A specific interview - Rehearsing 'Heaven and Hell' with Ozzy in 1997?

[Scott]

Hello,

I'm sure I remember reading that Sabbath rehearsed 'Heaven and Hell' (or some other track from that album?) when Ozzy rejoined in 1997. I remember it being mentioned in an interview, but I can't find that interview/quote. Would anyone happen to know the source of the quote? I've been thinking about it for a while, but can't find the quote.

Does anyone else remember reading this, or am I going insane (radio)? (couldn't resist  )

Happy new year!

[Charger]

I think you might have it confused by the fact that they played Heaven And Hell during the soundcheck of NEC with Whitfield Crane on vocals.

I have never heard that they would have even entertained the idea of playing anything but Ozzy stuff at the reunion.

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
Agreed, I never heard that either.  If anything, I heard that Ozzy would not even consider such a thing.

[Zzzptm]

I think you might have it confused by the fact that they played Heaven And Hell during the soundcheck of NEC with Whitfield Crane on vocals.

I have never heard that they would have even entertained the idea of playing anything but Ozzy stuff at the reunion.

https://loudwire.com/whitfield-crane-cover-black-sabbath-ozzy-osbourne-with-machiavelli-orchestra-italy/

Yep, Crane did the soundcheck vocals so as not to tax Ozzy's voice before the show. One version I saw was that Ozzy turned up and sang the last verse of H&H, but there's no recording extant to prove/disprove that claim. If true, it would be just Ozzy farting around before the concert, having a laugh. But I saw that mention on a Google Groups page and there was no source link for the story that Crane claimed Ozzy joined him onstage. So, it's probably false, in the category "unsubstantiated rumor".

But, that was a good rabbit hole to go down to find the answer. Found out in the course of research that Craig Gruber had pretty much recorded all the bass parts for H&H, but Geezer re-did them all after rejoining the band.

[Charger]

One version I saw was that Ozzy turned up and sang the last verse of H&H, but there's no recording extant to prove/disprove that claim

I have the soundcheck recording and I can 100% say that's not true at all. Crane did the vocals.

[Zzzptm]

One version I saw was that Ozzy turned up and sang the last verse of H&H, but there's no recording extant to prove/disprove that claim

I have the soundcheck recording and I can 100% say that's not true at all. Crane did the vocals.

Even better, and I stand happily corrected. Now it's no longer unfounded rumor, but flat-out false.

[Scott]

Thanks for that, everyone.

I knew about the soundcheck with Whitfield Crane (think I've got it somewhere), but I'm sure I read that they attempted it. Maybe whatever I read suggested that the song wasn't Heaven and Hell, and/or it wasn't 1997 specifically. I remember reading something like that, because it stuck out so much.

[Zzzptm]

Thanks for that, everyone.

I knew about the soundcheck with Whitfield Crane (think I've got it somewhere), but I'm sure I read that they attempted it. Maybe whatever I read suggested that the song wasn't Heaven and Hell, and/or it wasn't 1997 specifically. I remember reading something like that, because it stuck out so much.

I saw something along the lines of what you described on the Google group page where the story has it happening at the sound check for the 1997 NEC performance, with Ozzy and Crane. Did not mention any other time or place, so if it didn't happen there, we don't have a story that it happened anywhere else.

[Scott]

Thanks for that, everyone.

I knew about the soundcheck with Whitfield Crane (think I've got it somewhere), but I'm sure I read that they attempted it. Maybe whatever I read suggested that the song wasn't Heaven and Hell, and/or it wasn't 1997 specifically. I remember reading something like that, because it stuck out so much.

I saw something along the lines of what you described on the Google group page where the story has it happening at the sound check for the 1997 NEC performance, with Ozzy and Crane. Did not mention any other time or place, so if it didn't happen there, we don't have a story that it happened anywhere else.

No worries, that sounds about right. Unless it was something as simple as 'oh we discussed adding 'Heaven and Hell' to the set, but Ozzy said it'd be out of his range'. Either way, a fun possibility.

[Zzzptm]

"Hey Ozzy, you wanna sing Heaven and H-"

"No."

"Just messin' with you, man!"