BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi says the legendary band were asked to play this year’s Power Trip festival
In a recent guest spot on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” the iconic Tony Iommi spilled the beans that BLACK SABBATH had the chance to rock the stage at the Power Trip festival this autumn. Picture this: a three-day extravaganza jam-packed with hard rock legends like GUNS N’ ROSES, IRON MAIDEN, AC/DC, OZZY OSBOURNE, METALLICA, and TOOL. It’s going down from October 6-8 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, where Coachella usually struts its stuff. But alas, BLACK SABBATH had to pass on this gig.
When asked if it’s true that there was talk of SABBATH doing the show, Iommi said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Yes, there was. But I didn’t, at that point… It’s hard, because Ozzy‘s [Osbourne, SABBATH singer] been going through a lot of stuff lately. He’s in hospital and out of hospital, and he’s really been fighting it; he really wants to get out there. ]
“But in my mind, it’s very difficult to sort of say yes. I’ve gotta think of the people in the band as well. I’ve gotta think of Ozzy, if he’s gonna be all right to do a show and whatever. So I wasn’t that comfortable with it. But I didn’t know Ozzy [chuckles] would be doing it on his own. But it’s great. I hope he can do it and that it’ll be really good. He really wants to do it. And he’s really trying to pull to get himself back. He’s had to go through such a lot of hard stuff lately. It’s such a shame, really. But he’s still fighting there.”
When asked further if the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH were asked to play Power Trip, Tony said: “Yeah. Sort of, yeah. I mean, we hadn’t approached the others as far as doing it. They might have said no. But it didn’t get much further than me, really. But, yeah, that’s the way it is.
“If you’re gonna go out, I want to do a good show,” he explained. “I want to go out on the top and do it. I don’t wanna just go and slap something together. And I’m not saying it would have been, but it could have been difficult.”
Iommi also added that he isn’t totally against staging a one-off reunion of BLACK SABBATH‘s original lineup under the right circumstances.
“I’ve certainly done the Commonwealth Games [in Birmingham last August] with Ozzy, and that sort of happened. But to do a full show, you’ve gotta make sure everybody’s in good shape because people are gonna remember you by that show. And I don’t want our reputation to go downhill all of a sudden. If something goes wrong or somebody can’t make it and we have to cancel… ‘Cause I don’t know everybody’s health; I don’t know how Bill‘s [Ward, original SABBATH drummer] feeling these days. You just don’t know. So I’d like to be sure. If you’re gonna do anything, it’s gotta be good or [you should] not bother.”
