November 2008 Archives

This week's blog takes us up to this time of year 1983, as my first tour of the USA with Black Sabbath came to an end.

Thursday November 24th

Slept well - I do like this hotel (the Westwood Marquis in Hollywood, California). America is closed today, being Thanksgiving.

I went to my pal Kirk's house to eat an excellent, traditional dinner of roast turkey, pumpkin pie, etc, along with his family. Drove in torrential rain both to and from his house in Van Nuys.

Friday November 25th

Well, what do you know, another birthday has rolled around and time to admit I'm closer to 40 than 30. Tour manager Harry delivered around to my room a pile of presents and cards from back home, which was lovely.

In the afternoon we boarded a beautiful little 8-seater Lear Jet for the half-hour flight to Las Vegas. Checked into the Aladdin Hotel, where we were playing on the night. Seems weird Black Sabbath playing the Strip in Las Vegas.

Sold-out gig. Being my birthday, after the show, I got well and truly "pied" with an evil-smelling concoction of cream, soft cheese and salad dressing , by the rest of the band - and cleaned off with squirting bottles of champagne.

Well-needed shower, then a takeaway Chinese meal and more champagne - this time to drink! Back to the hotel to play a little roulette then it was the hotel bar until 3am, with the guys, celebrating my birthday.

This blog is taken from my diary of 1983, exactly 25 years ago, when I was on tour in America with Black Sabbath.

The line-up of the Sabs at tht time was Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, Ian Gillan on vocals, Geoff Nicholls on keyboards and myself on drums.

Thursday November 10th.

Drove to Rochester airport and boarded the 16.40 flight to Detroit. Usual fleet of limos waiting there for us and soon checking into the excellent "Ponchotrain" Hotel. Had lovely dinner there of scallops and lamb chops.

Along with Tony and Geoff went to the Joe Louis Stadium to watch live screening of the Marvin Hagler v Roberto Duran World title fight (Hagler winning a unanimous points decision).

Friday November 11th

Slept in late and awoke to find a covering of snow. Soundcheck in the afternoon. This show has been sold out for a month and we had a wild and noisy crowd of 20,000. Opening act on virtually all of this tour is Quiet Riot.