HALL OF FAME FOCUS: BLACK SABBATH
A Q&A With Ozzy Osbourne & Tony Iommi
By Christa Titus
After appearing on the ballot eight times, Black Sabbath is finally entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Although the band has had extensive lineup changes in its nearly 40 years of existence, it is original members Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward who will be enshrined. In February, Billboard spoke with Iommi in England and Osbourne in California about their reaction to the induction.
What did you think when you heard the band would be inducted?
Tony Iommi: I couldn't believe it [laughs]. I mean, we've only [been up for it] eight times, and finally, we're in. I'm really thrilled with it, to be honest. I mean, you can't say you're not thrilled for any award, especially something like that.
Ozzy Osbourne: We'd been put up for it every year, I think, forever; for a long time, we were up for it, but Black Sabbath never got through. I don't know why, because, I mean, so many kids in these new bands... at the Ozzfest, when I'm walking down the street or whatever, they say, "I owe my life to you and Sabbath."
I didn't get kind of upset, because you're either in or you're not, you know, and it's a nice feeling to be accepted.
Ozzy, after the hall did not accept Black Sabbath in 1999, you called for the organization to take you guys off the ballad.
Osbourne: You build yourself up, then you get knocked down, then you build yourself up, then you get knocked down, and I'm thinking in one of my interviews I said something about the fact that, why should the Hall of Fame be judged by people in the industry? But I was just saying that because I was pissed off because I kept getting [kept out. I said that] the fans should vote, the people or whatever. I can't really remember.
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