Black Sabbath Bassist Geezer Butler Mourns Amy Winehouse

Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler went out of his way yesterday to comment on two newsmakers. Butler sent thoughts and well-wishes to the families of Amy Winehouse, as well as the families affected by last week's dual tragedies in Norway.

The 62-year-old Butler calls R&B singer Winehouse, who passed away at age 27 over the weekend, one of his all time favorites. "To me," he says on his website, "she was and is up there with Billie, Bessie, Sarah, Dinah, Ella, and I was so looking forward to her new stuff, but will always love the old stuff. A tremendous talent taken from us. Her voice will live on longer than all the crap written about her." Both Butler and Winehouse are native Englanders.

Of the bombings and shootings in Norway, Butler says "My thoughts go out to the people of Norway, after such a terrible tragedy there. So shocking in such a peaceful, beautiful country." The bassist is known as somewhat of a pacifist. In fact Ozzy Osbourne claimed Butler never "uses foul language" in his autobiography.

Butler tells For Bass Players magazine that he's working on new music for GZR, his on-again/off-again rock project, and compiling memories for a book that could be out as early as 2012, although he didn't sound optimistic.

Watch Geezer Butler Explain the Inspiration to the Song 'Black Sabbath'