Originally, Tony Iommi’s battle with lymphoma forced Black Sabbath to limit their reunion plans for 2012 to performances at this year’s Download Fest and Lollapalooza. Earlier this morning, though, the band announced plans to perform a warm up show prior to Download Festival in their hometown.

Black Sabbath will indeed perform at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on May 19. This “intimate” homecoming show will mark Black Sabbath’s first performance in roughly six years. However, it still remains unknown as to who will be performing behind the kit with Sabbath this Summer. While former Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice has denied that he’s been approached, it also doesn’t appear that the band has struck a new deal with Bill Ward yet. It also remains unclear as to whether more “intimate” shows will be added along the way, though we wouldn’t get our hopes up.

In case you just so happen to be in the UK next month, tickets for Black Sabbath’s warm up show go on sale this Friday (May 4). A donation to Help for Heroes will also be made from the proceeds of the show.