Customer Reviews

Neon Nights: 30 Years of Heaven & Hell - Live in Europe

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you enjoyed Heaven & Hell - Live From Radio City Music Hall 2007 you'll probably enjoy this too. It's shorter and more concise, so if you're like me and like to watch concert DVD's front to back, this is more digestible. The performances on both are top notch. The band is well rehearsed, but not so much that they play too stiff, the drum solo is excellent without being show-offy or too long, and the star performer is Ronnie James Dio, his voice noticeably aged, but fine nonetheless. He really injects new personality into all of these songs; every single one, new and old. The way he changes/ad-libs some lyrics and adds the "f-bomb" to a couple songs may not be to everybody's tastes, but we'll always have the original studio recordings too.

On this DVD in particular, the band are in great spirits, particularly Tony Iommi and Ronnie James Dio. They joke around together a lot on stage, and at one point Dio flubs the words to a song (I think) and he and Tony exchange glances and laugh. I couldn't help but feel happy for them watching this, all things considered.
Not a complaint, but worth noting: I don't know whether it was overdubs, backstage magic, or some combination thereof, but you got lots of treated background vocals, and also rhythm guitar by nobody while Tony solos. Now, it's been a while since I watched my Radio City Music Hall, but I'm pretty sure those songs didn't get the same treatment. So, for better or worse, that stuff is here, and is what it is. And again, I don't know how they did it. No doubt there are plenty of music dorks familiar with their gear who could explain it to you. It made for fuller sounding live renditions, and not-so-annoying sounding audience participation, if anything.

If you're happy with your Radio City Music Hall DVD, don't expect this to be much different. If you want something different, check out the Black Sabbath live album Live Evil, which features live representation of songs from Mob Rules and Heaven & Hell, but also Master of Reality, Paranoid, and Black Sabbath.

The back of this DVD reads E5150, but it's worth noting that while you do get the benefit of it being the intro to The Mob Rules just like on the album Mob Rules (which isn't the case on either Live Evil or Radio City Music Hall), the footage is incomplete. So if you like the atmosphere the ambience of the full track sets up, sorry, it ain't here. Personally, I wasn't so let down by this.
The back of the DVD also reads five songs not on the "Heaven & Hell Live at Radio City Music Hall" DVD, namely: Country Girl, Time Machine, Fear, Bible Black and Follow the Tears. (The latter three songs, of course, being off the album The Devil You Know, did not yet exist at the time of that DVD's filming.) I don't think it was unreasonable to expect these five songs to be on there, in full. Let it be known, before you purchase this, that only the first verse of Country Girl is played before it segues into Neon Knights. The irony is that if this information were anywhere on the box, I probably still would've bought the DVD when I did, and definitely would've eventually. And either way would have enjoyed it a lot more than I did. But as it is, I bought it specifically with Country Girl in mind, and the awesomeness of the rest of the DVD notwithstanding, my viewing experience was ruined by the disappointment. (Hence 4 stars and not 5.)
But such is the folly of the hard sell.

Beware of the same hard sell spoiling the new Dio live album At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987. (For instance, the back reads "Stargazer" and fails to mention that it's just a teaser of the song. For a full, awesome live rendition of Stargazer by the same five people who originally recorded it, see Live in Europe)

As for me getting my live Country Girl, I'm going to have to try my luck with the out-of-print Hammersmith Sabbath live album, which means getting raped on eBay. (Par for the course for any Sabbath completist born in the 80's.) Hopefully the song's on there in full, along with Slipping Away.

Note:
It's worth noting that the three at-the-time new recordings on Black Sabbath: The Dio Years get no representation whatsoever. On the Radio City Music Hall DVD, you do get two out of three. Also, if you're not a sit and watch type of person, it's worth noting that while the Radio City Music Hall accompanying live album had all the same songs, the Neon Nights accompanying live album has a shortened setlist so as to fit onto one disc. While I do not yet own the audio releases of either, and thus cannot vouch for the information, I understand that the Country Girl teaser, E5150 intro, and drum solo are cut out on the Neon Nights audio disc.

Does anybody have really doubts on how great this release will be? The last profesional recording of the late great Ronnie James Dio live. Of course it's going to awesome! Recorded live on July 30th 2009 in Wacken, Germany, about a month before Dio's last concert ever; this recording, Ronnie was already in the early stage of his stomach cancer. So, needles to say that this release will truly demonstrate the true power & strength & will also show why Dio was (& still is) one of the best singer of all time. The DVD will also contain some special bonus features as well like the 30th Anniversary Interviews: Interviews with all four band members reflecting on 30 years from the release of Black Sabbath's "Heaven & Hell" album & newly recorded personal tributes to Ronnie James Dio from Tony Iommi, Vinnie Appice and Geezer Butler in his memory. I already have chills just thinking about it. This concert was during the "The Devil you Know" tour which mean will also have a few live songs from that awesome album. This is a definite must have. No need to wait to see what reviewers will say about this DVD. Everybody involved in this release will want to sure that they put out something that will reflect the greatness of the band & especially Ronnie James Dio. Pre-order it now!!!

I am writing this perspective form the point of view that if you love Black Sabbath then you are a fan of both Ozzy and the Dio era. As the title and track list implies, Dio performs voice for songs written for Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, and Dehumanizer. The DVD is somewhat of a farewell to the band as a whole, similar in many ways to how a film trillogy ties up all loose ends, gives some closure, and leaves you with awesome memories, thus you know that Sabbath never truely dies. As far as sequels go, this is not The Godfather III nor Shrek 4, but more like Lord of the Rings or Toy Story 3.

The band performs in Germany to a crowd that even some of the world's biggest pop acts could not pull in their whole career, one sign that great, solid, real music always wins over the disposable. One of the things that I liked most about this performance is the great setlist the band chose. Every song chosen was carefully interwoven and chosen because the band really felt the meaning of that song held true. Dio in between songs has dialogue with the crowd explaining the song selection and what was the general inspiration for it, and has, as always, a great sense of solidarity with the fans. As a testament to the band and their longevity, it's fitting that the stage design and technical aspects parallel the epic size and significance of the event. Each player is showcased individually over the course of the night including Tony Iomi, giving a chance for guitarists and fans alike to study his iconic technique up close. The strongest points of the show in my personal opinion are when the band plays I and Die Young, as every person involed roars to live during these songs, but all the songs played are classics, and the playing could hardly be more on point than they are here.

I would recomend this DVD to everyone, seriously. If you like Britney Spears, it is never too late or early to learn. If you are a down metal head but don't know the history, school is in session. This show just demonstrates to fans the benchmark for the pinacle of success as a rock band, and simultaneously throws down a metaphorical gauntlet to the new generation of rockers to pick up the torch and keep running. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.