Artist: BLACK SABBATH
Album: BLACK SABBATH STORY VOL. 2 1978-1992 (DVD)

Release date: 1991/ 2002
Media type: DVD

This second instalment in The Black Sabbath Story covers the period between 1978 and 1992. These were the wilderness years after founding vocalist Ozzy Osbourne left the group and it often seemed as though Sabbath had fitted their tour bus with a revolving door--by 1986, guitarist Tony Iommi was the only founder member left in the group. Five different vocalists are featured in this programme: Ronnie James Dio (ex-Rainbow), Ian Gillan (ex-Deep Purple), Glenn Hughes, Geoff Nicholls and Tony Martin.

The nine promo videos collected here are representatives of an era that all but the most die-hard of Sabbath fans have tried to forget. It is an ignominy that is richly merited. The kindest thing that can be said of this collection of awful 80s hair-metal soundtracking dreadful black-and-white videos of men with haircuts that not even German football players would be caught dead with is that it's an interesting period piece.

On the DVD: The Black Sabbath Story is presented in widescreen. Sound is available in Dolby 5.1 Surround or Dolby Digital. The menu of extras is badly laid out, but includes a gallery of Sabbath albums and further interviews with band members--including an extraordinary and hilarious reminiscence from Ian Gillan, which confirms that that Black Sabbath's reality was far more preposterous than any of the satirical conceits offered by This Is Spinal Tap.--Andrew Mueller

TRACKLIST DVD:

1. A Hard Road (Live London, 1978)
2. Die Young (Live London, 1980)
3. Neon Knights (Live London, 1983)
4. Trashed (Live Montreal, 1983)
5. No Stranger to Love (Video, 1986)
6. The Shining (Live London, 1987)
7. Headless Cross (Video, 1989)
8. Feels Good to Me (Video, 1990)
9. TV Crimes (Rockfield Studios, 1992)
10. Computer God (Rockfield Studios, 1992)
11. I (Live London, 1992)

LINE-UP:

Track 1:
- Ozzy Osbourne / Vocals
- Tony Iommi / Guitar
- Geezer Butler / Bass
- Bill Ward / Drums

Track 2:
- Ronnie James Dio / Vocals
- Tony Iommi / Guitar
- Geezer Butler / Bass
- Bill Ward / Drums

Tracks 3-4:
- Ian Gillan / Vocals
- Tony Iommi / Guitar
- Geezer Butler / Bass
- Bev Bevan / Drums

Track 5:
- Glenn Hughes / Vocals
- Tony Iommi / Guitar
- Dave Spitz / Bass
- Eric Singer / Drums

Track 6:
- Tony Martin / Vocals
- Tony Iommi / Guitar
- Bob Daisley / Bass
- Bev Bevan / Drums

Tracks 7-8:
- Tony Martin / Vocals
- Tony Iommi / Guitar
- Neil Murray / Bass
- Cozy Powell / Drums

Tracks 9-11:
- Ronnie James Dio / Vocals
- Tony Iommi / Guitar
- Geezer Butler / Bass
- Vinnie Appice / Drums