OZZY OSBOURNE Says BLACK SABBATH Reunion Won't Happen 'For At Least A Year Or Two'

Legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne told Kevin O'Hare of The Republican that he is considering reuniting with the other members of BLACK SABBATH's original lineup to record a brand new studio album. However, "It's not going to happen for at least a year or two because I've got my tour and an album to do," Ozzy said. "But it's not added to the realms of never ever."

He continued, "I would be a liar if I said to you I wouldn't want to do the ultimate BLACK SABBATH album...

"We never set down when we were kids and went like, 'This is going to be looked upon when we're (expletive) 60 as a milestone in music.' That was not our intention. But it kind of happened.

"I always wanted to be a Beatle and people said, 'Well, BLACK SABBATH is a heavy metal version of THE BEATLES.'

"But I would love to do, absolutely love to do a really great monumental BLACK SABBATH album. Whether we can, I don't know.

"I spoke to Tony Iommi [SABBATH guitarist] about three weeks ago, I spoke to Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] about a week ago, I speak to Bill Ward [SABBATH drummer] all the time. But I won't do it without the other three...

"BLACK SABBATH is four guys as far as I'm concerned. We all depend on each other."

Osbourne and Iommi recently amicably resolved their problems over the ownership of the BLACK SABBATH name and court proceedings in New York were discontinued.

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 recent interview with Sunday Mercury, Iommi said that he didn't rule out another reunion with Osbourne. Following the death of singer Ronnie James Dio in May, with whom Iommi had been working recently 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 11 years ago, their first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs.

Ozzy released a new solo album, called "Scream", on June 22 and will headline Ozzfest later this month.

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.

Osbourne sued Iommi for a 50 percent interest in the "Black Sabbath" trademark, along with a portion of Iommi's profits from use of the name.

The Manhattan federal court suit also charged that Osbourne's "signature lead vocals" are largely responsible for the band's "extraordinary success," noting that its popularity plummeted during his absence from 1980 through 1996.

Lawyer Andrew DeVore argued that Osbourne signed away all his rights to the BLACK SABBATH trademark after he quit the band in 1979.

Osbourne's lawyer, Howard Shire, called that agreement a "red herring" that was "repudiated" when the singer rejoined in 1997 and took over "quality control" of the band's merchandise, tours and recordings.

BLACK SABBATH "reunion" promotional photo (1999):

BLACK SABBATH live in 2005: