As part of the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 4th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Friday, January 17.
Rock News Artist of The Year No. 8 – BLACK SABBATH
Black Sabbath returned in 2013 with word that their new album, “13”, would be released in June.
Original Sabbath members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles and were joined at the sessions by drummer Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave) in place of the absent Bill Ward, who continues to sit out the band’s reunion over a contract dispute.
On January 17, Ozzy was injured in a house fire when wife Sharon left a candle burning overnight and it exploded, causing a small fire in the couple’s living room.
In April, Black Sabbath filmed an appearance for the May 15 season finale of the CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, where they performed the premiere of “End Of The Beginning”, the second single from the forthcoming album (read details here).
Ozzy and Sharon made more headlines in April, as the couple split temporarily over a drug and alcohol relapse by the singer (here).
Guitarist Tony Iommi shared an update on his cancer treatments (here), telling fans that his lymphoma requires a hospital visit every 6 weeks until doctors can get it under control.
On April 18, Black Sabbath released “God Is Dead?”, the lead single from “13”, which was produced by Rick Rubin.
The band launched their (partial) reunion tour on April 20 in Auckland, New Zealand (here), debuting new songs on stage in advance of the album’s June release. The group would go on to play dates in Australia, North America, South America and Europe before the end of the year.
On June 11, Black Sabbath released “13” and launched it with a live Town Hall event hosted by comedian Jim Norton (watch it here).
The album delivered the band their first UK No. 1 in 43 years (since 1970’s “Paranoid”), and their first-ever US chart-topper.
Ozzy and Sharon reconciled and were back at home again by mid-June.
Original drummer Bill Ward explained his reasons for not participating in the band’s reunion (here), while promoting the August launched of his groundbreaking collection of fine art created from rhythm, “Absence Of Corners.”
Home between shows in late August, Ozzy once again made headlines for a fire at his Los Angeles mansion; this time, it was started by the singer while making a bacon sandwich (here).
In September, the band were honored with their own 3D maze, “Black Sabbath: 13 3D”, at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights (here).
October saw Bill Ward undergo surgery for a perforated diverticulitis.
Bassist Geezer Butler was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and tribute concert at the Bass Player Live! Concert & Awards Show in Los Angeles, which featured a variety of rockers performing Black Sabbath tracks (check out video here).
The honors continued as the band were named Living Legends at the 2013 Classic Rock Awards in London in November (here), and guitarist Tony Iommi received an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Coventry University (here).
November saw the release of the DVD set, “Black Sabbath: Live… Gathered In Their Masses”, which captured the band in concert in Melbourne, Australia during the early stages of the group’s world tour.
By year-end, Black Sabbath were nominated for three 2014 Grammy Awards (here), with that ceremony taking place on January 26.
The group will continue the “13” tour in 2014, with dates starting March 31 in New York and running throughout the summer.
2013 Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
09 – STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
10 – DEF LEPPARD
See also:
2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
