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TONY IOMMI Confirms Original BLACK SABBATH Lineup Rehearsed For First Time In Years!

825 views · Published 22 October 2011 · 0:44 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: rockandmetalnewz · 2011 · Music

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BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi was interviewed on the U.K. digital radio station Planet Rock to promote his upcoming memoir, "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath". You can now listen to the entire 16-minute chat using the audio player below.

When asked by Planet Rock DJ Darren Redick about the rumors that the four original members of BLACK SABBATH are planning a reunion, Iommi said, "At the moment we're in talks [about] it. But what's gonna happen with it, I don't know. There's no definite decision on anything at the moment, but at least it's going... We're talking... we're all talking to each other. We've met up, had a play [rehearsal], and it was great. But you never like to say... We haven't announced anything yet, because nothing's definite. We're taking it steady, because these things have a tendency to backfire. 'Oh, you said you were getting back together, but you haven't.' So I don't know. We'll have to see. It would be nice to think we could, and I think we would all like to do it, but it's a bit more involved than that."

The story of the reunion of SABBATH's original lineup first appeared on a specialist music web site and was expanded by the Birmingham Mail for an article that was published on August 16.

Iommi's manager said the guitarist's comments made to the Birmingham Mail in June during a wide-ranging interview that included the charity single he had recorded with DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan, his contract to write music for a series of horror films and his contribution to Birmingham's Home Of Metal exhibition, were taken out of context.

"That's sort of what started it," Iommi told Planet Rock. "Somebody said on the Internet that they saw Geezer [Butler, BLACK SABBATH bassist] and Bill [Ward, BLACK SABBATH drummer] together, which is absolutely impossible. And then the Birmingham Mail got hold of that and made a complete story out of that. 'Cause I'd spoken to the Birmingham Mail in confidence. And everybody asks, 'Oh, do you think you'll ever get back together?' And you go, 'It's possible. We may do.' 'When was the last time you talked to Ozzy?' 'I talk to Ozzy a lot.' And they put two and two together. I mean, we always talked to each other; we all stay in touch. Geezer doesn't talk very much; I always talk to him by e-mail, 'cause he hates the phone. And Bill, I'm frightened to talk to him, 'cause I'm on for three hours. He talks... But yeah, we've all been in touch with each other. But it's not written in stone [that there will be a reunion], so we'll have to see what happens."

TONY IOMMI Confirms Original BLACK SABBATH Lineup Rehearsed For First Time In Years - Oct. 21, 2011
Guitarist Tony Iommi has told U.K.'s Terrorizer magazine that the four original members of BLACK SABBATH recently got together in a rehearsal room for the first time in years, adding, "[We] played some of the old stuff and to be together again was great. We're all on good terms and we're at a stage where we can play together again. It would be good if we could and I suppose it's the closest it's been to be able to do that. It could happen!"

Singer Ozzy Osbourne told Billboard.com last week that a reunion of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup was a "very, very strong possibility." He added, "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."

The Birmingham Mail reported in August that the original SABBATH lineup — Ozzy, Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — had begun rehearsing and writing music in secret for a new album. The Mail based its story around remarks made by Iommi, who later said the comments were off the record and taken out of context. Iommi's manager, however, did not deny that a reunion was underway.

Speculation about a reunion was fueled later that month when Ozzy skipped the Hollywood premiere of the documentary about his life, "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne". Both his son Jack and daughter Kelly hinted at the time that their dad was "doing something that is very, very exciting."

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 lineup has not toured together since summer 2005 and last appeared together when they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.

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