Geezer Butler insists Deadland Ritual aren't a supergroup: 'It's a vacant term'
Black Sabbath legend Geezer Butler has dismissed the notion that his new band Deadland Ritual are a "supergroup."
Formed last year, Deadland Ritual consists of Geezer on bass, vocalist Franky Perez (Apocalyptica, Scars on Broadway), drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol).
Despite their blockbuster line-up, Geezer told Planet Rock at last weekend’s Download Festival he wouldn’t call Deadland Ritual a supergroup.
“We’d don’t class ourselves as a supergroup, I don’t know, it’s a bit of a vacant term for me,” Geezer explained. “We’re four blokes getting together having fun at the moment and writing some good stuff.”
Deadland Ritual released the Planet Rock playlisted single 'Down In Flames' back in September and have followed it with a new track called ‘Broken and Bruised’ earlier this month.
Matt Sorum told Planet Rock that with seven songs in their back-catalogue and only six gigs in the bag, Deadland Ritual are very much in their early stages.
“We’re basically an independent band right now; no record deal yet but there are some record labels talking to us,” he said.
“Y’know it’s great we’re out playing these songs because when we go in and record them they will be live tested if you will be live tested if you will and hopefully it will go down on record as a really cool version of what we’ve been doing live.”
Watch our full interview with Deadland Ritual below where Geezer and Matt talk about how they choose their setlist and which “heritage” songs to play, and what it’s like playing Download Festival lower down the bill.
You can also see more day-by-day photos and videos from Download Festival by clicking the links below: