Black Sabbath confirm reunion

Black Sabbath original lineup confirm reunion

Tuesday, August 16 2011, 1:47pm EDT Add comment
By Mayer Nissim, Senior Entertainment Reporter
Ozzy Osbourne signs copies of his new album 'Scream' at Affliction, Moscow
© WENN
Black Sabbath have reformed with their original lineup.

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward have already begun rehearsals for a live tour and new studio album.

Iommi told the Birmingham Mail: "We're really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we've been writing is really good. It's more back to the old original stuff.'

The guitarist, who is the sole ever-present member of the band throughout its history, added of the long-rumored reunion: "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'."

Frontman Osbourne first left the band in 1979 and was replaced by Ronnie James Dio. Osbourne rejoined the group in 1997 and played several live dates until leaving again in 2006.

Dio again replaced Osbourne soon after and the band toured as Heaven & Hell, before Dio died in May 2010 after losing his battle with stomach cancer.

Watch the Black Sabbath 'Paranoid' music video below: