Billboard reports multiple music industry sources have told them that Black Sabbath was one of the planned headliners for this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, but was forced to pull out just before Monday's official lineup announcement due to guitarist Tony Iommi's recent lymphoma diagnosis.
It's unclear which artist was added as a last-minute replacement for Coachella, which will be headlined by Radiohead, the Black Keys and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, and held for the first time over two weekends (April 13-15, April 20-22) in Indio, Calif.
Had Sabbath participated in the event, it would have been the first – or one of the first – shows for the reunited original lineup, whose 2012 tour is currently set to launch May 18 in Moscow.
Iommi, 63, is working with his doctors to determine the best course of treatment.
It is unknown if further live dates will be affected by his diagnosis, including a previously announced headlining slot at the Download Festival in England in early June.
The message on Iommi’s website is that Tony’s bandmates “would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time.” Further information will be released by Tony and the band as it becomes available.
The cancer news comes as Sabbath are writing and recording their first album in 33 years in Los Angeles (still set for release this fall) with producer Rick Rubin. The band will now move the sessions to the UK to continue to work with Tony while he pursues treatment.
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