Black Sabbath Original Lineup To Reunite?

The Birmingham Mail reports that Black Sabbath’s original lineup – featuring Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Wade – have been plotting a reunion by rehearsing and working on a new studio album. 

The newspaper says that Ozzy and Iommi began writing new tunes in June.

“It’s all been very hush-hush,” Iommi told the Birmingham Mail. “Ozzy’s been the worst at trying to hold it back. He’s doing a lot of TV and he’s being asked stuff about a reunion and he’s going ‘well I never say never.’

“He told me, ‘I don’t know what to say.’”

The new album will reportedly be released next year and include material that Iommi says is “back to the old original stuff.”

The guitarist said the only issue with the reunion might be Ward’s health. Iommi noted that the drummer had an operation a few months back and “hasn’t been 100 percent.”

In January Osbourne told ABC News Radio that he and his former bandmates were “in the talking process.”

Early the next month Butler posted a statement on his website in response to Osbourne’s interview.

“I would like to make it clear, because of mounting speculation and rumours, there will be definitely no reunion of all four original members of Black Sabbath, whether to record an album or to tour,” Butler said.

After being kicked out of the band in 1979, Ozzy reunited with Black Sabbath in 1997. The group last performed in 2005.

Butler and Iommi performed together as Heaven & Hell between 2006-2010 along with former Black Sabbath vocalist Ronnie James Dio and drummer Vinny Appice. The band broke up after Dio’s death last year. 

A representative for Osbourne told Pollstar “no comment” when asked about the Birmingham Mail’s story.

Click here for the story from the Birmingham Mail.