Legendary Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler is back in creative mode, and this time he is doing something very different. After more than 20 years without a solo album, Butler has confirmed that he is working on new music. Even more interesting is the fact that he is using artificial intelligence (AI) as part of his songwriting process.
Last summer, Butler reunited with the original Black Sabbath lineup for a very special show at Villa Park in Birmingham. The concert was held as part of Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell, marking an emotional moment for fans and the band alike. After that final Sabbath performance, Butler found himself inspired to look back at his own musical ideas and unfinished work.
During a Q&A session at Steel City Con in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Butler spoke openly about what he has been doing since that last show. He revealed that he has written a huge amount of material over the years. Some of it goes all the way back to the 1980s, and much of it was never fully developed into finished songs.
According to Butler, once Black Sabbath wrapped up their final performance, he began going through all those old ideas. Instead of leaving them untouched, he started updating and reworking them. Riffs, lyrics, and song structures that had been sitting around for decades are now being reshaped into something new.
One of the biggest challenges Butler faced in the past was writing vocal parts. When working alone at home, he did not always have a singer available to help bring his lyrics to life. This is where AI comes in.
Butler explained that he now uses an AI-generated singer to perform the vocal lines in his demo recordings. This allows him to clearly hear how the lyrics and melodies work together. It helps him understand whether a song feels complete or needs changes before moving forward.
However, Butler made one thing very clear: AI will not be on the final album. The artificial vocals are only being used as a creative tool. Once the songs are ready, he plans to take them to real singers and musicians who will perform and record the final versions.
In the past, Butler would often play a bass riff for a singer and ask them to come up with something on the spot. While that method worked, it did not always fully communicate what he had in mind. With AI demos, he can now say, “This is what I want the song to sound like,” giving collaborators a much clearer direction.
Butler also talked about how songwriting worked in Black Sabbath. Usually, the band would jam together, and Ozzy Osbourne would sing vocal melodies first. Butler would then write lyrics to fit those melodies. This organic, jam-based approach helped define the band’s classic sound.
While some people believe using AI in music is “cheating,” Butler disagrees. He sees it as a modern tool, similar to new recording technology. For him, AI does not replace creativity — it supports it.
Adding to the excitement for Black Sabbath fans, guitarist Tony Iommi has also announced that he is working on a solo album, which is expected to be released in 2026. With both Butler and Iommi creating new music, it’s clear that the spirit of Black Sabbath is still alive.
For fans of heavy metal and classic rock, Geezer Butler’s return to solo music is exciting news. By blending decades-old ideas with modern technology, he is proving that creativity has no age limit — and that even metal legends can find new ways to move forward. 🎸