Maybe it's because the passing of Ronnie James Dio last year left the band without a singer, and maybe it's because the Ozzy's last album spent more time trying to be hip than just trying to be Ozzy and flopped, but fans will be thrilled to hear that Ozzy Osbourne has officially announced his return to the ranks of Black Sabbath, regardless of the reasoning.
Now, really, this news has been reported before. Beginning in 1992 [the last time was in 2005 -ed], guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have reunited intermittently with singer Ozzy Osbourne to perform and do the occasional tour, but this time is most definitely different; this time, Black Sabbath won't just be exhuming old glories. At a press conference held at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles at 11:11 AM on November 11, 2011, all four original members of appeared together to make the news of their return official and make their intentions known. "We tried to with the reunion before, but it just didn't work," explained Ozzy Obsourne to the assembled panel of L.A. press corps journalists. "But this time, for some magical reason, we've already written seven or eight songs and they're really good and I'm not just saying that!"
That's right, not only are Black Sabbath reunited, but they're writing and already have plans to record together for the first time since 1978. Rick Rubin (was on-hand at the press conference) has been tapped to produce a new record by the band, and the hope is to have the new release out in the fall of 2012 via Vertigo/Universal. Following the release, the band plans to support the disc with a large-scale worldwide tour including a headlining slot at the Download Festival on June 12, 2012.
Are you excited? We at Ground Control sure as hell are!
Artist:
www.black-sabbath.com/
www.facebook.com/BlackSabbath
www.twitter.com/officialsabbath
Watch:
Black Sabbath press conference at the Whisky A Go Go 11/11/11.
