OZZY OSBOURNE's Absence From "God Bless' Premiere Fuels Rumors Of BLACK SABBATH Reunion

Ozzy Osbourne wasn't in Hollywood last night (Monday, August 22) for the premiere and special MusiCares screening of his movie, "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne", which was filmed and produced by his son Jack. His absence was conspicuous and lends credence to the rumors that Ozzy is in England working on material for a new BLACK SABBATH album with other members of the band's original lineup.

Artisan News asked Ozzy's daughter Kelly at last night's event where her dad was and she sort of let the cat out of the bag while her brother was better able to keep the secret.

"My dad is I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you," Kelly said. "But he's doing something that is very, very exciting. He's just finished a tour. But he's doing something very exciting. I'm not allowed to talk about it, though."

When asked if there is any truth to the reports that Ozzy is in England working on a new SABBATH album, Jack replied, "I can neither confirm nor deny who he is with or where he is."

Artisan News also asked Jack for his opinion on what made BLACK SABBATH so special.

"I think BLACK SABBATH is legendary because they helped pioneer a genre," Jack said. "What they we redoing at the time was unheard of. They did something that people were scared of, and that was kind of cool back then, and I think it really resonates with people. The music is still very current when you listen to it."

As previously reported, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi's manager has refused to deny that the band's original lineup is getting back together, according to the Birmingham Mail. The Mail was actually the newspaper that broke the story of a reported SABBATH reunion, using comments attributed to Iommi. But although the guitarist issued a statement saying that his comments had been distorted, his manager Ralph Baker admitted to the Mail, "We haven't got anything in place. He's not denying that the guys have been talking but there's nothing in the way that's been implied in the statements that you made."

Iommi's comments to the Mail were made back in June, with Baker telling the newspaper that Iommi "felt that he made them to you off the record."

Baker said that the story first appeared on a metal news web site before the Mail expanded on it, using Iommi's quotes.

Baker said, "A very insignificant little web site put something out about SABBATH getting back together . . . When you [Birmingham Mail] went online, that's when it went around the world because it was official."

The Mail reported on August 16 that the original four SABBATH members Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have already begun rehearsing and writing music in secret for a new album.

SABBATH did try to record a new album 12 years ago, the original lineup's first since 1978, but abandoned the attempt after just a couple of songs. The original SABBATH lineup has not toured together since summer 2005.