Black Sabbath still working.

BLACK SABBATH: Full Steam Ahead

Black Sabbath manager Sharon Osbourne tells us guitarist Tony Iommi's recent cancer diagnosis hasn't affected the writing and recording of the group's reunion album, which is "absolutely on schedule." Ozzy, Tony, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward are in England working on it. Sharon says Tony "has survived so much, he will survive this. It's another hurdle, that's all."

When the band gathered in Iommi's home studio last Thursday, Butler tells us, "Far from being down and depressed about his lymphoma diagnosis, Tony had already written the music for two new songs. I must say it has given us all a kick up the rump. It's great to hear him churning out those riffs again. Takes more than that to stop Tony." The first studio album by the original line-up in 33 years will be out in the fall.