(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Ozzy Osbourne has reunited with Black Sabbath to record a new album and go on tour.
Guitarist Tony Iommi has confirmed the news, revealing the new record will be ready for release next year. It will be the first LP by the original members of the heavy metal group Ozzy, Tony, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward since Never Say Die hit stores in 1978.
"We're really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we've been writing is really good," Tony said. "It's more back to the old original stuff."
The foursome began working together in June and have tried hard to keep their plans secret. While some members found it easy Ozzy struggled, and regularly moaned to his pals that he was worried about giving the game away.
"It's all been very hush-hush. Ozzy's been the worst at trying to hold it back," Tony told the Birmingham Mail. "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.'"
While all four men are delighted to be working together again, at the moment they can't confirm what form their touring band will take. Bill had a heart attack in 1998 and none of the men want to push him too hard. It means they might call on Vinny Appice, who has toured with them before, for the live shows.
"[Bill] hasn't been 100 percent. He had an operation a few months ago, so we'll see how he is," Tony explained.
Ozzy has previously spoken about what it would be like to work with the band again. He admitted he would love to be involved but was also fearful. Black Sabbath have so many fans worldwide he knows the LP would have to be perfect and he worries the stress would be too intense.
"I would love to do a great album with Black Sabbath. I would love to get the credit we so roundly deserve," he previously said. "At the same time, the pressure would be really intense. I could go tomorrow and make an album with them, but it wouldn't necessarily be something I would be proud of.
"I never say never. If it works, fine. If it don't, I'll move on. It ain't the end of the world."
The original line-up of the rock group were last seen in public together when Black Sabbath was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006.
The group was formed in 1969, but Ozzy was fired in 1979 after his drug and alcohol addiction became too much for the others to handle. In all 22 people have been members of the band at one point or another. (C) Cover Media