Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Black Sabbath: Tony Iommi kills reunion rumours

Tony Iommi has cleared the air on the latest round of Black Sabbath reunion rumours: it ain’t happening.

Seems a reporter for the Birmingham Mail took some comments allegedly made by Iommi a few months ago and wrote them up today as a new headline.

Andy Coleman of the Mail’s story (here)said the band was writing and rehearsing for a new studio album and tour.

“We’re really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we’ve been writing is really good," the Mail reported Iommi 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,” Iommi reportedly added. 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’."

Sabbath reunion headlines around the world followed the item, but Iommi was quick to clarify the situation.

“I'm saddened that a Birmingham journalist whom I trusted has chosen this point in time to take a conversation we had back in June and make it sound like we spoke yesterday about a Black Sabbath reunion,” wrote Iommi on Tuesday. “At the time I was supporting the Home of Metal exhibition and was merely speculating, shooting the breeze, on something all of us get asked constantly, "Are you getting back together?"

“Thanks to the internet, it's gone round the world as some sort of "official" statement on my part, absolute nonsense,”
added the guitarist. “I hope he's enjoyed his moment of glory, he won't have another at my expense.”

“To my old pals, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, sorry about this, I should have known better.”


The band have been shooting down reunion talk for ages, and Iommi’s comments are consistent with the message to date.

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath – Never Say Die
Never Say Die DVD
Hammersmith Odeon – London, UK – June 10, 1978


See also:

Ozzy Osbourne’s Birmingham home may help local tourism
Black Sabbath: More details about Tony Iommi autobiography
Drummer remembers legendary Black Sabbath/Led Zeppelin studio jam
Black Sabbath bassist remembers Amy Winehouse, Norway victims
VIDEO: Cancer Bats rock Sonisphere with Black Sabbath set
Black Sabbath: Geezer Butler working on album, book
VIDEO: Forbidden cover Black Sabbath classic
VIDEO: Black Sabbath's War Pigs featured in Gears Of War 3
Ronnie James Dio compilation due next month
Black Sabbath: Tony Iommi autobiography details released
Jack Osbourne planning Black Sabbath horror film
Black Sabbath: Born Again reissue due in May
WhoCares: Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi & Friends to release charity single
Heaven & Hell: Live From Radio City Music Hall on Blu-ray this May
Geezer Butler: No Black Sabbath reunion planned