Tony Iommi Explains Why He Turned Down One Last Black Sabbath Record

Tony Iommi has revealed that he turned down the chance to record one final Black Sabbath album with the band’s original lineup.

The 78 year old guitarist explained that producer Andrew Watt wanted to make a record featuring Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward before Ozzy died at the age of 76 in July 2025.

Watt worked on Ozzy’s final solo records, Ordinary Man and Patient Number 9, but Tony felt the producer was “a bit too excited” about creating a Black Sabbath album.

In an interview with Classic Rock magazine, Tony recalled: “I’d met Andrew Watt when he was producing Ozzy.”

“He was very keen and a bit too excited.”

Tony also “didn't like the idea” of releasing another record after 13, the band’s 19th and final studio album, arrived in 2013.

He continued: “He [Watt] also didn’t know what it was like working with the original Sabbath, working with Bill.”

“Also, we’d done 13, and I didn’t like the idea of, 'Now here’s another album.'”

Although the original members did not record another album together, they eventually reunited for one final concert.

The four musicians came together for Back to the Beginning, a special benefit event held at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, in July 2025, marking their last performance with Ozzy.

Ozzy died only 17 days after the concert, and Tony recently shared that the singer had told him he felt “tired and really worn out” just hours before his death.

Speaking on the Loudwire Nights podcast, Tony remembered: “I spoke to him the night before he passed. He said to me: 'I really feel tired and really worn out'.”

“I said: 'Well, you’re bound to really, it’s been a lot of stress and pressure and stuff like that'. And the next thing, the next day, [he’s] gone.”

Reflecting on his friend, Tony added: “It still feels like he’s there.”

The guitarist also acknowledged that the Back To The Beginning concert was emotionally challenging due to Ozzy’s worsening health, particularly because he had never been accustomed to seeing the frontman seated during a performance.

He explained: “It was difficult because seeing Ozzy sitting in a throne is not the way I see him. Always [when] we’ve been on stage, he’s been running around, and he’d run up to [bassist] Geezer [Butler] and pull a face jokingly and come over to me and pull a face or the drummer or whatever.”

“We always had a little laugh on stage and enjoy when he’d run about.”

“But at Back To The Beginning, of course, he’s in a throne, and I couldn’t see him, which felt very unusual. I stood back by [drummer] Bill [Ward].”

“But it was a great moment, and I’m really glad we could get the opportunity to do it, because I mean, God, we didn’t know he was going to go that quick.”

“But he did … There’s memories that will remain there, from rehearsals to the whole thing … I am glad that we could do that gig.”