Black Sabbath bassist-lyricist Geezer Butler has a theory about why Grammy voters gave the metal originators their second Best Metal Performance award, this time for "God Is Dead?" from the band's 2013 reunion album, 13. "Probably the question mark," Butler told Rolling Stone. "It's a marvelous song. It should have won all of them, even the hip-hop thing."

Geezer was standing backstage at the awards show in Los Angeles last night with singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi. After several false starts over the years, 13 marked the first time the trio had completed a new studio album together since 1979's Never Say Die, and the band's future could easily include a return to the studio for another album.

"We're going back on the road," said Osbourne of potential recording projects. "We haven't really spoken about it beyond that. I'm down for it."

"Absolutely," said Iommi.

With the help of producer Rick Rubin, Sabbath were able to finally complete an album again because "we were running out of time," said Osbourne, 65. "We were getting on a bit. It's now or never." Added Iommi, "We were all into it. This time everything fell into place and it felt great."

The 13 sessions and subsequent touring last year went "much better" than expected, said Butler. "We didn't know what to expect," he explained. "It felt like the natural thing to do, rather than doing it for the sake of doing it. We just wanted to be together and play together again and write songs. We didn't want to go out on tour and do the same set as we've been doing for 30 years."

Mar 31 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
Apr 03 - Halifax, NS - Metro Centre
Apr 05 - Quebec City, QC - Colisee Pepsi
Apr 07 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
Apr 09 - London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
Apr 11 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
Apr 13 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre
Apr 16 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
Apr 18 - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre
Apr 20 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
Apr 22 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Apr 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
Jun 01 - Moscow, Russia - Olympisski Jun 03 - St Petersburg, Russia - Arena
Jun 08 - Berlin, Germany - Kindl-Buhne Wuhlheide
Jun 11 - Lodz, Poland - Atlas Arena
Jun 13 - Munich, Germany
Jun 15 - Nickelsdorf Austria - Pannonia Fields II (Nova Rock Festival)
Jun 18 - Bologna, Italy - Unipool Arena
Jun 24 - Stuggart, Germany - Hans-Martin-Schleyer Halle
Jun 27 - Essen, Germany - Stadion Essen

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has started the new year on a positive note by delivering a hopeful update on his ongoing chemotherapy.

Speaking via a statement released on his website, Iommi thanked family, friends and fans for all of the support he had received over the past year, also revealing that the treatment he had been undergoing for Hodgkins Lymphoma would soon be reaching completion.

"Best Wishes for the New Year, after a such a brilliant 2013, it's going to be difficult to match it this year but we'll be having a go.

We've some good things lined up for the coming year, firstly the Grammy's, then some dates in the US and Canada, and in the summer a quick trip round Europe. I should also be finishing my regular treatment and I'm hoping to not get so tired, all positive.

Many thanks to you all for your continued support, we'd be nothing without you - Tony Iommi"

News of Tony Iommi's cancer diagnosis was announced on 9th Jan 2012 via a post on the Black Sabbath Facebook page.

"With the news that Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time. Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan the "IRON MAN" of Rock & Roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery."

Since his diagnosis, Iommi has juggled a gruelling schedule of chemotherapy while going through an equally hectic time with Black Sabbath, who have spent the past two years writing, recording, promoting and touring for their most recent album '13'.

Black Sabbath's triumphant 2013 tour - which kicked off earlier last year in Australia - can now be seen by fans around the world via the new DVD: "Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered in Their Masses" (Vertigo/Republic).

Released on November 26, 2013 - "Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered in Their Masses" is available via a variety of formats. Options include:

* DVD standalone
* Blu-ray standalone
* Blu-ray/CD combo pack with a CD featuring live audio from the show, all packaged in a Blu-ray case
* DVD/CD combo pack with a CD featuring live audio from the show, all packaged in an Amaray box
* Deluxe box with a Blu-ray disc of live show with exclusive bonus visual extras/two DVD discs/a CD featuring live audio from the show/poster/signed set list/photo booklet/guitar picks/official show "ticket"

"Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered in Their Masses" was recorded April 29 and May 1, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia when the band - Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar) and Geezer Butler (bass) - kicked off their world tour in support of their "13" album, which entered the charts at No. 1 in 13 countries (including their first #1 in the U.S.).

"Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered in Their Masses" track listings:

DVD:

01. War Pigs
02. Into The Void
03. Loner
04. Snowblind
05. Black Sabbath
06. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
07. N.I.B.
08. Methademic
09. Fairies Wear Boots
10. Symptom Of The Universe
11. Iron Man
12. End Of The Beginning
13. Children Of The Grave
14. God Is Dead?
15. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Intro) / Paranoid

CD:

01. War Pigs
02. Loner
03. Black Sabbath
04. Methademic
05. N.I.B.
06. Iron Man
07. End Of The Beginning
08. Fairies Wear Boots
09. God Is Dead?
10. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Intro) / Paranoid

Order "Black Sabbath: Live... Gathered in Their Masses" from Amazon.com

Legendary heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH has released their new album "13". It's the group's first LP with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978. The drum tracks on the CD were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the reunion.

Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin.

Ward in May 2012 announced that he was declining to join his former bandmates for its scheduled 2012 dates, as well as recording of a new album, due to contractual dispute.

He also allegedly had his lawyers direct SABBATH to remove him from photos of the band posted at the official BLACK SABBATH web site "so as to not give the public the wrong impression about his involvement in the current BLACK SABBATH lineup," according to a statement issued by the band's publicist.

Butler issued a lengthy retort at his own web site, writing that Ward "hadn't told any one of us he was having contractual problems, and frankly those things are worked out between our representatives, and never between the four of us, let alone in public."

Until now, Iommi told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the members of SABBATH stayed friendly even when there were legal or other issues going on. "We've always been talking. We've always been in touch with each other," he said. "There might be a lawsuit in the thing between us, but we still talk to each other like nothing's happened, you know."

Asked if there is any chance of Ward rejoining the band, Iommi said last October, "We'll always have a heart for Bill, but I think it's gone past that now, because it's gone on so long that I don't see that happening at the moment. Maybe at some point we might [play together again]."

Tracklisting:

1. "End of the Beginning" 8:07
2. "God Is Dead?" 8:55
3. "Loner" 5:00
4. "Zeitgeist" 4:37
5. "Age of Reason" 7:00
6. "Live Forever" 4:46
7. "Damaged Soul" 7:51
8. "Dear Father" 7:20

Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
9. "Methademic" 5:57
10. "Peace of Mind" 3:40
11. "Pariah" 5:34

Best Buy Edition bonus track
12."Naivete In Black"

Order "13" from Amazon.com