OZZY OSBOURNE: BLASKO Out, GEEZER BUTLER In?

OZZY OSBOURNE has parted ways with bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson and has re-joined forces with his BLACK SABBATH bandmate Geezer Butler, reliable sources have told BLABBERMOUTH.NET.

Butler's return to OSBOURNE's band has further opened the door for a possible BLACK SABBATH reunion at this year's Ozzfest. OZZY is currently scheduled to headline the annual festival, with JUDAS PRIEST being billed as a co-headliner.

Speaking to Launch Radio Networks, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi confirmed that a SABBATH set at this year's Ozzfest was not out of the question. "I've heard that rumor as well, and there is negotiations at the moment," Iommi said. "As yet, we've not reached a settlement, but there is talk about it. I think it's great, and I would've liked to have done it last year and the year before, you know, but we didn't."

Nicholson joined OZZY OSBOURNE's band in December as a replacement for Jason Newsted (VOIVOD, ex-METALLICA),who left the group after less than year due to undisclosed reasons. At the time, Nicholson told MTV.com about his new gig, "It's something I never would have imagined. After playing with Rob Zombie, I was ready to go, 'OK, this is as far as I'm taking this bass-playing thing. This is the end of the road.' I was ready to kind of hang it up.

"But when this came around, it was very odd," he added. "I was almost like, 'There is no possible way that this could happen.' "

"The first audition was a little intimidating, to say the least," Nicholson said. "Granted, I know Zakk and I've been on Ozzfest before. The situation wasn't uncomfortable, it was just intimidating, playing these songs that I had never played. But the second audition, I was a lot more prepared.

" 'Into the Void' is my favorite BLACK SABBATH song and Ozzy called it out," he continued. "At that moment, I realized, even if I don't get the gig, the fact that I got to play 'Into the Void' with Ozzy was the coolest moment of my life!"