VINNY APPICE Talks About TONY IOMMI's Cancer Battle (Video)

March 12, 2012

Artisan News caught up with former BLACK SABBATH, DIO, HEAVEN & HELL and current KILL DEVIL HILL drummer Vinny Appice in January at the first-ever Rock & Roll Roast at The Grove in Anaheim, California and asked him about the reunion of SABBATH's original lineup and guitarist Tony Iommi's cancer battle. The clip, which was shot two weeks before SABBATH drummer Bill Ward announced that that he could not participate in the planned reunion of the band's founding lineup without what he called a "signable" contract, can be seen below.

Appice recently said that it would be hard to turn down the opportunity to play with BLACK SABBATH again if he was asked to replace Ward. "Well, obviously it would be a hard thing to go, 'Nah, I don't wanna do it,' Vinny told Loudwirewhen asked if he would accept the offer. "First of all, it's not just the opportunity. I love Tony and I love Geezer [Butler, bass]. I just played with Geezer in December at a Dimebag benefit — me and him played 'The Mob Rules'.

He continued, "They're like family in a way and I know Ozzy [Osbourne] pretty well — we haven't played together much, but it's part of my history and part of my family, too. It would be a hard thing to say 'no' to. I just wouldn't want it to affect my band [KILL DEVIL HILL]. If it happened, we'd be have to incorporate it and make that a springboard for KILL DEVIL HILL too, you know? Make it work both ways."

He added, "I'm shocked by all the news, too — I don't know what's going on. I thought Bill was in, and I thought it was a great thing. It's kind of sad to see it have an issue like this. So I don't know any more than everybody else knows. I don't know what they're really thinking. My main concern is for Tony. When I heard about [his lymphoma diagnosis], it devastated me — and losing [former BLACK SABBATH and HEAVEN & HELL singer] Ronnie [James Dio, who passed away in May 2010 following a battle with stomach cancer], you know, I'm still getting over Ronnie."

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