Tony Iommi has revealed why Black Sabbath never reunited for one final studio album with Ozzy Osbourne before the legendary frontman’s death.
The revelation comes as new details emerge about Ozzy’s plans for one more record. According to Zakk Wylde, Ozzy still wanted to return to the studio after his final Black Sabbath performance, telling Wylde that he wanted to make another album with a heavier but more melodic sound.
For many longtime listeners, the possibility of one final Black Sabbath record featuring the original members is an intriguing “what if.” The band’s original lineup — Ozzy, Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward — had already reunited for the 2013 album 13, their first studio album together with Ozzy since 1978.
But Iommi has now explained that he was not interested in repeating the experience.
The guitarist revealed that producer Andrew Watt had approached him about making another Black Sabbath album after working with Ozzy on his solo records. Watt had been involved with Ozzy’s final two studio albums, Ordinary Man and Patient Number 9, and apparently saw an opportunity to bring the legendary band back together one more time.
Iommi, however, was not convinced.
He said he had met Watt while the producer was working with Ozzy and felt that the two did not really connect. More importantly, Iommi was reluctant to revisit the complicated circumstances surrounding 13.
The 2013 album had been a major moment for Black Sabbath, but it was far from straightforward. Original drummer Bill Ward ultimately did not participate in the recording, with Brad Wilk playing drums instead. The decision became a source of controversy surrounding the reunion.
For Iommi, the prospect of going through another complicated recording process simply was not appealing.
He explained that Watt was enthusiastic about the possibility, but Iommi questioned why the band would need to make another album after already completing 13.
That decision now carries a particularly poignant weight following Ozzy’s death on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76.
Just weeks earlier, Ozzy had reunited with Iommi, Butler and Ward for Back to the Beginning at Villa Park in Birmingham — the original Black Sabbath lineup’s final performance together. Ozzy performed from a throne because of his health struggles, but the concert became an emotional celebration of his extraordinary career.
Ozzy apparently still had ambitions beyond that final show. His desire to make one more record means fans will now be left wondering what that unreleased chapter might have sounded like.
Instead, Black Sabbath’s story ended on stage in Birmingham — with one final reunion, one final performance and no last studio album.
And Tony Iommi’s latest revelation has only made that unfinished chapter feel even more significant.
