Latest news with #JimSimpson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black Sabbath's Early Demos Will Be Released as ‘The Legendary Lost Tapes'
A collection of early Black Sabbath demos, which the band recorded under the name Earth, will finally get an official release next month. Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes is set to arrive July 25 via Big Bear Records. It contains a handful of recordings that Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward recorded at Zella Studios in Birmingham, England, in 1969. Later that year, Earth changed their name to Black Sabbath, with the band releasing their self-titled debut in February 1970. More from Rolling Stone Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning Farewell Concert to Livestream for Global Audience Famed Black Sabbath Cover Model Raffling Autograph for Cat Rescue Rob Halford Explains Why Judas Priest Are Missing Black Sabbath's Farewell Megaconcert The Legendary Lost Tapes was overseen by Big Bear founder Jim Simpson, who also served as Black Sabbath's first manager. Simpson said (via Louder) that the collection 'presents rare early recordings,' which have been 'remastered from long-lost tapes.' He added: 'These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly. Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way.' While these demos have never gotten an official release, a handful of bootleg collections containing recordings from the Earth era have been released over the years. It's unclear if Black Sabbath are involved with The Legendary Lost Tapes in any capacity. A rep for the band did not immediately return Rolling Stone's request for comment. News of the release comes as Black Sabbath prepare to reunite one last time at what's scheduled to be Osbourne's final concert. Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward haven't all taken the stage together since 2005, with Ward declining to participate in some of the band's more recent shows (like their 2016 The End Tour). The concert is set to take place on July 5 in Birmingham with a lineup that also includes Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, and Tom Morello serving as musical director. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Early Black Sabbath Recordings Under Name Earth to be Issued as ‘The Legendary Lost Tapes'
Before there was Black Sabbath there was Earth. The precursor band to the legendary heavy metal band fronted by Ozzy Osbourne will get its time to shine on July 25 when a collection of demos recorded in 1969 will be issued as Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes. The first-time release of the early songs from Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward and bassist Geezer Butler as Earth is due out July 25 on Big Bear Records, the Birmingham blues/jazz label founded by the band's first manager, Jim Simpson. The four men who first joined forces in 1968 as the Polka Tulk Blues Band before briefly trying on Earth to record a number of demos in 1969 that were never released. They soon adopted their more familiar name, the one they will be billed as at what is being called the group's final-ever concert on Saturday (July 5) in their hometown of Manchester. More from Billboard Ozzy Osbourne's DNA Will Be Sold in Limited Edition Liquid Death Cans Fans Choose KATSEYE's 'Beautiful Chaos' as This Week's Favorite New Music Olivia Rodrigo Brings Out The Cure's Robert Smith at Glastonbury 2025 According to the NME, original manager Simpson has overseen the project. 'Before Black Sabbath, the band were known as Earth – a blues-driven powerhouse already making a name for themselves,' Simpson said in a release. 'This new release presents rare early recordings from that era, remastered from long-lost tapes. These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly.' The magazine reported that it does not appear as if the band is involved with the release and at press time a spokesperson for Osbourne had not returned a request for comment. 'Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way,' Simpson continued. Sabbath released their self-titled debut album in 1970, along with the classic LP Paranoid. Ahead of their big all-star 'Back to the Beginning' farewell concert next weekend in Birmingham's Villa Park, the band was given freedom of the city honors from their hometown, with all four men presented with scrolls and medals by the town's Lord Mayor at a private ceremony on Saturday (June 28) recognizing their significance, according to NME. Butler called Birmingham a 'great working-class city' during the ceremony, joking that people used to make fun of their accents in the early days. 'We weren't given a chance when we started out, but Birmingham has always been behind us,' he said. Osbourne's manager, wife Sharon Osbourne, revealed earlier this month that she had removed an unnamed band from the lineup of the final show after a dispute with the band's manager that she said made her feel 'the worst way I've felt in years.' Sabbath's final gig will find them sharing the stage with Metallica, Mastodon, Anthrax, Pantera, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice in Chains, Gojira, Slayer and a supergroup featuring members of Guns N' Roses, the Smashing Pumpkins, Limp Bizkit, Judas Priest, Rage Against the Machine and others. Sabbath shared a candid snap from rehearsals last week in which Ward, Butler and Osbourne were caught smiling and waving at the camera from a couch. Osbourne has not performed a full show since 2018 as a result of a number of surgeries and a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease that has kept the 76-year-old metal legend off the stage for nearly seven years. Ozzy has said that he's been in intensive training for the show, which he recently announced will be livestreamed for fans who can't make it. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Release of early Black Sabbath tapes will show band's young talent
A collection of Black Sabbath recordings, made in 1969 when they were known as Earth, will be released for the first time on July 25. Titled Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, these demos were recorded by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward at Zella Studios in Birmingham. The release, supervised by the band's first manager Jim Simpson, comes ahead of Black Sabbath's farewell show at Villa Park on Saturday, July 5. Prior to their final performance, nicknamed Back To The Beginning, Black Sabbath was awarded the freedom of the city of Birmingham. Despite health issues, Ozzy Osbourne will perform with his original bandmates for the first time in 20 years, with support from bands like Tool and Metallica.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black Sabbath's ‘Legendary Lost Tapes' to be released for the first time
A collection of Black Sabbath recordings, from when the influential metal act was known as Earth, are set to be released for the first time. The four-piece, formed in 1968, were originally called The Polka Tulk Blues Band before changing their name to Earth soon after. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward recorded a series of demos in 1969 at Zella Studios, Birmingham, that were never made public. In the same year, Earth changed their title once again, this time to Black Sabbath, after their own song, which was inspired by Mario Bava's 1963 Italian horror movie of the same name. The news comes as Black Sabbath prepares to play their farewell show at Villa Park on Saturday (July 5). It has been announced that the tapes, titled Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, will be released on July 25 via Big Bear Records, although the band are reportedly not involved in the release. Jim Simpson, the band's first manager, has supervised the project. 'Before Black Sabbath, the band were known as Earth – a blues-driven powerhouse already making a name for themselves,' he said. 'This new release presents rare early recordings from that era, remastered from long-lost tapes.' He added: 'These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly. 'Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way.' On Saturday (June 28), Black Sabbath were awarded the freedom of the city of Birmingham prior to their farewell performance, which has been nicknamed 'Back To The Beginning'. Osborne, also known as the 'Prince of Darkness', has not played a full gig since 2018 as a result of his poor health. However, the singer has said he will be 'giving 120 per cent' as he prepares for the final performance alongside his original bandmates, whom he has not played with in 20 years. During an episode of Ozzy Speaks on SiriusXM, Osborne said: 'If my God wants me to do the show, I'll do it.' In February, fans expressed outrage over the 'ridiculous' price of tickets to the band's last gig, as pre-sale ticket prices ranged between £197.50 and £834. Tool, Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and others are all set to support the band at their last gig.
Washington Post
07-02-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
A stately Capitol Hill Federal on the market for $3.9 million
One of Capitol Hill's oldest single-family residences was listed last month for the first time in nearly 40 years, for nearly $3.9 million. Two centuries old and nearly 4,000 square feet, the eye-catching detached brick Federal-style house exemplifies the neighborhood's distinguished character. The property — owned by Ross McWilliams, the co-founder of the real estate brokerage McWilliams Ballard Inc., and his husband, Jim Simpson — has a history with smudged edges. The listing says, for instance, that it once belonged to a Washington mayor and that it was a 'Civil War building,' without providing more detail about either claim.
