OZZY OSBOURNE, TONY IOMMI, GEEZER BUTLER AND BILL WARD UNVEIL PLANS ON 11/11/11 AT A LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE WHISKY A GO-GO, WHERE THE BAND PERFORMED THEIR FIRST LOS ANGELES DATE EXACTLY 41 YEARS AGO
After much speculation, the original four members of BLACK SABBATH--OZZY OSBOURNE (vocals),TONY IOMMI (guitar), GEEZER BUTLER (bass) and BILL WARD (drums)--have reunited to record their first new studio album in 33(?) years with producer Rick Rubin (seven-time Grammy winner, two of those as Producer of the Year) and to embark on a massive world tour in 2012.
OSBOURNE, IOMMI, BUTLER and WARD as well as Rubin all gathered today on 11/11/11 to announce the news at a Los Angeles press conference at the legendary club, the Whisky A Go-Go, the site of the groundbreaking and influential band’s first L.A. concert exactly 41 years ago (Nov 11, 1970). The event was hosted by the revered musical and spoken word artist Henry Rollins who has said that “Any band worth their weight in napalm wishes they had written ‘War Pigs.’”
Selling over 70 million albums together, the Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have signed a new record deal worldwide with Vertigo and Vertigo/ Universal Republic in the U.S.,the band’s original label. BLACK SABBATH is now in the studio recording the as-yet-untitled new album for release in the fall of 2012 (exact date TBA). It will mark their ninth studio album together and their first since 1978’s Never Say Die!
Next summer, BLACK SABBATH will headline the mammoth multi-day UK Download Festival in theU.K. on June 10. The new album will then be supported with a worldwide headline arena tour (dates TBA).
Quote from Tony Iommi during the press conference - "Why now? "It was now or never, really. We have some great music to play." -Tony."
The official statement from Tony Iommi on Black Sabbath Reunion :
Well, after all the rumours and having to keep plans quiet for so long, I can finally stop dodging questions. The truth is it has only come together properly in the last few days!
Look forward to seeing you all in 2012.
All the best,
Tony
