BLACK SABBATH's TONY IOMMI On BILL WARD: 'One Day We May Play Together' Again

Legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi recently spoke to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada's web site The Coast about the band's comeback album, "13", which was helmed by producer Rick Rubin.

"I don't know if I have any ancient tone secrets," said Iommi. "But we basically went in and did it like the early days. [Rick] saw us doing the album basically like the early days, not lots of effects and overdubs, not tarting it up or making it sound better, he wanted it to be like us playing. Mistakes and all."

Asked what it was like working with Rubin, who is notorious for being very "in and out" of the studio while records are being made, Iommi said: "He's got his differences. What was strange for us was that he didn't have our sense of humour. He didn't get that at all. Later on he realized, whether he liked it or not."

Iommi revealed in January of 2012 that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma, which is described by the Mayo Clinic as "a cancer of the lymphatic system, the body's disease-fighting network." He has had to go back to England every six weeks for treatment, forcing him and SABBATH to work around both the treatments and the recovery time needed afterward.

"They [singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler] were really helpful for me," Iommi said. "When we were writing ['13'], we did a lot from my house in my studio. It was helpful because I could go to treatments and have them here. Even if I couldn't work after, I could go in and tell them, and they'd be, like, 'All right. Don't worry.' It helped me when I could play too. It got my mind off of it by having a laugh and a joke."

Regarding SABBATH's reunion, Iommi said: "We've been threatening to for many years. This had to be the time, otherwise it was never going to happen. We had to get on it and do it — everyone was really enthusiastic, I haven't seen Ozzy that enthusiastic for many years."

Original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward was on board for the reunion when it was first announced in November 2011, but backed out soon after due to contractual issues.

SABBATH has used Ozzy's regular touring drummer Tommy Clufetos since then for live work. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk laid down the drum tracks on "13", which came out in June 2013.

Asked what Bill Ward's deal is, Iommi said: "I don't know. Funnily enough, I had an email off Bill a few days ago. It's a shame he didn't want to do it at that time. No one was more upset than us. We wanted him to do it, but we had to carry on. Otherwise we'd still be waiting now. It threw us, we were shocked. But who knows, one day we may play together."