by Bradley TorreanoDriven by her genuine love of Black Sabbath and a lack of a band to call her own, former Hole/Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur decided to join her very first tribute band in the winter of 2001. Teaming with guitarist Guy Stevens, filmmaker Joey Garfield, drummer Pedro Yanowitz, and bassist Molly R. Stern, the final lineup was an odd mishmash of musicians who all had one thing in common: their childhood love of Sabbath. After fumbling their way through a cover of "Hand of Doom," the band decided that the song would serve as a good band name as well. Learning several more songs from their catalog, Hand of Doom began playing live around the Los Angeles area in the spring of 2002. Well received by indie rock aficionados, heavy metal fans, and lovers of kitsch, the band's loose and sexy vibe blended perfectly with their earnest affection for Sabbath. Knowing the project was coming to an end, the band recorded a live performance with a special guest appearance by Queens of the Stone Age singer Nick Oliveri (singing the only cover from the Ronnie James Dio period, "The Mob Rules.") The results were released in October of 2002 as Live in Los Angeles, inspiring Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack to give the band his family's approval, claiming he was impressed by their live show.