Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne has spoken publicly about bandmate Tony Iommi's cancer diagnosis - and states that guitarist is going to beat the disease.

Ozzy, talking on the Boneyard radio station, spoke of Iommi's iron determination and merely put the diagnosis down as "just one of those trials in life".

And he added that he's told Iommi that if he dies, he is going to "kill him". He said:

"He's gonna beat it. What it's down to is determination, and believe me, this guy's got more determination than anybody I've ever met. It's gonna be fine. It's just one of those trials in life that happen, you know. He's got so much support, not only from each one of us in the band, but the fan base; it's unbelievable. He ain't gonna die, I'm telling you. I told him if he dies, I'm gonna kill him."

Black Sabbath announced late last year that they were reuniting for a new album and a world tour - and later confirmed that they were still continuing to write music despite Iommi's diagnosis. However, drummer Bill Ward recently went public with his concerns over his contract in the reunion and appeared to back out of the project.