.

O lo que es lo mismo: Ronnie James Dio [wiki], Tony Iommi [wiki], Geezer Butler [wiki] y Bill Ward [wiki]. Con ese nombre se presentarán los cuatro músicos en la gira que probablemente realizarán el año que viene:

It’s Official: DIO, IOMMI, BUTLER And WARD To Reunite As HEAVEN AND HELL

A representative for BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has confirmed that the highly anticipated and much-rumored reunion of Iommi, Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward appears to be shaping up and taking a new form. After various promoters have approached the former SABBATH bandmates’ respective representatives, the guys have started taking all of this very seriously, as they have aparently wanted to reunite for some time now. It looks as if the new shape may be that of HEAVEN AND HELL ? that is the moniker that the band is likely to use on their new venture. If all goes well, HEAVEN AND HELL should be hitting the road in early 2007.

La respuesta de los Osbournes no se ha hecho esperar, comunicada por un representante de Ozzy Osbourne [wiki]:

OZZY OSBOURNE: IOMMI And DIO’s New Project ‘Has Nothing To Do With BLACK SABBATH’

A representative for Ozzy Osbourne has issued the following statement regarding the reports that BLACK SABBATH members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward are planning on teaming up with ex-SABBATH singer Ronnie James Dio for a tour under the HEAVEN AND HELL moniker:

«Tony Iommi and Ronnie Dio are working on a project together which has nothing to do with BLACK SABBATH. There is only one BLACK SABBATH. Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill will be touring late next year along with a new BLACK SABBATH album. However, Ozzy wishes Tony and Ronnie much success in their project together.»

De todas formas, hay que recordar que Ozzy ha insistido mucho en el pasado sobre su negativa a hacer un nuevo album de Black Sabbath, con lo que la noticia del nuevo disco y gira para el próximo año (teniendo además otro disco en solitario con su gira correspondiente ya anunciados para el año que viene también) es facilmente atribuible a Sharon Osbourne, en un intento por defender el «territorio» de Ozzy como cantante del grupo británico.

Personalmente, no me molestaría tener la oportunidad de ver Neon Knights en directo. :)

Black Sabbath - Neon Knights []