OZZY OSBOURNE Says BLACK SABBATH Reunion Is 'In The Very Early Stages'

October 7, 2011

Speaking with Billboard.com regarding his upcoming second book, "Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy", singer Ozzy Osbourne also touched on the rumors that he recently spent time in England working on material for a new BLACK SABBATH album with other members of the band's original lineup.

"Yes, it's a very, very strong possibility," Ozzy said of getting the old band back together. "It's in the very early stages, so we haven't recorded anything yet. If it works out, it'll work out. If it doesn't, I'll keep doing my thing."

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's manager in August refused to deny that the band's original lineup is getting back together, according to the Birmingham Mail. The Mail was actually the newspaper that broke the story of a reported SABBATH reunion, using comments attributed to Iommi. But although the guitarist issued a statement saying that his comments had been distorted, his manager Ralph Baker admitted to the Mail, "We haven't got anything in place. He's not denying that the guys have been talking but there's nothing in the way that's been implied in the statements that you made."

Iommi's comments to the Mail were made back in June, with Baker telling the newspaper that Iommi "felt that he made them to you off the record."

Baker said that the story first appeared on a metal news web site before the Mail expanded on it, using Iommi's quotes.

Baker said, "A very insignificant little web site put something out about SABBATH getting back together . . . When you [Birmingham Mail] went online, that's when it went around the world because it was official."

The Mail reported on August 16 that the original four SABBATH members Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have already begun rehearsing and writing music in secret for a new album.

SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, the original lineup's first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. The original SABBATH lineup has not toured together since summer 2005.

BLACK SABBATH "reunion" promotional photo (1999):

BLACK SABBATH live in 2005:

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