The Cradile. Which is about the hospital worker Beverly Allit. She murdered severial kids under her tenures. Reflected in lines like "Oath to save, not steal the live". "Sweetest soul to look throu human eyes". I Witness is simply about the Amish people. But the bet song from the album was to be Cross Of Thorns. All the band members, most of the fans I know, and the press all hold this song above the rest. The idea came from when Tony was touring with Cozy in Irelind. The IRA group caused trouble for many of people. One night at a pub (bar) Martin was talking about these troubles with people and one guy said it was like wearing a cross of thorns. Needless to say that group of words went into the Tony Martin mental backlog. One song I don't hear much about is Dying For Love. A song about refugees which I would say belongs on a Tony Martin era anthology cd. A ballad with maybe Iommi's best solo on Cross Purposes. One track that gets talked about alot is Whats The Use. That was used as a Japan only bonus track. I've read from severial that say it was the best track from the Cross Purposes sessions. I'm not of thatj opinion but it is a good track. Van Halen-ish to my ears According to Geezer altogether there was 30 song completed. So there is some material for a bonus cd. Severial album titles floated around for some time. Tony Martin came up with Souled Out. Which survived a long time until the cover art came along. Unknown to the band the burning angel image was used before on a Scorpions single.
The Name.
When it comes time to plan the album's release Butler and Iommi have trouble. Geezer openly spoke to interviewers like Steven Rosen that this was not a Black Sabbath album. The whole time they were moving forward with the original band reforming. Tony Martin and Bobby Rondinelli have both been asked this several times thru interviews and facebook. Black Sabbath was the band they were making an album for. In his more direct words "No fucking way, I was asked to join Black Sabbath" "An Iommi / Butler album makes no sense" came from Rondinelli. I guess it's a useless point to argue over now. Only Iommi and Butler know the answer on this one.
Here is a documentary on the album.
The Tour Purposes
Black Sabbath Tony Martin Tony Iommi Geezer Butler live 1994 San Jose, California
Media advertisement has been a thing of argument. Butler and Martin have opinioned that the album and tour wasn't promoted very well. But there was a tv commercial for the album. Full page ads in Kerrang and Hit Parader for the album and tour. Play for The Hand That Rocks The Cradle music video on Headbanger's Ball. Interviews on tv and radio. So, I'll leave it to you readers to ponder over. Well as the tour neared, The worst thing that could happen to a singer happens. Tony Martin comes down with a throat infection. So, for all the effort putting this line up in the public eye. Martin has to go thru this with his voice not at 100%. But Tony's 50% stands head and shoulders above most others. The tour goes off very good. The North American tour had a heavy back up in Morbid Angel and Motorhead. Running this bill February thru April. Godspeed and Cathedral took their place during stints in Japan, UK, and mainland England. What did the band say about the tour. Well Geezer was positive about it all. His comments on Tony martin were that he was happy the band finally got a singer that can truly fulfill all eras. And he tended to prefer his singing of Dio songs more than Ozzy's.
Going South
Black Sabbath live 1994 Chile
The Monsters Of Rock shows were placed together with Slayer, Black Sabbath, and Kiss. Three dates were set for Sao Paulo, Brazil & Santiago, Chile & Burenos Aires, Argentina. Before the concert dates Bobby Rondinelli hired a new manager. Which to extend his contract a considerable pay raise was insisted. Those demands were not answered by Gloria Butler. So, it was brought up that Bill Ward might want to rejoin. Upon his return there was one question on everyone's mind. Why now is this the time. Well, that got answered during many of the press and tv interviews. Bill stated he finally gotten over his deal of if Ozzy isn't involved it's not Sabbath. And the reason kept joining then leaving Sabbath is that it never felt like Black Sabbath to him without Ozzy. Bill goes on to say since Ozzy had said he was not interested in returning he was OK with being in Sabbath without Ozzy. At the rehearsals Martin has said he and Bill got on good. Bill has echoed this same feeling. The shows go off indifferently I'll say. They had their share of problems with the highlights. The shows were shortened. With War Pigs added in. Bill did have some timing issues on the newer songs. But in all fairness, he had just learned them. Most noted drummers have a sound and style unique to them. He was running in someone else's shoes, so to say. Martin's voice was very strain at this time. Tony Martin's singing is really sour, but you can tell he's trying his best. He rares back and give his all but the voice just isn't there. During the Sao Paulo show the band plug into Mob Rules. But Iommi has such severe problems with his guitar giving feedback that he throws it down. The band appeared on the Furia Metal show. Iommi, Martin, Iommi talked about a new album with the band. The way the three describe it's idea points towards the way forbidden sounded.
The End
On one show one of the under-card bands was smoking dope in the dressing rooms. And Bill went crazy on these guys till Iommi pulled him off. This may be the thing that started Bill's departure. But it's hard to say exactly 100% why he left Sabbath. Tony & Geezer (and Gloria Butler) had a riff between them. Going back to if the band was Sabbath or Iommi/Butler. Also, on the 1994 Nativity In Black tribute album Iommi was to play on The Wizard. As part of the Bullring Brummies' supergroup. Some legal issues came up and Iommi couldn't get to be on the track. So, the song was to be scrapped. Only thing is that Geezer, Rob Halford, Bill Ward did the song anyway without telling Iommi. He didn't know about it tell the album was released. Iommi fires Glory, Geezer leaves. One plus one equals two. Geezer leaves to go work with Ozzy and his own G//Z/R project. But not before slamming Sabbath & Iommi. Stating that he had no intention of ever playing with Black Sabbath again. So, either way you look at it another bass player and drummer are gone.