A new interview with Classic Rock reveals that plans were initiated by producer/musician Andrew Watt to helm one final farewell studio album from the classic era lineup of Black Sabbath. That idea was apparently floated early 2020s, but of course, didn’t come to fruition. Watt, who oversaw late Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne‘s final studio records, had hoped to get the pioneering heavy metal band back in the studio together for a proper farewell bow, given that their 2013 farewell album “13“, didn’t feature drummer Bill Ward. His absence at the time was due to personal/professional disputes.
Guitarist Tony Iommi is said to have shot down the idea, recently telling Classic Rock:
“I’d met Andrew Watt when he was producing Ozzy. He was very keen and a bit too excited. He also didn’t know what it was like working with the original Sabbath, working with Bill. Also, we’d done ‘13‘, and I didn’t like the idea of: ‘Now here’s another album.'”
While Sabbath had also once again concluded their touring days with the “13” album cycle, the group would later reunite in July of 2025 for one last final live hurrah celebrating their career, this time complete with Ward on drums, for the ‘Back To The Beginning‘ festival.
That all-star tribute show in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, UK would serve as the final live show for the band’s classic era lineup, with frontman Ozzy Osbourne dying just weeks afterward.
