Black Sabbath at the Steelback Centre?

As anyone who's ever had anything to do with the music business knows, a concert booking is never "confirmed" until there's a signed contract between the band's management and the venue.

Many, many well-intended deals fall through prior to the consummation of that all-important piece of paper.

With many SooToday.com readers e-mailing us about blogosphere rumours of Black Sabbath coming to the Steelback Centre on March 20, we did a lot of digging yesterday through material of dubious authenticity.

So far, there's been no official announcement.

We did come across something that's less than official, but nonetheless promising.

BW&BK (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles), a very reputable Toronto-based metal magazine with an international readership, says it's been advised by band management that an upcoming Canadian leg of the Heaven and Hell tour includes a stop in the Sault.

Heaven And Hell consists of Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinnie Appice (drums).

The following, according to BW&BK, is the Canadian lineup:

March 11 - Vancouver, BC at Pacific Coliseum March 13 - Edmonton, AB at Rexall Place March 14 - Calgary, AB at Saddledome March 16 - Regina, SK at Brandt Centre March 18 - Winnipeg, MB at MTS Centre March 20 - Sault St. Marie, ON at Steelback Centre March 22 - Toronto, ON at Air Canada Centre March 24 - London, ON at John Labatt Centre March 26 - Montreal, PQ at Bell Centre March 27 - Quebec City, PQ at Colisee Pepsi Arena March 28 - Ottawa, ON at Civic Centre SooToday.com will post any further official information received about this rumoured concert date faster than you can say:

We're not going unless Tony Martin is on stage too!

In another event so far unpublicized by the Steelback Centre, Jann Arden's official website says she will be in the Sault on April 20.