M.S: Hi Vinny. First of all, thanks for answering our questions. We want
to congratulate you because of your musical career, and we really admire you.
V.A: Thanks to you.
M.S: You joined To Black Sabbath after the great «Heavne and Hell» (1980)
to record the next succesful album «Mob Rules» (1981). This was your only album
recorded in studio with the band, and after it you and Dio left Black Sabbath
in order to create your project as a soloists. What were the reasons because
you left the band together?
V.A: Ronnie had his own reasons for leaving and he asked me if I wanted
to form a new band together so I said yes.
M.S: From that moment, you and Dio had a loyal relation, and besides you
were in the best Dio’s albums, after which you left the band temporarily before
the release of the unfortunate Lock Up the Wolves (1991). What happened to you
to leave the band after so many years?
V.A: Everyone one from the original DIO band was gone and I felt I needed
to try something else musically. I played a bit with Jeff Pilson and then World
War III with Jimmy Bain.
M.S: Well in fact, in a little time, we could see the first union of Black
Sabbath with one of the hardest albums of the band «Dehumanizer» (1992) where
you and Dio meet again. You recorded an excelent album, but the union fails,
and You and Dio left the band again. And surprisingly, you came back to DIO
to release another excelent album, Strange Highways (1993). What was the reason
of your new collaboration between DIO and you?
V.A: Yes I think Dehumanizer kicks ass too! After Black Sabbath disbanded
Ronnie and I felt positive about working together and making music together
so we did recording «SH» And «Angry Machines».
M.S: For me, Strange Highways was the logical continuation of Dehumanizer,
above all because of contundence, and heavy rhythms in which your work on drums
is very important because you gave that particular touch of Appice. Truly, what
was the result of Strange Highways?
V.A: I thought I played that album a little straighter and less drum flash
than all previous albums. It was a dark, moody album. After that album we recorded
«Angry Machines» which I threw the straight idea out the window and incorporated
more drum flash, business as usual!
M.S: In 1999 Iommi’s band called you again in order for you to go with them
in the «Reunion Tour» in the USA, but only in case of Bill Ward, the original
drummer, had health problems. Then, Did you tour with Black Sabbath as a second
drummer?
V.A: Well actually Sharon called me for the European part of the tour. The
tour was for 5-6 weeks and Bill had just had a medical issue and was unable
to play so I played the whole tour with Ozzy singing.. After that the US tour
started and Bill played and I was the «in case» drummer.
M.S: And after that tour, you came back to your normal life. What have you
been doing until the new Iommi’s call for the 2007 tour?
V.A: I took a bit of time off just doing session, teaching,and drum clinics.
I played with guitarist George Lynchfor a bit and I formed a new band called
3 Legged Dogg with bassist Jimmy Bain. The CD was released last year.
M.S: Now, for third time, you and Dio are together again in Black Sabbath.
Is there any possibility of you to work again together in DIO when this collaboration
with Black Sabbath finishes?
V.A: Nothing has been said but anything could happen. 
M.S: What do you think about the new Black Sabbath’s songs?
V.A: I think they are very Sabbathy and very heavy. It’s what BS should
sound like in 2007. Everyone is playing great on it and Ronnie never sounded
better!
M.S: How about your tests and your first gigs of the tour? How do you see
the band performing those songs which were forgotten for so long?
V.A: Within 5 minutes of rehearsal the band was lock in on all the songs.
The songs are played better now then ever before.
M.S: How do you face this tour knowing that it is one of the most expected
ones?
V.A: No problem, let’s kick ass which is what this band does.
M.S: We know that in your american tour Megadeth and Machine Head will be
with you, so what do you think about these bands?
V.A: Cool!
M.S: However, in Europe, you will visit the most important festivals this
summer, such as Sweeden Rock Festival, Bang your Head… Don’t you have any
offer of a Spanish festival? It would be great to see you here…
V.A: I would imagine we will be playing Spain very soon.
M.S: As far as your musical formation is concerned, Are you an academic
musician or a self taught one?
V.A: I am both, having taken lessons for 3 years. I can read and write.
I then applied that to my playing and developed my style.
M.S: Coming back to your past… Probably, you are of the few heavy metal
musicians who has had the chance of collaborating with the great John Lennon.
What can you tell us about that time?
V.A: My band at the time did the hand claps on «What Ever Gets You Through
The Night». He then used to come upstairs in the studio and watch us rehearse.
We palyed a live gig with him in New York and recorded 3 videos………All this when
I was 17.
M.S: Thanks for your time once again, if you want to tell something to your
fans or to our readers, this is your moment… Good luck with Heaven and Hell,
and we hope to see you here in Spain…
V.A: I would like to thank all the fans for listening loudly all these years
and I love what I do and couldn’t do it without the fans who supported me!!
Thanks!!
David A. / Marcel.lí Dreamevil
Javier Tendero
Photos: Chez
106 // MTS
Centre // Iommi