Tony Iommi shares new photo with fellow Black Sabbath co-founder Bill Ward

25 September, 2024

Black Sabbath co-founders Tony Iommi and Bill Ward have shared a new photo together.

Both musicians were in their home city, to attend the Lord Mayor’s reception for International Birmingham Day. Iommi shared the photo on Twitter/X yesterday (September 24), alongside the caption: “You just never know who you’ll bump into in Birmingham!”

The impromtu meeting comes in the midst of rumours about the possibility of a one-off reunion show from the band. Ward himself shared his thoughts on a potential gig in July, writing on Twitter/X” “I’m in for playing some of everyone’s old favourites. Loved playing them then, I’d love to play them one last time.”

Ward parted ways with the metal legends in 2012, citing an “unreasonable contract”. He would go on to miss the band’s Reunion Tour and the swansong The End Tour, which culminated in 2017.

 

Ward’s post followed Ozzy Osbourne, Iommi and Geezer Butler all expressing interest in the idea.

In May, Osbourne revealed that he would “jump at the chance” to play a final concert with Ward. Speaking on an episode of his podcast The Madhouse Chronicles, the singer reflected on the climactic show at the Birmingham Arena in 2017, saying he was “sad” that Ward was not there.

Bassist Butler then said later that month that he and Osbourne had “agreed” to play one last concert. It came after the Prince Of Darkness’ wife and manager, Sharon, said Ozzy was planning “two more shows to say goodbye” before he fully retires.

“Of course there’s an interest [on my part to do it], but there’s a big ‘but’ — you’d have to speak to Bill [Ward] about it. Everybody wants to do it [but I don’t know if he is] capable [of pulling it off],” he said.

The provisional shows would likely take place at Villa Park, the home of Butler and Osbourne’s beloved Aston Villa. “I’m definitely up for it, to finish the whole thing off,” Butler added. “Me and Ozzy have agreed, but I’m not sure about anybody else.”

Butler later commented in June that Osbourne “desperately wants” to play the final show, while guitarist Iommi has also expressed interest, saying it would be “a nice thing to do, but whether it happens will be another thing”.

In November, Ozzy said he might have to “accept the fact” that a live comeback may not be possible due to his ongoing health issues, including Parkinson’s disease and recovery from multiple surgeries.

“I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” he told Rolling Stone UK at the time. “But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life.

In January, Ozzy said he was going through a “slow recovery” process after his final operation.

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