Speak of the Devil Tour

The Speak of the Devil Tour was the third tour by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, in support of his first live album, Speak of the Devil, released on November 27, 1982. There were three phases in this tour: the "Speak of the Devil" shows, the Europe leg and the North America leg. The band, featuring Brad Gillis on guitar, Rudy Sarzo on bass and Tommy Aldridge on drums, performed two shows at The Ritz in New York City on September 26 and 27, 1982, where the sets consisted of only Black Sabbath songs. These were recorded through the soundboard and appeared on the live album Speak of the Devil. In December, the band, featuring former UFO bassist Pete Way on bass after Sarzo left in October, and Lindsay Bridgwater on keyboards after Don Airey left in August, began the "Speak of the Devil Tour" with seven shows in the United Kingdom. The band, featuring the former-Ratt and Rough Cutt guitarist, Jake E. Lee, who made his debut as lead guitarist after Gillis left in December, and future W.A.S.P. bassist Don Costa on bass after Way left in December, kicked off the Europe leg in January 1983 opening for Whitesnake. In February 1983, the band started the North America leg with Vandenberg as a supporting act. The Bark at the Moon line-up was intact once Bob Daisley rejoined the band before the US Festival show on May 29, 1983.

Overview

Background

The band went to Los Angeles for a six-week break to recuperate from the loss of Randy Rhoads, who was killed in a plane crash in Leesburg, Florida on March 19, 1982. Ozzy's drug and alcohol addiction, along with his mental health began to worsen. During this time, Brad Gillis temporarily rejoined his own band, Night Ranger, which was recording its debut album, Dawn Patrol. Rudy Sarzo temporarily rejoined Quiet Riot as its members were writing Metal Health and Tommy Aldridge stayed with Ozzy and Sharon in his bungalow on Sharon's father, Don Arden's mansion property in Beverly Hills. Don Airey left to take a break from the band, though would return later in 1983. After the break, the band reconvened for the pre-production rehearsals of their first live album.

Speak of the Devil

On September 19, 1982, the band flew to New York City to rehearse and record Ozzy's first live album, Speak of the Devil. The band was under contract by their label, Jet Records, to release a live album consisting of only Black Sabbath songs. Between September 20 and 25, the band rehearsed for the upcoming shows. On September 26 and 27, the band performed at the The Ritz and the soundboard recordings eventually became the tracks for the album. The band returned to Los Angeles for another break with Sarzo leaving to rejoin Quiet Riot. From October to December 1982, Gillis returned to Night Ranger. Aldridge stayed in his bungalow at Don Arden's home with Ozzy and Sharon. Ozzy's drug and alcohol addiction, along with his mental health began to worsen. In October, the soundboard recordings were being mixed at The Record Plant by Max Norman, who helped produce the Blizzard of Ozz, Diary of a Madman and Tribute. On October 31, the pro-video footage recording of the June 23 Irvine Meadows show was broadcast on MTV as a Halloween special called Speak of the Devil Live. On November 27, Speak of the Devil was released.

European leg

Ozzy went back out on tour to support the live album with seven dates in the United Kingdom in December with Brad, before he left the band for good to join Night Ranger, and Tommy. Sharon recruited former-UFO bassist, Pete Way, to play bass temporarily for the seven shows and Lindsay Bridgwater, who had previously played keyboards during the Blizzard of Ozz Tour and European legs of Diary of a Madman Tour to play keyboards. The band rehearsed the songs and stage show theatrics at Shepperton Studios in early December. Budgie opened for the seven shows. On December 10, the band kicked off the tour at Cornwall Coliseum in St Austell, England in front of a sold-out crowd, and then at NEC Arena in Birmingham on December 12, Wembley Arena in London on December 14, Queen's Hall in Leeds on December 16, Newcastle City Hall on December 18, and the Glasgow Apollo in Glasgow on December 19 and ended on December 20 at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool, which would be Brad and Pete's last show with Ozzy as well as the last show with Diary of a Madman Tour setlis.

The band returned to Los Angeles for a three-week break. George Lynch from Dokken was hired, but then he either ended returned to Dokken or Ozzy changed his mind, and hired former-Ratt and Rough Cutt guitarist Jake E. Lee and future-W.A.S.P. bassist, Don Costa. After a week of rehearsals in January 1983, the band flew to Helsinki, Finland to kick off the European leg opening for Whitesnake. On January 12, the band kicked off the tour, with Jake and Don performing their first show with Ozzy, at Messuhalli. On January 31, the band performed its last show in Europe opening at the Muziekcentrum Vredenburg in Utrecht, Netherlands. The band returned to Los Angeles for a one-week break before the North America leg.

North American leg

The band flew to Syracuse, New York, to begin the North American leg in front of a sold-out crowd at the Onondaga County War Memorial on February 11 with Vandenberg as a support act throughout the leg. On February 12, the Scranton City Council cancelled the show at the Catholic Youth Center.On March 5, Ozzy held the Ozzy Osbourne Rock 'N' Roll Party with Blue Öyster Cult, Vandenberg and Le Roux at Baton Rouge State Fairgrounds Amphitheater. The band performed its last show of the Leg at Glens Falls Civic Center on April 5. The band took a short break before the US Festival on May 29. Don Costa was fired because Ozzy and Sharon wanted Bob Daisley to come back and do another album and offered Daisley money, credit and royalties and he agreed. With the Bark at the Moon line-up intact, the band performed a show at the US Festival on May 29, 1983, with "Tommy Bolton" (the opener), Quiet Riot and Mötley Crüe as support acts as the band supported Judas Priest, Triumph, the Scorpions and Van Halen as the headliner.

Personnel

Setlists

Tour dates

References