In a recent chat with RockSverige, former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin discussed the possibility of a final Black Sabbath show.
When asked if he would like to join Tony Iommi for a future project, the rocker explained:
“I would, and I’ve already said that if he felt like doing something I’d be up for it. I don’t think Tony is really… What’s the word? I think he’s come to the end of his need to do things. He doesn’t need to do this stuff. As you get older, and he had that problem with the cancer thing, he’s definitely not interested in touring, really. He could do the odd appearance, but he doesn’t need to, so I don’t know.”
He then admitted that he would love to do something with his former bandmates while everyone is ‘still alive’:
“I’d like to, but it’s one of these things… Whilst everybody’s still alive, there’s always a possibility. I mean, they could still get Bill Ward back in the band and start again, in theory. Once people start passing along, you can’t sort of do that anymore. I’ve already said that I wouldn’t mind doing something if they were interested. We’ll see how it goes.”
Bill Ward Wants A Final Show
It’s not just Martin that would love to do a final show with the band. The original drummer Bill Ward is also looking forward to a final show.
In a social media post, the drummer wrote about the matter:
“Hey ya, Bill Ward checking in regarding all the updates on a possible Sabbath show in England. I’m in for playing some of everyone’s old favorites. Loved playing them then, I’d love to play them one last time. I’m not going to talk about my health publicly except to say, everyday I’m pretty good for 76 years old, I’m active musically every day, and I have a very busy and gratifying life. Love you all, all the f*cking time.”
Ozzy’s Wish For Black Sabbath
’13’ was Sabbath’s first album in 35 years with Osbourne, Iommi, and bassist Geezer Butler.
Osbourne talked about Ward not being on Sabbath’s final album, ’13,’ in an episode of The Madhouse Chronicles. He said:
“I can’t remember why Bill didn’t do it. I’ve gotta be truthful. It wasn’t really Black Sabbath because Bill wasn’t there. I mean, if you had Ginger Baker playing with The Beatles, it wouldn’t be The Beatles.”
On the May 22 episode of ‘Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,’ Tony Iommi was asked about Osbourne’s wish to do one last Sabbath show with Ward. He explained:
“It’s a funny old thing, really. I mean, God, we’ll be 90 by the time we do that. It’d be a nice idea, but you’re gonna get everybody going, ‘Oh, they’re doing it for the money. They’re doing it for this, they’re doing it for that, they’re doing it…’ Well, it wouldn’t be. I mean, it’d be something that’d be a nice thing to actually do, but whether it happens will be another thing. But we’ll see. I mean, who knows?”
Black Sabbath released six albums with Martin as the singer: ‘The Eternal Idol,’ ‘Headless Cross,’ ‘Tyr,’ ‘Cross Purposes,’ ‘Cross Purposes Live,’ and ‘Forbidden.’ Eventually, Martin and his bandmates from the Forbidden era were replaced when Iommi brought back the original Sabbath members.