| Deadland Ritual | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | International |
| Genres | Hard Rock, Blues Rock |
| Years active | 2018 - 2021 |
| Associated acts | Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Apocalyptica, Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, The Cult, Guns n' Roses, Velvet Revolver |
Deadland Ritual was a British–American hard rock band originally formed in Los Angeles in 2018. The band is a supergroup composed of vocalist Franky Perez (Apocalyptica), guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Michael Jackson), bassist Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell) and drummer Matt Sorum (the Cult, Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver and many others). Originally formed by Sorum, the group took shape with the addition of Perez and Stevens, and was finalised once Butler agreed to complete the lineup. Deadland Ritual released its first single, "Down in Flames", in December 2018.
Following the release of a second single, Deadland Ritual would tour in 2019. However the project would disband two years later due to the CO-VID19 Pandemic and some of the members focusing on other commitments.
History[]
Following Black Sabbath disbanding in early 2017, Butler would join a new hard rock band known as Deadland Ritual, alongside drummer Matt Sorum (Y Kant Tori Read, The Cult, Guns N' Roses), guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Michael Jackson) and vocalist Franky Perez (Apocalyptica). The formation of Deadland Ritual was first announced on 3 December 2018, when the band's members began posting teasers of new music on their social media pages.[1][2] The band released its debut single and music video, "Down in Flames", a week later. The track was produced by Greg Fidelman.[3] Revolver magazine's Kelsey Chapstick categorised the song as "heavy, bluesy rock", outlining that it "carries the sinister, devilish tones trademarked by Butler, but the exultant vocal performance by Perez and groove-laden syncopations of Sorum lend a distinctly contemporary hard-rock feel".[4] Ryan Reed for Rolling Stone described the track as "a brooding blues-rock epic".[5]
Deadland Ritual would release a follow-up single in "Broken and Bruised" the next year, along with scheduling their first live shows, performing a mix of originals along with covers of Black Sabbath, Billy Idol and Velvet Revolver songs. The band's live debut would be at the Troubadour in Hollywood, California on 28 May 2019.[6] A tour of Europe would follow that June including appearances at Sweden Rock Festival, Rock Am Ring, Download Festival, Hellfest, Azkena Festival and Graspop Metal Meeting. The band would perform two more shows in the United States: Louder Than Life Festival in Louisville, Kentucky[7] and Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, California.[8]
The band intended to record a studio album but on 10 March 2021 Butler would announce "Deadland Ritual's Dead".[9] Further details would surface on the disbandment, mainly with Matt Sorum leaving the project in 2021 before recording and Steve Stevens backing out due to the pandemic. Stevens would state “It was really difficult. We went out and toured Europe. We're all seasoned musicians and we're used to a certain lifestyle, and here we were having to open. We did a number of festival dates and small club dates. Initially, everyone said they were willing to do that, willing to get in the trenches. ... When reality hit, and there was crappy food and crappy hotels and all that kind of stuff, I think people lost interest.”.[10]
Butler would release his autobiography Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath and Beyond in June 2023. That same month, Butler would announce his retirement from music.[11]
Members[]
- Geezer Butler - Bass
- Matt Sorum - Drums
- Steve Stevens - Guitar
- Franky Perez - Vocals
Discography[]
- Down in Flames (Single) (2019)
- Broken and Bruised (Single) (2019)
List of Live Performances[]
- 28 May 2019 - The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- 6 June 2019 - Norje Havsbad, Norje, Sweden (Sweden Rock Festival)
- 7 June 2019 - Nürburgring, Nürburg, Germany (Rock Am Ring)
- 9 June 2019 - Zeppelinfeld, Nuremberg, Germany (Rock Im Park)
- 10 June 2019 - Bi Nuu, Berlin, Germany
- 11 June 2019 - LOGO, Hamburg, Germany
- 13 June 2019 - O2 Academy Islington, London, England
- 14 June 2019 - Donington Park, Castle Donington, England (Download Festival)
- 15 June 2019 - The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
- 19 June 2019 - Z7 Konzertfabrik, Pratteln, Switzerland
- 21 June 2019 - Recinto Mendizabala, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain (Azkena Rock Festival)
- 22 June 2019 - Val de Moine, Clisson, France (Hellfest)
- 23 June 2019 - Boeretang, Dessel, Belgium (Graspop Metal Meeting)
- 29 September 2019 - Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville, KY, USA (Louder Than Life)
- 13 October 2019 - Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA, USA (Aftershock Festival)
Links[]
References[]
| V·T·E Black Sabbath | |
|---|---|
| Selected Members | Tony Iommi • Geezer Butler • Ozzy Osbourne • Bill Ward • Ronnie James Dio • Vinny Appice • Ian Gillan • Geoff Nicholls • Tony Martin • Cozy Powell |
| Studio Albums | Black Sabbath • Paranoid • Master of Reality • Vol. 4 • Sabbath Bloody Sabbath • Sabotage • Technical Ecstasy • Never Say Die! • Heaven and Hell • Mob Rules • Born Again • Seventh Star • The Eternal Idol • Headless Cross • Tyr • Dehumanizer • Cross Purposes • Forbidden • 13 |
| Heaven & Hell | Live From Radio City Music Hall • The Devil You Know • Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell |
| Associated Acts | Heaven & Hell • Deadland Ritual • Iommi • G/Z/R • Dio • Rainbow • Deep Purple • Whitesnake |