Original Black Sabbath lineup reuniting for tour, CD (2012)

[FiveMagic]

 

Next to free beer for life and an all-access pass for the Roskilde Festival, it’s pretty much a rock fan’s dream come true: the original lineup of Brit metal titans Black Sabbath – singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and, health permitting, drummer Bill Ward – are reuniting for a new album and tour.

 

Old feuds, previous inter-band lawsuits and buckets of bad blood notwithstanding, the group has apparently been writing new material destined for a 2012 release to be supported by a tour.

 

Iommi confirmed the long-swirling rumour in an interview with hometown paper the Birmingham Mail, saying he and Osbourne wrote new material in June for a record that will be released next year. "We're really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we've been writing is really good," Iommi is quoted as saying. "It's more back to the old original stuff."

He added that the reunion has been kept under wraps for some time.

 

"It's all been very hush-hush. Ozzy's been the worst at trying to hold it back. He's doing a lot of TV and he's being asked stuff about a reunion and he's going, 'Well, I never say never.' He told me, 'I don't know what to say."

 

Iommi also told the Birmingham Mail that his only apprehension about putting the original lineup back together was drummer Ward’s health; he suffered a heart attack in 1998 and recently underwent surgery.

 

Fans in the know surveyed by inMusic are dubious about Ward’s ability to complete any tour but really, with all due respect, it’s doubtful the drummer’s absence would negatively impact ticket sales. Plus he may be able to pound the skins in-studio.

 

In any event, successfully burying the hatchet was doubtless a taller order. Bassist Butler’s dislike for Ozzy’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne is well-known and evidently entrenched. Moreover, as Blabbermouth notes, Ozzy Osbourne 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.

 

Blabbermouth notes that 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.

 

Osbourne and Iommi last year amicably resolved their problems over the ownership of the Black Sabbath name and court proceedings in New York were discontinued, paving the way to the current reunion.

 

Keeners will note that the original Sabbath lineup has not toured together since summer 2005, and last convened for their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in early 2006.

 

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. The quality of new Sabbath material at this point is really anyone’s guess but there’s no question a tour would be a slam-dunk.

 

Sabbath’s influence looms large and an entire generation (or three) have grown up with the music but never seen the band perform live. Exciting days ahead.

 

http://eatthis.inmusic.ca/2011/08/original-black-sabbath-lineup-reuniting-for-tour-cd.html

 

Dunno if its a good idea since Ozzy... Well is burnt out

[Fargwire]

Id still give it a check as sabbath was one of my faves.

[Funksdead]

Saw the original lineup in 2005 Ozzfest was awesome. Tony Iommi jammed and Ozzy sang well

[sicsiksix]

Iommi has since claimed that the reports of a Black Sabbath reunion are just "speculation".

 

http://www.guitarworld.com/tony-iommi-calls-black-sabbath-reunion-reports-speculation

 

Too bad, would have been cool to hear some new stuff from them.

[FiveMagic]

Iommi has since claimed that the reports of a Black Sabbath reunion are just "speculation".

 

http://www.guitarworld.com/tony-iommi-calls-black-sabbath-reunion-reports-speculation

 

Too bad, would have been cool to hear some new stuff from them.

 

Ah... really is too bad, i didn't see that article.

 

@Funk, Ozzy came here a few years ago and you couldn't even make out what he was saying, i'm guessing his equipment wasn't set up right + he almost fell off the stage throwing a bucket of water lol.

[GI-JOE]

I had a similar Ozzy experience when he came through with Rob Zombie a couple years ago, I didn't think it was too bad considering everything he's put himself through

 

as for the sabbath reunion/cd I don't want to get my hopes up...but man...I can't wait

[=Death Hunter=]

that'd be sweet. Coolest ozzy show I've seen was my first concert. Ozzy and Korn on ozzys retirement sucks tour and right around korns life is peachy tour. 1997. Damn.....im old! Lol wtf