In a wave of nostalgia and anticipation, long-time Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has added his voice to the growing chorus of former bandmates expressing a desire for a final reunion with original drummer Bill Ward. Speaking on Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk on May 28, Butler shared his hopes but acknowledged the obstacles in the way.
“Of course there’s an interest [on my part to do it],” Butler said, as reported by Blabbermouth. “But there’s a big ‘but’ – you’d have to speak to Bill about it.” He continued, “Everybody wants to do it [but I don’t know if Ward is] capable [of pulling it off].”
Black Sabbath, the pioneering heavy metal band formed in 1968 by Butler, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Ward, officially disbanded in 2017 following their farewell tour. However, Ward had exited the band in 2012 due to contractual disagreements, stating the terms he was offered were not acceptable.
The idea of a Black Sabbath comeback featuring the original four members recently gained traction when Osbourne discussed it positively on his podcast, The Madhouse Chronicles. Reflecting on the band’s legacy, Osbourne expressed regret over how things ended.
“No, because it wasn’t Black Sabbath that finished it. It’s unfinished,” Osbourne lamented. “If they wanted to do one more gig with Bill, I would jump at the chance. I was sad that Bill wasn’t there. I mean Tommy Clufetos, my drummer [who replaced Ward from 2012], did a great job. But he ain’t Bill Ward.”
Adding to the conversation, guitarist Tony Iommi also shared his thoughts on the possibility of a reunion. Speaking with Eddie Trunk last week, Iommi admitted that while the idea was appealing, there were practical and perceptual challenges.
“It’d be a nice idea,” Iommi said. “But you’re gonna get everybody going, ‘Oh, they’re doing it for the money. They’re doing it for this, they’re doing it for that.’ Well, it wouldn’t be. I mean, it’d be something that’d be a nice thing to actually do, but whether it happens will be another thing. But we’ll see. I mean, who knows?”
Iommi concluded with a touch of humour, “It’s a funny old thing, really. I mean, God, we’ll be 90 by the time we do that.”
The last full-length concert featuring Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward took place on September 4, 2005, at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida. While the future of a Black Sabbath reunion remains uncertain, the enduring bond between the original members and their collective desire for one final performance continues to resonate with fans worldwide.
