BLACK SABBATH earlier issued the following official statement:

"With the news that Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, his bandmates would like everyone to send positive vibes to the guitarist at this time. Iommi is currently working with his doctors to establish the best treatment plan - the 'Iron Man' of rock & roll remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery."

This comes as Black Sabbath - Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums) - are writing and recording their first album in 33 years in Los Angeles (still set for release this fall) with producer Rick Rubin. They will now go to the UK to continue to work with Tony.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

If you would like to send a get well email to Tony, you can do so by emailing getwelltony@black-sabbath.com (courtesy of Fan Website Black Sabbath Online).

Note: Please don't anthingy other stuff than get well wishes. They'll be deleted. It's just for this subject.

According to Wikipedia, Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage of the disease.

Black Sabbath will headline a number of Europe's premier festivals in 2012.

After announcing their reunion on 11.11.11, these worldwide appearances are one of the most anticipated music events of 2012. Kicking off on Friday, May 18 in Moscow at Olimpski, the tour will bring Black Sabbath to the masses at: Download Festival (UK), Azkena Rock Festival (Spain), Hellfest (France), Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium) and Gods of Metal (Italy). However, that's only the beginning of the group's global tour which will take the band around the world including countries the band has never played before and others they have not visited in more than three decades.

The four original members of Black Sabbath - guitarist Tony Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward - are currently recording their first studio album in 33 years with legendary producer Rick Rubin (METALLICA, SLAYER) for release worldwide on Vertigo Records, and Vertigo/Universal Republic Records in the US in the fall 2012.

Revered music and spoken word artist, HENRY ROLLINS, has said that “Black Sabbath’s music is ultimate bone-powderizing gear. Any band worth their weight in napalm wishes they had written ‘War Pigs.’ The critics never got it, but the fans did and still do, and the music has not lost any thunder with time but in fact resonates more loudly…Hail the mighty Black Sabbath now and forever.”

Music fans across Europe are in for a night of epic proportions from the Grammy-winning, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees on this very historic return.

Black Sabbath’s confirmed European tour dates are below:

May

18 - Moscow, Russia - Olimpiski
20 - St. Petersburg, Russia - New Arena
23 - Helsinki, Finland - Hartwall Arena
25 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stadium
29 - Bergen, Norway - Bergen Calling Festival
31 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum

June

2 - Malmo, Sweden - Malmo Stadium
4 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfalenhalle
10 - Donnington, UK - Download Festival
12 - Rotterdam, Holland - Ahoy
15 - Bilbao, Spain - Azkena Rock Festival
17 - Nantes, France - Hellfest
19 - Paris, France - Bercy
22 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
24 - Milan, Italy - Gods of Metal