Finalists for the 16th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: the Rock News Story Of The Year is determined by page views, while the Rock News Artist Of The Year is based on the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2025 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 24.
2025 Rock News Story Of The Year – Top 10
10 – ALTER BRIDGE
09 – BILLY IDOL
08 – DAVID GILMOUR
07 – JOHN FOGERTY
06 – TRIUMPH
Rock News Story Of The Year No. 5: BLACK SABBATH
In July came news that a collection of pre-Black Sabbath recordings when the UK band was named Earth would be released.
“Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes” was recorded during the foursome’s early days in 1969 by music promoter Jim Simpson, who went on to become Black Sabbath’s first manager.
Simpson, now in his mid-80s and still ubiquitous on the Midlands’ music scene, has found the tracks he recorded when the group were in their early days.
“Before Black Sabbath, the band were known as Earth – a blues-driven powerhouse already making a name for themselves,” says Simpson. “This new release presents rare early recordings from that era, remastered from long-lost tapes. These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly.
“Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way.”
Check out the No. 5 hennemusic Rock News Story of 2025 on BLACK SABBATH here.