hennemusic

The partial Black Sabbath reunion has completed two of its three concerts this year, following the cancellation of the band’s full tour due to guitarist Tony Iommi’s health issues.

Iommi announced in January that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system.

Following timely treatment – including chemotherapy, steroids and radiotherapy – Iommi was well enough to play the group’s intimate homecoming show in Birmingham in May, as well as the band’s headlining slot at Download last month.

The metal icons will play their final 2012 show next month at Chicago’s Lollapalooza.

Sabbath have hired fill-in drummer Tommy Clufetos in place of the absent Bill Ward, who continues to sit out the group’s planned reunion due to a contractual dispute.

Earlier this year, original drummer Ward announced that he was unwilling to participate in the planned Sabbath reunion due to a contractual dispute.

You can read Ward’s original statement here and a recent update here.

Now, in a new session with The Times Magazine, Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne says, “There was no row, there was no argument. The door ain’t closed, whether we work something out up the road, I don’t know.”

“It’s not a personal thing,” added Iommi. “If he phoned us up tomorrow, which he hasn’t, but if he did…”