This Saturday (4) Black Sabbath will play their last-ever live show before retiring. However, this past Saturday, the Sabbath camp suffered another less, as longtime keyboardist Geoff Nicholls passed away following an ongoing battle with lung cancer. While he joined Black Sabbath for 1980’s Heaven and Hell, it was as the second guitarist, but he wound up playing bass when Geezer Butler left the band. He switch to keyboards upon his return and remained in the band until 2004. With the exception of 1986’s Seventh Star, Nichols never appeared onstage, playing side stage or behind the stage. Nicholls also played keyboards with former Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin in his band. The members of Sabbath took time out via social media to pay their condolences.
Geoff Nicholls was a great friend of mine for a long time. He will be greatly missed. I’m very saddened at the news.
— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) January 28, 2017
