The original line up of Black Sabbath are set to reform for live shows and a potential new album.
In the end, the news came as an inevitability rather than a surprise. The various members of Black Sabbath have been discussing a potential reformation for the best part of a year now, with the metal giants stirring into life.
At a press conference on Friday (November 11th) the band finally confirmed what fans had been discussing for some time: the original line up of Black Sabbath are getting back together.
Ozzy Obourne returns as singer, with the line up including Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Wards. Arguably responsible for inventing heavy metal with their down tuned riffing, the legendary group will headline next year’s Download festival.
The band join an already mouth watering line up. Download organisers have persuaded Metallica to drop by, with the thrash icons set to re-visit their 1991 breakthrough release ‘The Black Album’.
Now Black Sabbath will also be on hand to make sure the event goes down in metal history. Andy Copping, of festival organisers Live Nation, said: “The reunion of the original line-up of Black Sabbath has been one of the most talked-about stories of the year. I am thrilled that the band will return to Donington Park next year to help us mark 10 years of the Download Festival.”
The original line up disintegrated in the late 70s, with Ozzy Osbourne’s varied addictions reaching mythic heights. Recruiting Ronnie Dio to take over, the band enjoyed decades of success. Ozzy Osbourne re-joined the band in 1997, touring with the metal icons until 2006.
The various members of Black Sabbath also continued to tour with Ronnie Dio, under the Heaven & Hell moniker. Sadly, the frontman passed away last year following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Now set to get back out on the road, Black Sabbath also confirmed plans to record new material with Rick Rubin. Sessions are ongoing, with the Birmingham metal legends refusing to put a timescale on the material.
