Thumbs up from Tony and Geezer

THE Birmingham Post caught up with Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler as they were reminiscing backstage at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Was the exhibition the icing on the cake for the stars whose careers began with the 1970 hit albums Black Sabbath and then Paranoid?

“It’s certainly part of it. It’s really brilliant the way they’ve done it. Amazing,” says Tony. “I like all of it. They’ve done a great job and it’s really inventive some of the stuff they’ve done. And the (customised Harley-Davidson) motorbike is absolutely fantastic.”

Geezer is as famed for his trademark bass playing fretwork as he is for the lyrics which helped to turn a blues band called Earth into the far more demonic Black Sabbath.

Underneath the wild persona, though, he’s always been the most introspective member of the heavy metal giants. And sensitive enough to appreciate the finer things the museum has to offer, such as its insight into the famous artist Edward Burne-Jones whose windows light up Birmingham Cathedral.

“I used to come up here because it was free,” says Geezer. “You could walk here from Aston. I used to love the Burne-Jones paintings. And that big statue of Lucifer, so you can see where my influences came from!”

Does the palpable energy of the exhibition make the boys want to play again?

Tony says: “I do miss playing and I miss the guys as well. We had a great time, I really enjoyed it but it’s hard doing long, big tours.”

Geezer is fresh from playing Download with his new all-star band, Deadland Ritual. And there is one reason above all why he formed it – he kept getting itchy feet.

“I got fed up of doing nothing at home. I was just sitting around watching Bargain Hunt and Flog It and things like that.”

Retirement in the longer term is not going to be easy for these fellows.

“It is hard when you stop, especially in a band,” Tony adds. “For years you are used to doing that particular thing. I know I’ve found I’m wandering round thinking we’ve got to do something in a minute because you get into that routine and years of doing it. It’s really awkward when you stop.”

For health reasons, long tours are no longer possible. But would Sabbath still get together for a one-off show, such as the opening ceremony of The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.

The idea is not as daft as it sounds.

“I think Ozzy said ‘Yes’ first and then I was asked,” says Tony. “I said ‘Yes, if everybody’s up for that’... if we can remember the songs. My answer was ‘We might not be alive then’. (Now) it’s coming on us quick.”

Earlier this year, Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne had to cancel his No More Tours 2 world tour after falling ill.

His Birmingham show has been rescheduled for St Valentine’s Day – Thursday, February 14, 2020. What’s the news from his camp? Surprisingly, the boys say they don’t have any.

“I haven’t spoken to him for ages,” says Tony. “The last thing I had a text from him... all his (medical) complaints. I haven’t heard from him since then.’’

Geezer, the vegetarian in the band and its fittest member today, chirps: “The hypochondriac.”

What would Ozzy make of Black Sabbath 50 Years? “He’d would love it I’m sure he would, like we all do,” says Geezer. “It’s incredible.”

Tony and Geezer say original drummer Bill Ward wanted to come to the exhibition but was unable to get out of the United States.

“He was really disappointed that he couldn’t be here,” says Geezer.

Tony adds: “Bill had sent his passport off for his visa but hadn’t got it back. But we had a great time with him in LA, it was nice seeing him at the Grammys. It was a really nice vibe seeing him again.”