Black Sabbath confirm ‘end’ of group

BLACK Sabbath have confi rmed “the end” of the group.

The iconic heavy metal band might have wrapped up their fi nal tour last month, with a twohour concert at the NEC Arena in their hometown Birmingham, West Midlands, but they officially brought down the curtain on their 49-year career with a post on social media on Tuesday.

Alongside a picture with the words, “Black Sabbath 1968 - 2017”, posted on Facebook, they wrote: “#TheEnd (sic).”

Despite rumours that they would continue to make music and just stop touring, it appears the ‘Paranoid’ rockers — frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler — have decided to call it quits after almost a decade together. Sabbath brought the band’s ‘ The End Tour’, which began in the US in January last year, to its conclusion on Feb 5, and Osbourne, 68, thanked fans for their loyal support. As he left the stage, he said: “Thank you, goodnight, thank you so much.” Osbourne formed the band alongside Iommi, Butler and drummer Bill Ward back in 1968.

The so- called Prince of Darkness quit the group in 1977 and was replaced by Rainbow’s Ronnie James Dio, but the original line-up made their return in 1997.

Osbourne, Iommi and Butler were joined on stage at the fi nal shows of the tour by drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboard player Adam Wakeman, and their last- ever song was broadcast live over Black Sabbath’s Facebook page.

Speaking prior to the fi nal gig, Osbourne admitted he was experiencing “a whirlwind of emotions”.

He said “I remember playing the Crown pub in Birmingham and thinking, ‘ This’ll be good for a couple of years — drink a few beers and have a jam’.

“But it was the beginning of the most incredible adventure you could think of. I’ve had the best life out of it.”

He insisted, too, that there was no chance the band will make a comeback in the years to come, insisting the Birmingham gig represents the end of the road for them.

He said: “This is defi nitely it. It’s run its course.”

However, fans of the iconic rock group have already been asked to contribute memorabilia towards an exhibition celebrating the band’s legacy, which will tour internationally next year. — BANG Showbiz