IOMMI Says Original BLACK SABBATH Members Haven't Been In Same Room In 'A Long Time'

Greg Prato of RollingStone.com recently conducted an interview with legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RollingStone.com: I remember reading earlier this year that the original BLACK SABBATH lineup was reuniting for a new album and tour. What's the status?

Iommi: I remember reading that, as well [laughs]. There is no status at the moment. That's something that always can happen. We just get on with it and see what happens.

RollingStone.com: Are all the original SABBATH members on good terms?

Iommi: Yes, I think so. I talk to Ozzy [Osbourne, vocals] a lot we've always been in contact. And I talk to Bill [Ward, drums] occasionally. Geez [bassist Geezer Butler], I played with him until Ronnie [James Dio] passed away. We still stay in contact. Geezer is not one for being on the phone, we normally email. We all get on well I don't think there's any bad vibes or anything.

RollingStone.com: When was the last time all four original SABBATH members were in the same room?

Iommi: A long time ago.

RollingStone.com: If SABBATH were to work on a new album, do you think the new material could measure up to the group's early classics?

Iommi: I don't know that's always the question, isn't it? But I don't know if you'd try and match it up. We've moved on since then. I don't know quite what we'd be doing. It would be a BLACK SABBATH thing, but I don't know to what extent. Until that's written and done, I wouldn't know.

RollingStone.com: What would it take then for the original SABBATH to reunite?

Iommi: The band can decide to do something, but there are a lot of people involved, and everybody's got individual managers. It's not as easy as like it was in the old days us all going in one room and it all works. I mean, we can certainly do that, but it's a bit more involved than that.

Read the entire interview from RollingStone.com.