Ozzy Says Don't Expect A New Black Sabbath Album Anytime Soon

DETROIT (Reuters) - Earlier this year, the four original members of Black Sabbath--Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terry "Geezer" Butler, and Bill Ward--got together to try to write some new material, possibly for another Sabbath album. And while they did come up with at least one new song--"Scary Dreams," which was performed during this summer's OzzFest sets--Osbourne tells that the prospect of more new music from Black Sabbath music is unlikely.
"We all sat down and said, 'It's gotta be the same way as it was before,' but it wasn't, you know? I'm not the same anymore, neither are they, you know? I mean, when we started writing, it wasn't the same vibe," he explains. "I'm used to being a bandleader--I mean, I'm used to having a solo career rather than being a singer with a band. Since I left Black Sabbath, I've never had a band like Black Sabbath, where everyone was equal--it was my solo project, and I had outside help to do writing, so I had the last say on it all, you know?"

Osbourne adds that he doesn't know when or if Sabbath will work together again, but that this year's OzzFest helped to smooth over some of the previous issues that have afflicted the group. "People say, 'It was so cool to see you guys back onstage again,' and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But I can now rest my head and say, 'We rounded off the rough edges.' When I say that, I mean that we buried the hatchet. And for whatever reason, I'm glad I did it," he adds. "And if it comes up again and it's worthwhile doing, then I'll do it again."

Osbourne releases Down To Earth, his first solo album in six years, on October 16, before heading out on tour with Rob Zombie later this year.