The original lineup of Black Sabbath — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward — will play its final concert in July.
Dubbed Back To The Beginning, the charity show will be held at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom on July 5th, with tickets on sale from 10 a.m. on February 14th. Show openers include Metallica, Slayer, Pantera and many more.
Rounding out the event will be an all-star group featuring Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins),Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine),Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jonathan Davis (Korn),Wolfgang Van Halen and many others. Morello will also serve as the musical director for the event.
Morello promises, “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.”
See the full list of performers in the poster below.
All proceeds from the show will go to Birmingham charities Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Osbourne comments, “It’s my time to go Back To The Beginning… time for me to give back to the place where I was born. How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
Metallica says, “We are beyond honored and humbled to be invited to perform at Black Sabbath‘s final show, back where it all began in Birmingham, England. On July 5th at Villa Park — home of Aston Villa — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward will reunite to play their first show together in 20 years. Tickets go on sale at 10 AM GMT on February 14th, via Ticketmaster UK and Live Nation UK.
As part of this huge celebration of nearly six decades of Black Sabbath, we’ll hit the stage just before a short solo set from Ozzy Osbourne, followed by the mighty Sabbath closing the show. Anthrax, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Halestrom, Lamb Of God, Mastadon, Pantera, and Slayer will also be a part of the massive night.
An incredible lineup of musicians from around the globe will also be on hand to pay tribute, including Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed),Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit),Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands, Red Dragon Cartel), Jonathan Davis (Korn),K.K. Downing (Judas Priest, KK’S Priest), Lzzy Hale (Halestrom),Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake), Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax),II (Sleep Token),Papa V Perpetua (Ghost),Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine),Wolfgang Van Halen, and Zakk Wylde.
All profits from the night will go to the following charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
Our admiration for Black Sabbath runs deep, and we cannot wait to be a part of this historic event! We’ll see you in Birmingham.”
A year ago, Sharon said that Ozzy was hoping to play a farewell concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park as a “goodbye” to fans.
Black Sabbath is considered a pioneer of heavy metal and was formed in 1968 in Aston, Birmingham.
The band has sold over 75 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006, awarded a Lifetime Ivor Novello Songwriting Award in 2015 and were presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
The band has a star on the Broad Street Walk Of Stars in Birmingham, alongside individual stars in their own right, together with a bench in their honor.
In February 2017, SABBATH finished The End tour in Birmingham, closing out the quartet’s groundbreaking 49-year career.
13 was the band’s first album in 35 years to feature Iommi, Osbourne and Butler all playing together.
14 Responses
The main focus here of course is all the member playing together for a show! Not Charity and not all these other bands.They should give some of this money to Bill Ward who missed out on their final tour and why was that? All these other bands have their own genius talent. It seems a bit overwhelming. Jake e Lee is just great! What is he doing here? In between sets we can listen to Billy Corbins ramblings. Haha
Great metal line- up – but I can’t imagine anyone will see ozzy as they remember him , parkinsons is an unforgiving disease for a young person let alone someone ozzys age, lower your expectations, same goes for bill ward Dana was right under-rated drummer ,he’s had health issues and
metal drumming in your 70s is tough as hell I hope these guys can rise to the occasion, also I hate saying it be prepared for lipsyncing from ozzy, for me seeing them on the end tour was the memory I want to keep ~
I hope that this gets professionally released in some form. Thank you, Dana, for your comment about Bill Ward. He’s right up there with Bonham, Paice, Peart, Mitchell and all the greats. The fact that Metallica is supporting, wow!
Mr. R N’ R, no thanks necessary,
We are simpatico on Ward, he’s a funky drummer, almost jazz like, in his playing…again, underrated. Also, I write that as someone, who’s favorite drummer is Cozy Powell.
Bro Doug! I agree with you about Morello…I can’t stand him.
This event has some musicians that worked with Ozzy over his career…..Too bad Bob Daisley and Tommy Aldridge aren’t participating….I hope at least they were invited….
Oh thanks, Rattle,
That reminds me of a Daisley story I wanted to post. Also. add me to the Morello list, NOT a fan