Geezer Butler Also Wants One More Black Sabbath Show with Bill Ward

There are way too many “what if” scenarios in metal, especially among former bandmates that never buried the hatchet before someone passed away. It’s a sad and completely avoidable scenario, but it happens. Earlier this month, legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne said he felt the band’s legacy ended in an “unfinished” manner when they released an album and toured without drummer Bill Ward behind the kit. Then guitarist Tony Iommi said it would “be a nice idea.”

Well, it turns out that yet another member of the band feels the same way, as bassist Geezer Butler echoed that sentiment in a recent interview with Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk. So that makes three out of the four members saying they want to do it. The only thing that’s unclear is if Ward shares those feelings.

“Of course there’s an interest [from me to do it], but there’s a big ‘but’ — you’d have to speak to Bill about it. Everybody wants to do it, [but I don’t know if Ward is] capable [of doing those songs live].” Butler later added “I’m definitely up for it, to finish the whole thing off.”

Now, before you go off looking to buy Black Sabbath reunion tickets, remember — we’re talking about very old dudes going back out on stage and playing a full show. If that’s what you’re imagining, then maybe temper your expectations a smidge.

When it comes to doing a tour or even recording music with Ward, Butler questioned if that was even possible in 2024.

“I don’t think so. Maybe, I don’t know. I mean, 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.”

Remember, the last time Black Sabbath did anything, it was with Ozzy, Iommi, and Butler representing the original lineup, with Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk featured on the final album 13, while Osbourne’s solo band drummer Tommy Clufetos handled the live gigs.

And all that’s not to even mention Ozzy’s health issues causing him to likely have a very hard time ever getting back on stage again. Sounds like we might be able to file this under the “what if” category, after all.