From Left: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and
Geezer Butler.

It’s almost spring so you know what that means – summer tour announcements, of course. Black Sabbath have officially thrown their hats into the ring as they have confirmed the Sabbath Summer Sabbath tour for North America in support of their upcoming album.

The legendary metal band will be releasing, 13, their first album since reuniting with Ozzy Osbourne in June and we now know they intend to tour behind the upcoming record despite the fact that guitarist Tony Iommi is currently battling cancer.

Geezer Butler wasr recently interviewed by Metal Talk’s Eddie Trunk at the NAMM show last month and confirmed the album was currently being mixed and laid out the band's touring plans for this year to support the effort.

"We start at the end of April in New Zealand, then we go to Australia, then Japan. June, we'll be promoting the album, then July and August, USA. Then October is South America and Europe in November and December."

And as many Sabbath fans are probably wondering, he was also asked who would be replacing original drummer Bill Ward for the tour, whether it would be Brad Wilk – who recently recorded with the band – or Ozzy’s solo band drummer, Tommy Clufetos (who has also been playing live with the band recently). Butler said that the details have not yet been worked out.

You can check out the entire interview for yourself below.