Veteran bassist Jo Burt recently opened up about his time touring with Black Sabbath. He addressed the challenges behind the scenes in an interview shared on Guitar World.
When asked about the difficulties of being on the road with Sabbath during the Eternal Idol tour in the 1980s, Burt reflected on the camaraderie among band members and crew. He also revealed the abrupt and troubling end to the tour.
“Travelling was absolutely fine. Me and drummer Terry Chimes had met when he was with The Clash and I was with Tom Robinson. Tony Martin was also a newbie, so I guess there was some nervous energy on the tour bus,” Burt said. “Jeff Nicholls was a funny guy and very friendly. After years of playing offstage, he had no ego; he was a very present friend to me while travelling. Tony had that classic Brummie sense of humor, which matched with Jeff, so all in all it was pretty comfortable – with four-star hotels included.”
However, the tour’s conclusion proved far less pleasant. Burt described a jarring moment when tour management abruptly ended the tour. The financial fallout that followed was equally troubling.
“It only felt lean when tour manager Richard Cole dragged me out of the bus, still in my sleeping bag, and told me, ‘Hurry up! We’re all going home,'” he recalled. “I’m not sure why the tour ended so abruptly. All the gear was impounded by the sound and light company, who hadn’t been paid. I never got a bunch of my gear returned, although I did eventually get my fretless back.”
Burt concluded with a candid observation about how the band handles departures. “People don’t get sacked from Sabbath; they just don’t get spoken to again,” he said.
Jo Burt served as the bassist for Black Sabbath during their “Eternal Idol” tour in 1987-1988, as documented by Guitar World. He did not record with the band and departed after the tour concluded. The tour came together with minimal preparation time. Burt arrived directly at rehearsals where he quickly adapted to the band’s demanding setup.
The bassist had to acclimate rapidly to Black Sabbath’s signature sound and equipment. Power of Metal notes that Burt played through a rig similar to Geezer Butler’s legendary setup. He utilized three Ampeg SVT amplifiers and 8×12 cabinets—a formidable configuration that defined the band’s thunderous low-end presence during live performances.
The abrupt termination of the tour left lasting scars on Burt’s experience with the band. Beyond the personal disappointment of being unceremoniously awakened and sent home, the financial mismanagement that led to gear impoundment highlighted the chaotic nature of touring during that era. The sound and light company’s decision to seize equipment due to unpaid invoices was a common but devastating practice. It affected crew and musicians alike.
Burt’s reflection on how Black Sabbath handles personnel changes reveals an unspoken code within the band’s culture. Rather than formal dismissals, members and touring musicians simply fade into silence. This practice speaks volumes about the band’s internal dynamics and the transient nature of touring positions. For Burt, the experience served as a sobering reminder of the music industry’s harsh realities, even for those working with legendary acts.
