In a recent interview with Jonathan Clarke, host of “Out Of The Box” on New York’s classic rock station Q104.3, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler shared some intriguing insights about the band’s past and future. Reflecting on their “The End” tour, which concluded in February 2017 in Birmingham, England, Butler reminisced about the challenges they faced, particularly with guitarist Tony Iommi battling cancer at the time. “It was great,” Butler said, acknowledging the physical toll it took on the band. “Tony had cancer and said, ‘I think I’ve got one more tour left in me and that’s it.’ So we put that tour together as the final thing.”
Despite the tour’s success, there was a notable absence: original drummer Bill Ward. Butler explained that Ward, who has had heart problems, was invited to join for a few songs but declined, insisting he either play the entire set or not at all. “Bill’s a proud guy,” Butler noted. “He said, ‘No. I either do the whole thing or I’m not doing any of it.’ And so, fair enough. We just carried on to the end, and that was it.”
The conversation then shifted to Ozzy Osbourne’s recent comments about wanting to reunite the original band for one final concert. Butler revealed that Ozzy is eager to do a final solo show and hopes to include a few Black Sabbath songs in the set. “Ozzy desperately wants to do a final Ozzy Osbourne concert,” Butler said. “He said to me, ‘I’d love Sabbath to do a couple of songs, two or three songs, as the final show ever.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m up for it, definitely.’ But I’m not sure what the others are up to. Me and Ozzy, we’re up for it. But whether Tony and Bill would do it, I don’t know.”
Earlier this month, Butler was asked by SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” if he thought Ward would be physically able to play a couple of songs. Butler was uncertain but didn’t rule out the possibility. “Maybe, I don’t know,” he said. “The way technical things happen these days, maybe a couple of songs, but who knows? There wouldn’t be any traveling involved. We wouldn’t be actually all in the studio at the same time together. So it could be done that way — maybe.”
Butler also addressed the state of his relationship with Ozzy, revealing that they are now in regular contact after a period of miscommunication. “I hadn’t spoken to Ozzy in years,” Butler admitted. “But now, we’re in touch every day practically. There was a lot of miscommunication before. He didn’t think I was asking about his health because I know he’s been going through a lot of health problems. I was sending all these messages to him, and they weren’t being passed on to him. So he thought I was just ignoring him.”
When asked if he misses playing with the Sabbath guys, Butler was candid. “With the Sabbath guys, yeah,” he said, adding that he still practices regularly as part of his daily exercise routine. “I don’t get down to the gym. I just go up to my studio.”
The idea of a final Black Sabbath concert with the original lineup remains a tantalizing possibility, but Butler remains cautious. “Ozzy has been texting me about doing one final show with Bill, but it’s just not going to happen,” he said in a separate interview with BraveWords. “I always said that the original Black Sabbath would never get back together. So you say these things hoping if a miracle happens, that would be great to do it. But it’s up to everyone’s health, but I can’t see it happening. I’d love it to happen, even if it was one final song with the original four of us, with Bill on the drums. Even if it’s just one song.”
As these legendary musicians approach the twilight of their careers, the prospect of one final performance remains a dream for many fans. Whether it happens or not, the legacy of Black Sabbath and its members is already cemented in the annals of rock history. For now, fans can only hope that the stars align for one last, unforgettable show.
