Friday, January 20, 2012 5:39am ET by  
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Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler confirms band are writing despite cancer diagnosis

Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has claimed that guitarist Tony Iommi has already written two new songs for the genre-defining heavy metal band - despite his cancer diagnosis.

As previously reported, Iommi was diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma earlier this month, just weeks after the band had announced they were reuniting their original line-up for a new album and a world tour.

In a statement released yesterday (January 19) on his official website, Butler however told his fans that the quartet have been working together in Iommi's home studio - and that the diagnosis has given the band a "kick up the rump". He said:

"Today [Jan19th] we got the engines back up and running @ Tony's home studio. Far from being down and depressed about his lymphoma diagnosis, Tony had already written the music for two new songs, and I must say it has given us all a kick up the rump - it's great to hear him churning out those riffs again, assuaging the Demon C. Takes more than that to stop Tony. Can't wait for you all to hear our workings, it has been great working on this stuff."

"I want to thank the lovely encouraging emails sent to this site giving Tony love and encouragement and great vibes. It really does help, not only Tony, but us as a band - it raises up our spirits and restores our faith in this tarnished world. Sabb fans are good people, time and again you have proven your faith in us and boosted our endeavour."

 

 

 

Watch Black Sabbath performing 'N.I.B' below: