Legendary metal gods Black Sabbath may be getting back together. Rolling Stone reports that the band has called a press conference for Friday, 11-11-11, at which the band is expected to announce a reunion for the original members of the band including former lead singer turned pop culture icon Ozzy Osbourne.
The band’s management issued a press release late last week in which they promised that the event at the legendary Los Angeles rock n’ roll venue, the Whiskey a Go Go would include a ‘Special Announcement.’ Black Sabbath made their Los Angeles debut at the Whiskey 41 years ago.
The reunion of Black Sabbath had been rumored for quite a while with members of the band offering differing statements about the truth and untruth of various rumors. In February bassist Geezer Butler offered an adamant statement that no reunion, either for a tour or a new record, was in the works.
A month later, guitarist Tommy Iommi told a British tabloid that the rumors of a reunion were true but that the details of the deal were still being worked out. Iommi later offered a vague retraction of his quotes but failed to actually deny that the band was getting back together.
The original lineup of Black Sabbath reformed in 1997 for a tour and continued to tour together through 2005. The band hasn’t released a record of new music since 1978’s “Never Say Die.”
The announcement of Black Sabbath’s reunion happens to fall on the same day that VH1 Classic has declared “National Metal Day.”