Tony & Ozzy Settle Sabbath Dispute
Former bandmates issue statement on settlement
Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne have released a joint statement about the settlement of their Black Sabbath trademark dispute.
The two former bandmates had been due to meet in court to settle an argument over who owns the Black Sabbath name, but that court case is no longer necessary after the two friends settled out of court.
In a joint statement issued yesterday they said:
"Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi of the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath have amicably resolved their problems over the ownership of the Black Sabbath name and court proceedings in New York have been discontinued. Both parties are glad to put this behind them and to cooperate together for the future and would like it to be known that the issue was never personal, it was always business."
Tony Iommi recently revealed that despite recent problems he was always open to a Sabbath reunion, and Ozzy has in the past indicated that he would also entertain the idea.
"I spoke to Ozzy while I was in Los Angeles after Ronnie's funeral,” Tony told the Sunday Mercury recently. "Ozzy and I have a complicated relationship but we've always kept in touch, no matter what else might have been going on. Would I play with Ozzy again? Who knows? It's weird with me and Ozzy.”
"There can be all sorts of shit going on but when we talk, it's like nothing bad has ever happened."
The Pulse of Radio also asked Ozzy if there was once again a chance for the original Sabbath lineup to get together again. "Well, I never say never,” he said. "I mean, I've got a few ideas, but we'll see what happens, you know. We did try and do another album, but we've all changed so much and it's — if you don't do an album that blows the doors off the last one that we did together, then it's gonna be looked upon as a joke, you know.”