GEEZER BUTLER Says There Will 'Definitely' Be 'No Reunion' Of Original BLACK SABBATH

February 12, 2011

Legendary bassist Geezer Butler has released the following statement via his official web site:

"I would like to make it clear, because of mounting speculation and rumors, that there will be definitely NO reunion of all four original members of BLACK SABBATH, whether to record an album or to tour."

In a January 27 interview with the Los Angeles-based "Mark And Brian Show", which airs on 95.5 KLOS Southern California's Best Rock, SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne said, "I often get asked this question: 'Will there ever be a [new BLACK SABBATH studio] album?' One thing I can say for definite [is] we are all talking, we are all friends. But it's been 30 years since we did a studio album — if it's not something extra, extra special, the people are gonna go, 'We waited 30 years [for this...]' But before my life's over, I would love... my dream is to do the ultimate BLACK SABBATH album; I would love to do that."

Butler previously said in an interview with AOL's Noisecreep that while all four of the band's original members are interested in taking part in a reunion, Ozzy Osbourne's current world solo tour will keep SABBATH on ice for the foreseeable future. Butler explained, "It's not going to happen [in 2011]. Ozzy's on tour with his own band for the next year or whatever . . . I'm sure Ozzy will say 'yes' and 'no' every week for the next year while he's on tour. It's one thing to want to do something like that just before you go out to tour a record. You say, 'Oh yeah, I'm gonna tour for the next five years.' And then six weeks into it, you can't wait to get home. So we'll just see how he feels when he finishes his Ozzy Osbourne tour."

The original SABBATH lineup of Ozzy, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward has not toured together since the summer of 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in early 2006.

In a 2010 interview with Sunday Mercury, Iommi said that he didn't rule out another reunion with Osbourne. Following the death of singer Ronnie James Dio last May, with whom Iommi had been working in the SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL, Iommi told Sunday Mercury, "I spoke to Ozzy while I was in Los Angeles after Ronnie's funeral . . . Ozzy and I have a complicated relationship but we've always kept in touch, no matter what else might have been going on. Would I play with Ozzy again? Who knows? It's weird with me and Ozzy."

Iommi added, "There can be all sorts of shit going on but when we talk, it's like nothing bad has ever happened."

SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, their first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs.

Ozzy filed a lawsuit against Iommi in May 2009, claiming that Iommi illegally took sole ownership of the band's name in a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

BLACK SABBATH "reunion" promotional photo (1999):

BLACK SABBATH live in 2005:

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