Ozzy may rejoin Black Sabbath

Ozzy Osbourne may rejoin Black Sabbath to complete the group’s original line up.

The band’s drummer, Bill Ward, said he is positive about the relationship between Ozzy and the other members of the group, and still considers them all “bandmates”.

Bill said: “I was with Oz last week where he was picking up an award. That shows that we're still a band, we're still bandmates and still friends. I've tried to maintain friendships with all the guys.

“We're all still pretty open minded to each other. We're all doing our own projects, but we're not cut off from each other in any way.

“I'd always hoped that the band could remain together.”

Ozzy hasn’t played with the other members of Black Sabbath since a reunion tour in 2005. He was originally asked to leave the band in 1979 because of his drug use, and rejoined in the mid nineties.

The band’s relationship became fractured last year when the singer filed a lawsuit claiming the rights to the band’s name, which was disputed by guitarist Tony Iommi.

Tony, Bill and bassist Geezer Butler continue to tour under the name ‘Heaven and Hell’, with singer Ronnie James Dio.

Bill added: “Just a couple of weeks ago I was chatting to Geezer. I haven't spoken to Tony for a little while, but our conversations continue.”

Ozzy has previously said he doubts a full scale Black Sabbath reunion, but hasn’t ruled it out completely.

He said: “I'm not gonna say I've written reuniting out forever, but right now I don't think there is any chance. But who knows what the future holds for me? If it's my destiny, fine.”