Tony Iommi reveals the Black Sabbath farewell album that never happened

According to a recent interview with Classic Rock, producer/musician Andrew Watt started the process of producing one last studio album for Black Sabbath‘s classic era lineup, as per theprp. Apparently, such concept was proposed in the early 2020s, but it obviously never materialised. Given that drummer Bill Ward was absent from Black Sabbath‘s 2013 farewell album “13,” Watt, who managed the late vocalist Ozzy Osbourne‘s final studio releases, had planned to get the groundbreaking heavy metal group back together for a fitting farewell. Personal and professional conflicts were the reason for his absence at the time. The concept was reportedly rejected by guitarist Tony Iommi.

I’d met Andrew Watt when he was producing Ozzy. He was very keen and a bit too excited. He 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.’

Even though Sabbath had once again wrapped up their touring days with the “13” album cycle, the band would eventually get back together in July 2025 for a final live celebration of their career at the “Back To The Beginning” festival, this time with Ward on drums. With leader Ozzy Osbourne passing away a few weeks later, that all-star tribute gig in the band’s homeland of Birmingham, UK, would be the last live performance for the band’s classic era lineup.

In 1968, guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and singer Ozzy Osbourne established the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath in Birmingham. After changing their name from Polka Tulk Blues Band to Earth in 1969, the band became known for their occult themes, horror-inspired lyrics, and down-tuned guitars. In addition to being commercially successful, their first three albums—”Black Sabbath”, “Paranoid” (both 1970), and “Master of Reality” (1971)—are recognised as foundational works in the evolution of heavy metal. The band experimented with increasingly avant-garde and experimental approaches on their later albums, “Vol. 4” (1972), “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (1973), “Sabotage” (1975),” Technical Ecstasy” (1976), and” Never Say Die!” (1978).