The Speak of the Devil Tour was the third solo tour by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, in support of his first live album, Speak of the Devil, taking place from December 1982 to May 1983. The tour included two European legs, one North American leg, and a final show at the 1983 US Festival. The personnel in Osbourne's band changed several times during the tour.
Overview
Background In early 1982, Osbourne's management and record label decided that he should record a live album consisting entirely of songs by his previous band Black Sabbath, for purposes of generating royalties and fulfilling international distribution contracts, and to compete with an upcoming Black Sabbath live album.Sarzo, Rudy (2017). Off the Rails (third edition). CreateSpace Publishing. The plan was opposed by Osbourne's then-current live band (guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Rudy Sarzo, and drummer Tommy Aldridge), who considered an all-covers album detrimental to their careers. Plans were put on hold after the death of Rhoads in a plane crash on March 19.
After a brief period with Bernie Tormé, the guitarist position in Osbourne's band was eventually filled by Brad Gillis. The lineup of Gillis, Sarzo, and Aldridge toured with Osbourne in the Spring and Summer of 1982, ostensibly still supporting Osbourne's 1981 album Diary of a Madman, and during some additional dates in September 1982 the band played only Black Sabbath songs. Those shows were recorded and various songs were compiled for the live album Speak of the Devil, released in November 1982.
Tour schedule and personnel changes A tour to support the Speak of the Devil album was scheduled for December 1982 to April 1983. By this point bassist Rudy Sarzo had quit Osbourne's band and rejoined his previous band Quiet Riot. Sarzo was temporarily replaced by former UFO bassist Pete Way. Keyboardist Lindsay Bridgwater, who had previously played on the Blizzard of Ozz tour, also joined the touring band. This lineup performed seven shows in Europe in December 1982, after which Way and Gillis left the band, with the latter then forming Night Ranger.
After a holiday break, Osbourne recruited another temporary touring bassist, Don Costa (later of W.A.S.P.), plus former Rough Cutt guitarist Jake E. Lee, who would become a fixture in Osbourne's band for the next several years. This lineup performed a second leg of concerts in Europe in January 1983. Bridgwater then left the band and was replaced by Don Airey, who had already toured with Osbourne in 1981-82.
The North American leg of the tour began in Syracuse, New York on February 11. The following night's show at a Catholic community center in Scranton, Pennsylvania was cancelled after protests from parents and local community leaders. Similar protests led to the cancellation of a later show in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The main tour ended in early April, after which Osbourne welcomed back longtime bassist Bob Daisley, who replaced Costa for an appearance at the US Festival on May 29. The musicians at this performance (Jake E. Lee, Don Airey, Bob Daisley, and Tommy Aldridge) remained as Osbourne's backing band for his next album, Bark at the Moon, which was recorded in the following months.
Personnel
Speak of the Devil live album Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals Brad Gillis – Guitar Rudy Sarzo – Bass Tommy Aldridge – Drums
United Kingdom Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals Brad Gillis – Guitar Pete Way – Bass Tommy Aldridge – Drums Lindsay Bridgwater – Keyboards
Europe Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals Jake E. Lee – Guitar Don Costa – Bass Tommy Aldridge – Drums Lindsay Bridgwater – Keyboards
North America Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals Jake E. Lee – Guitar Don Costa – Bass Tommy Aldridge – Drums Don Airey – Keyboards
US Festival '83 Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals Jake E. Lee – Guitar Bob Daisley – Bass Tommy Aldridge – Drums Don Airey – Keyboards
Setlists
Speak of the Devil Black Sabbath covers "Symptom of the Universe" "Snowblind" "Black Sabbath" "Fairies Wear Boots" "War Pigs" "The Wizard" "N.I.B." "Sweet Leaf" "Never Say Die" "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" "Iron Man" "Children of the Grave" "Paranoid" [encore]
Europe "Diary of a Madman" (Introduction/ending) [Introduction] "Over the Mountain" "Mr Crowley" "Crazy Train" "Revelation Mother Earth" "Steal Away the Night" "Suicide Solution" Brad Gillis guitar solo and instrumental band jam Tommy Aldridge drum solo and instrumental band jam [Reprise] "Goodbye to Romance" "I Don't Know" "Believer" "Flying High Again" "Sweet Leaf" (Black Sabbath cover) "Iron Man" and "Children of the Grave" (Black Sabbath covers) "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath cover) [encore]
Europe and North America "Diary of a Madman" (Introduction/ending) [Introduction] "I Don't Know" "Mr Crowley" "Crazy Train" "Suicide Solution" [and Jake E. Lee guitar solo] "Revelation Mother Earth" "Steal Away the Night" Tommy Aldridge drum solo "Believer" "Flying High Again" "Fairies Wear Boots" (Black Sabbath cover) "War Pigs" (Black Sabbath cover) "Iron Man" and "Children of the Grave" (Black Sabbath covers) "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath cover) [encore]
US Festival "Diary of a Madman" (Introduction/ending) [Introduction] "Over the Mountain" "Mr Crowley" "Crazy Train" "Suicide Solution" [and Jake E. Lee guitar solo] "Revelation Mother Earth" "Steal Away the Night" Tommy Aldridge drum solo "I Don't Know" "Flying High Again" "Fairies Wear Boots" (Black Sabbath cover) "Iron Man" and "Children of the Grave" (Black Sabbath covers) "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath cover) [encore]
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueNorth America (Speak of the Devil live recordings)September 26, 1982New York CityUnited StatesThe RitzSeptember 27, 1982EuropeDecember 10, 1982St AustellEnglandCornwall ColiseumDecember 12, 1982BirminghamNEC ArenaDecember 14, 1982LondonWembley ArenaDecember 16, 1982LeedsQueens HallDecember 18, 1982NewcastleNewcastle City HallDecember 19, 1982GlasgowScotlandThe ApolloDecember 20, 1982LiverpoolEnglandRoyal Court TheatreEuropeJanuary 12, 1983HelsinkiFinlandHelsinki Exhibition HallJanuary 14, 1983StockholmSwedenJohanneshov IsstadionJanuary 16, 1983CopenhagenDenmarkFalconer TeatretJanuary 18, 1983HamburgWest GermanyMessehallenJanuary 19, 1983OffenbachStadthalle OffenbachJanuary 20, 1983EppelheimRhein-Neckar-HalleJanuary 22, 1983LausanneSwitzerlandPalais de BeaulieuJanuary 24, 1983DüsseldorfWest GermanyPhilips HalleJanuary 25, 1983NeunkirchenHemmerleinhalleJanuary 26, 1983SindelfingenMessehalleJanuary 28, 1983StrasbourgFranceRhenus HallJanuary 29, 1983ParisPalais des SportsJanuary 30, 1983BrusselsBelgiumForest NationalJanuary 31, 1983UtrechtNetherlandsMuziekcentrum VredenburgNorth AmericaFebruary 11, 1983SyracuseUnited StatesOnondaga County War Memorial Arena February 12, 1983ScrantonCatholic Youth Center Arena February 14, 1983College ParkRitchie ColiseumFebruary 15, 1983HuntingtonHuntington Civic CenterFebruary 18, 1983CharlotteCharlotte ColiseumFebruary 19, 1983AugustaAugusta Civic CenterFebruary 20, 1983CharlestonCharleston County HallFebruary 23, 1983LakelandLakeland Civic CenterFebruary 24, 1983North Fort MyersLee County Civic CenterFebruary 25, 1983Pembroke PinesHollywood SportatoriumFebruary 27, 1983MontgomeryGarrett ColiseumFebruary 28, 1983HuntsvilleVon Braun Civic CenterMarch 1, 1983Little RockBarton ColiseumMarch 2, 1983TulsaTulsa Assembly CenterMarch 4, 1983BiloxiMississippi Coast ColiseumMarch 5, 1983Baton RougeBaton Rouge State Fairgrounds(Ozzy Osbourne Rock 'N' Roll Party)March 7, 1983Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi Memorial ColiseumMarch 8, 1983HoustonThe SummitMarch 9, 1983AustinPalmer AuditoriumMarch 11, 1983SpringfieldHammons Student CenterMarch 12, 1983LincolnPershing CenterMarch 13, 1983 Sioux FallsSioux Falls ArenaMarch 15, 1983DavenportPalmer Alumni AuditoriumMarch 16, 1983PeoriaPeoria Civic CenterMarch 18, 1983Battle CreekKellogg ArenaMarch 19, 1983Port HuronMcMorran ArenaMarch 20, 1983MuskegonL. C. Walker ArenaMarch 22, 1983RockfordRockford MetroCenterMarch 23, 1983Green BayBrown County ArenaMarch 26, 1983Mount PleasantRose ArenaMarch 27, 1983London, OntarioCanadaLondon GardensMarch 28, 1983SudburySudbury Community ArenaMarch 30, 1983Quebec CityColisée de QuébecMarch 31, 1983RimouskiColisée de RimouskiApril 1, 1983WorcesterUnited StatesThe CentrumApril 2, 1983Atlantic CityAtlantic City Convention HallApril 4, 1983WorcesterThe CentrumApril 5, 1983Glens FallsGlens Falls Civic CenterApril 6, 1983PoughkeepsieUnited StatesMid-Hudson Civic CenterUS Festival (Heavy Metal Day)May 29, 1983San BernardinoUnited StatesGlen Helen Pavilion
References