It's kind of funny to think that at one point, Black Sabbath was this small-time band just playing bars and having no idea that it was going to be a cultural phenomenon.
Come 2017, the Black Sabbath train will be coming to a halt, but not before a few final shows in Birmingham. In an interview with Austin360, bassist Geezer Butler says he pretty much had no idea the band would last past a few years, but still feels like Black Sabbath has still got it.
"When we started out, we didn't expect to last more than a few years, never mind almost 50 years. I never thought it would turn into a lifelong career. It has been especially pleasing to know that we have influenced so many bands, and that we are still relevant after all this time.
"I feel that we are still musically at the top of our game, and we are aware that these last shows are the way people will remember us, so each show is very important to us. We put everything into our performances, and that is very important to us, to be the best we can be for our fans."
Butler adds that he feels like his life will be "very empty" without Black Sabbath, but does it really have to end? Obviously Black Sabbath is retiring from touring for good after this, and that's that. But can't there still be an album or two afterward? Guitarist Tony Iommi seems to want to do one, and even if Butler doesn't, I'm sure he can find more work post-Sabbath.
That, or just enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
