BLACK SABBATH’s TONY IOMMI And BILL WARD Reunite At….read More.
Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, founding members of the legendary heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH, reunited at a civic reception in Birmingham, UK, on September 24, 2024. The event, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Ken Wood, celebrated the inaugural International Day of Birmingham, honoring the city’s cultural and historical significance.
After the event, Iommi took to social media to post a photo of himself with Ward, accompanied by the caption, “You just never know who you’ll bump into in Birmingham! We both attended the Lord Mayor’s reception for International Birmingham Day.” The reunion of these two icons sparked renewed interest in the possibility of a BLACK SABBATH performance, especially given previous discussions about one final show featuring the original lineup.
In July, Ward had expressed his interest in performing with BLACK SABBATH again, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that he “would love to play” one last concert. “I’m in for playing some of everyone’s old favorites. Loved playing them then, I’d love to play them one last time,” Ward wrote. His comments reignited hope among fans for a reunion, particularly with original members Iommi, Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and singer Ozzy Osbourne.
The idea of a final show has been a topic of discussion for some time. BLACK SABBATH concluded their farewell tour, “The End,” in February 2017 with a show in their hometown of Birmingham, England. Speaking about the final tour in an interview, Geezer Butler reflected on the emotional experience, noting that they knew it was time to stop due to physical constraints. “Tony [Iommi] had cancer at the time, and he just said, ‘I think I’ve got one more tour left in me and that’s it. That’s all I can do.’” Despite the band’s desire to have Ward join them for the tour, Butler explained that Ward declined the offer to perform only a few songs, stating he wanted to either play the entire set or not at all. As a result, Tommy Clufetos stepped in as drummer for the final tour.
Though the tour marked the official end of BLACK SABBATH as a live act, the possibility of one last performance still lingers. Osbourne, in particular, has been vocal about his desire to reunite the original lineup, including Ward, for a final show. Osbourne mentioned his idea of performing a couple of songs with BLACK SABBATH during his final solo concert, emphasizing that he wanted to end his career with a performance alongside his bandmates. In a recent interview, Butler confirmed that both he and Osbourne were open to the idea, but it was unclear whether Iommi and Ward would also be willing to participate.
The question of whether Ward could perform again has been a recurring topic in interviews. Butler expressed uncertainty about whether Ward’s health would allow him to join for a full performance but acknowledged that modern technology could make it possible for Ward to contribute to a few songs. However, the logistics of a full-scale reunion, including travel and rehearsals, remain uncertain.
Osbourne, reflecting on BLACK SABBATH’s legacy, admitted that he felt the band’s final show in 2017 wasn’t a true conclusion, especially without Ward. While praising Clufetos for his drumming during the farewell tour, Osbourne remarked that “he ain’t Bill Ward,” emphasizing the unique chemistry the original members shared. Osbourne also entertained the idea of an impromptu, unannounced reunion show at a smaller venue, harking back to the early days of BLACK SABBATH’s career, when they first performed together in small clubs.
BLACK SABBATH officially disbanded in March 2017, shortly after their final concert, but the recent reunion of Iommi and Ward in Birmingham has rekindled hope that fans might witness one last performance featuring the original members. Whether such a reunion happens remains uncertain, but the legacy of BLACK SABBATH continues to inspire both their fans and the broader world of heavy metal music.
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