Well here we are ... New Years Day 2008 and we can look back at 2007 with a feeling of pride and thankfulness.
Proud once again to be part of Sabbat, proud of what we've achieved this past year and thankful that people still want to see what we are all about (would have hated to have made the effort to squeeze in to that little black number and no one turn out). This time last year we had just done a warm up gig and three support dates with Cradle of Filth. How we survived that little episode i'll never know; humping gear, squeezing into a transit (and stage clothes), re-learning stagecraft (eh?), and at our age too! Mind you i'll never forget looking out at the crowd as we took to the stage at the London Astoria......how many faces? Did anyone care? or remember? or care to remember?
We soon started to find out as offers of festival appearances gathered apace. We didn't accept everything offered aiming to play quality events and perhaps enjoy things a little bit more this time around.
First up was the Keep It True Fest', southern Germany April 14th. If anyone can recall, spring 2007 was particularly warm and boy we sweated a few pounds off thrashing to a sold out venue. It was great to share the bill with Laaz Rocket and Diamond Head too After this gig Frazer broke the news that he wouldn't be doing any more gigs. Gizz Butt would take his place from now on.There was no pressure laid on Frazer; it was his decision and the rest of us respected it, after all we had got back together to play metal and enjoy it. If it wasn't working for him then so be it. Miraculously Gizz breathed new life into Sabbat as a band and brought a new pespective to the songs. Man were we ready to kick some serious ass now! So, invigorated we played Day of Death, County Laois, Ireland July7, Wacken Open Air, Germany, Aug 3, Bloodstock Open Air, Aug 18, Up From the Ground ,Germany Aug 24, Hole In the Sky, Bergen, Norway, Aug 25, Sweden Rock (on a cruise ship in the Baltic sea) Oct 18, Hard Rock Hell Minehead Nov 10, and A Midwinters Day Bradford Dec 10.
It has been a huge honour for us as a band to play all these shows, and you can be assured we have enjoyed each experience to the max. Looking forward to 2008 as we already have a date in Germany in Feb and a week in the USA during April. Dani Filth you have a lot to answer for!!!

Seizure Jack

Those of you who have seen us at recent festivals in July/August will have noticed Frazer not quite being himself but doing a great impersonation of our good friend Gizz Butt (ex Prodigy / English Dogs / current More I See Guitar player). It became obvious to us that Frazers heart really wasn't into playing and he admitted he didn't want to do all the shows we had planned.
I first met Gizz in 1988, he actually wanted to audition for Sabbat when we played the Mosley Dance Centre in Birmingham with his band War Dance. He didn't get an audition because he had a pink guitar but we stayed in touch, became great friends, I produced a few records for him and even became God parent for his son. Bit odd seeing as I don't believe in the big man himself but hey, it was a crackin' party.
It's a shame Frazer hasn't been more into this, we all wanted this to be the original line up but on the other hand Gizz's playing is amazing and I don't think it's ever sounded quite as tight as when we are on form at the moment.
So be sure to welcome Gizz on future dates, as you will find out if you say hello, he's quite a character.

andy sneap


pic by Claudia Rose

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