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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Never say die

DETROIT – Even the most grizzled rock ’n’ roll veterans can still get bowled over once in a while. So it’s been for Black Sabbath founding members Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi, the pioneering English metal musicians who have watched as their new album, “13,” tops sales charts across the globe.

“It’s just amazed us,” said bassist Butler, who turned 64 in July. “We thought there’d be some interest in it. But never in our wildest dreams would we have expected it to go to No. 1. Around the world, all over the place, it’s doing well.”

Perhaps a little more faith was in order: In an era when Sabbath’s four-decade influence is resounding more than ever, permeating the work of bands from Mastodon to Queens of the Stone Age, a new studio album should be a big deal. Throw in the fact that it’s the band’s first in 18 years – and the first with Osbourne in 35 – and “13” was destined to breed big buzz.

Any Black Sabbath fans out there?



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.