Seminal British heavy rock band Black Sabbath has announced plans to reform and record its first studio album with singer Ozzy Osbourne since 1978.
The group made the announcement at a press conference at Los Angeles' famous Whiskey a Go-Go tonight where the band played its first LA gig exactly 41 years previously.
Formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums), Black Sabbath are widely regarded as one of the most influential heavy rock bands of all time.
The band’s unique blend of guitar rooted in the blues tradition combined with Osbourne’s dark lyrics came to define heavy metal more than almost any other group. The new album will be produced by Rick Rubin and is expected to be released in late 2012.
Speaking tonight, guitarist Tony Iommi said “It's like putting on an old glove. It's fantastic.”
Black Sabbath will join Bay Area metallers Metallica as joint-headliners at Download, a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park.
Rumours of a possible reunion have been circulating for months with Osbourne hinting that the band, which has sold millions of records worldwide, might reform.
The original line-up released its last studio album Never Say Die in 1978.
