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Members of Black Sabbath<\/a> wrote their own band\u2019s epitaphs ahead of their final concert<\/a> in Birmingham, England on July 5.<\/p>\n The original lineup \u2013 Ozzy Osbourne<\/a>, Tony Iommi<\/a>, Geezer Butler<\/a> and Bill Ward<\/a> \u2013 will perform together for the first time in 20 years along with a who\u2019s-who bill of metal bands from several generations.<\/p>\n With all four Birmingham natives certain they won\u2019t be seen on stage again, three of them told Classic Rock<\/a><\/i> how they\u2019d like the group to be remembered.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Black Sabbath\u2019s Four Previous Farewell Tours<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYou can never know how your life turns out.\u201d guitarist Iommi reflected. \u201cIt\u2019s just believing in what you do and following that path. That\u2019s always what I\u2019ve had, and not give[n] up on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked what he\u2019d like Sabbath to be known for, he replied: \u201cFor what we brought to the table. For bringing this music out and inspiring other bands to build on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Drummer Ward\u2019s answer was: \u201cFor showing that it\u2019s okay to push things, to be outlandish and extraordinary and rough around the edges. We were loud and aggressive, and that\u2019s what I love about us.\u201d<\/p>\n Bassist Butler responded: \u201cAs four working-class blokes who defied all the odds, but had an unbreakable belief in ourselves, and bonded with the greatest fans ever.\u201d<\/p>\n When the prospect of another Sabbath album was raised, Iommi and Butler both referred to their dissatisfaction<\/a> with 2013\u2019s 13<\/i><\/a>, repeating previous comments about not liking what producer Rick Rubin<\/a> had done with their songs.<\/p>\n Butler said: \u201cIt would have been great if Bill was on it<\/a>\u201d \u2013 a sentiment Iommi agreed with.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been approached about doing a Sabbath album,\u201d the guitarist added. \u201cIt could be good, but I don\u2019t want to take the time of sitting down and writing stuff like last time and it goes willy-nilly.\u201d<\/p>\n Butler said: \u201cDo I wish we\u2019d done another album? No, I don\u2019t\u2026 but if anyone really wanted to do another, I\u2019d be up for it. But not just for the sake of doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ward stated: \u201cI\u2019d love to do another album. I\u2019ll be direct about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Osbourne \u2013 whose health issues mean the Birmingham show is his final bow \u2013 offered another note of hope by saying: \u201cAs far as recording goes, I still enjoy doing my own work. I also enjoy singing on other people\u2019s work. For the foreseeable future I will keep on recording \u2013 if the projects interest me.”<\/p>\n Together, they paint a portrait of a band that lived hard, worked hard and played hard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Bryan Rolli<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCould Black Sabbath Still Make Another Album?<\/h3>\n
Black Sabbath Live Albums Ranked Worst to Best<\/h2>\n