Ozzy and Black Sabbath Announce New Record, World Tour

Ozzy and Black Sabbath Announce New Record, World Tour - Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath have re-united in their original four-man lineup and plan to issue a new album and tour the world in 2012, Reuters reports. Singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and guitarist Tony Iommi made the announcement at a news conference staged Friday at the Los Angeles rock club Whiskey A-Go-Go, where Black Sabbath played its first L.A. show 41 years ago.

“It’s now or never. We are getting along great. Everything’s really good. It’s like putting on an old glove. It’s fantastic,” Iomni said in remarks recorded by Reuters.

The yet-to-be-namedalbum, which, according to band members, is several songs into the making, will be the first featuring the original lineup in 33 years. The album, to be produced by Rick Rubin, is set for release in the fall of 2012.

According to Billboard Magazine, rumors of a reunion “had been swirling for months,” with Osbourne recently telling Billboard.com that the prospect was "a very, very strong possibility. It's in the very early stages, so we haven't recorded anything yet."

The heavy metal pioneers had attempted to record a studio album in 2001, but scheduling conflicts proved insurmountable. "This time, for some magical reason,” Osbourne said Friday, “we have written about seven or eight songs."

"It's just time," Osbourne said.

Although no world tour dates were announced, the band confirms that it will headline the Download Festival, scheduled to take place June 8–10 in Donington Park, England.

via: thirdage