Music and metal legend Ozzy Osbourne never does things by half, and his farewell is no different. The voice of a generation of heavy metal music is hosting a charity concert in his hometown of Birmingham, and he won’t be alone up there. For the first time in 20 years, all original members of Black Sabbath will perform in Villa Park stadium this summer.
The concert’s musical director is none other than Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine fame, with musical supporting acts from some of the greatest musicians ever to have graced the stage. Classic favourites Metallica, Anthrax, Alice in Chains and Slayer will be performing, as well as newer bands like Gojira (who recently performed in the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony), Halestorm, Lamb of God and Mastodon.
There will also be special appearances from icons such as Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, Disturbed frontman David Draiman, Duff McKagan and guitarist Slash of Guns ‘N Roses, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Ghost’s Papa V Perpetua, Wolfgang Van Halen, Zak Wylde and concert director Tom Morello, with even more names to be announced soon.
Morello, who himself has a long history performing onstage in the rock world, promises: “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.” The event is to be held all day, and it has to be if they have this much talent wanting to perform.
The event is a charity concert, with profits being split between three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and local Birmingham charity Acorns Children’s Hospice. Black Sabbath has always had its roots firmly planted in its hometown, honouring the city in the name of the performance, Back to the Beginning.
With the band reunited for the first time in 20 years, it’s only fitting that their reunion be in the place where it all started. Frontman Osbourne released a statement, saying that: “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.”
Black Sabbath were formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Lommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Many fans will be shocked and elated by the news of the reunion show, not only because of the bands combined age of 303, but because of fractious relations between them, the last time the original lineup performed together was back in 2005 on the Ozzfest tour.
The singer had announced his retirement several times, the last one seeming to stick as the last time he was on a stage was before 2020. Health issues had compounded over the years, his 2020 diagnosis with Parkinson’s and 2022 back surgery left him thinking his “touring days” would be over.
The band he helped found had officially ended their career with a final tour called The End, which had ended, poetically, in the stadium they are about to play. Tickets for the event go on sale at 10am on Friday, February 14 at LiveNation.co.uk.
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