Metal legends Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi have spent the past year wrapped up in a legal battle over the ownership of the Black Sabbath name. When Ozzy first sued Iommi last spring, the singer said that his "signature lead vocals" were largely responsible for the band's "extraordinary success," and that Iommi had no right to claim full ownership of the band's trademark. Now, the musicians have settled their dispute.
The pair issued the following statement to Blabbermouth:
"Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi of the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath have amicably resolved their problems over the ownership of the Black Sabbath name and court proceedings in New York have been discontinued. Both parties are glad to put this behind them and to cooperate together for the future and would like it to be known that the issue was never personal, it was always business."
What exactly this resolution entails isn't clear, although it seems doubtful that Ozzy would suddenly sign away all rights to the Black Sabbath name.
While the pair have resolved their feud, don't count on Black Sabbath getting back together anytime soon. Ozzy recently told Pulse of Radio, "If you don't do an album that blows the doors off the last one that we did together, then it's gonna be looked upon as a joke." Then again, he also said, "I never say never."
Iommi was similarly ambiguous about the possibility of a reunion. He told Sunday Mercury, "Would I play with Ozzy again? Who knows? It's weird with me and Ozzy."
The pair issued the following statement to Blabbermouth:
"Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi of the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath have amicably resolved their problems over the ownership of the Black Sabbath name and court proceedings in New York have been discontinued. Both parties are glad to put this behind them and to cooperate together for the future and would like it to be known that the issue was never personal, it was always business."
What exactly this resolution entails isn't clear, although it seems doubtful that Ozzy would suddenly sign away all rights to the Black Sabbath name.
While the pair have resolved their feud, don't count on Black Sabbath getting back together anytime soon. Ozzy recently told Pulse of Radio, "If you don't do an album that blows the doors off the last one that we did together, then it's gonna be looked upon as a joke." Then again, he also said, "I never say never."
Iommi was similarly ambiguous about the possibility of a reunion. He told Sunday Mercury, "Would I play with Ozzy again? Who knows? It's weird with me and Ozzy."