On July 5 at Birmingham’s Villa Park stadium, home to Aston Villa F.C., one of the most spectacular, all-star line-ups in the history of heavy rock will assemble for a very special testimonial performance. Long established arena-slayer superstars Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Anthrax and Pantera will be joined by keepers of the flames Rival Sons, Halestorm, Tool, and Gojira, plus an extended bill also featuring members of Smashing Pumpkins, Faith No More, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Limp Bizkit and more.
Playing upfront, a double billing of Ozzy Osbourne and the original line-up of Black Sabbath – Ozzy, Tonny Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – will perform for what has been billed as the last ever performance by the godfathers of heavy metal and sons of Villa.
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Following the conclusion of Black Sabbath’s previous farewell tour, The End, in 2017, Ozzy’s last full concert performance was at OzzFest in Los Angeles in December 2018. The following February he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after a fall at his home, which exacerbated neck vertebrae injuries sustained in a 2003 quad bike accident and led to a succession of surgical procedures. In February 2023, after several cancellations of the European leg of his farewell No More Tours II go-round, he announced his retirement from touring and subsequently withdrew from the Power Trip festival in California, suggesting that even one-off shows were beyond him.
Yet next month, not only will he perform with Black Sabbath for their hometown farewell, he’s also billed as the main support act. Speaking in the latest issue of MOJO – on sale now – Ozzy tells Keith Cameron why this time, it really is the end for him and Black Sabbath.
When MOJO spoke to you in November 2016, you’d just played your last American show with Black Sabbath and were looking forward to ‘the end of The End’ in Birmingham early in 2017. But it turns out that The End wasn’t ‘the end’ after all… From your perspective, how and why has Back To The Beginning come about?
I never got the chance to say a proper thank you to my fans for the life they have given me and the dedication they’ve shown me throughout my career. As you know, my solo farewell tour was cut short by a year because of my fall. Sharon came up with the idea of playing the Villa to say goodbye and be joined by many of my friends that I’ve worked with over the years. So, I called Geezer, Tony and Bill to see if they wanted to come up to do some songs and thankfully, they did.
In 2016 you said to MOJO that you were sorry [drummer] Bill Ward wasn’t involved in The End. How important to you is it that Bill is involved this time around?
It’s very important that Bill is a part of this show. My career started with Bill, and I’d really like to finish with Bill by my side.
Can you describe the physical challenges facing you in order to do a show like this?
I’m not going to bore you with my physical challenges these days. Let’s just say, it’s a fucking lot!
Obviously, Aston is where you grew up and where the band was born. Can you tell us a story that will explain your connection to this area and what it means to you?
Aston made me who I am. Being born there taught me so many things about life. It gave me ambition. I grew up close to Villa Park and when the Villa were playing home matches, me and my mates would go down to the ground and offer to mind people’s cars while the match was on, for a shilling. Eventually, we thought to offer to wash the cars for more money. The first car I washed was with a Brillo pad, so you can imagine the outcome. That was a clue that it was my time to move on to other things.
Are you feeling nervous yet?
Even if it was a regular gig, I would be a nervous wreck. I was born nervous. Right now, I’m feeling grateful and proud and I’m sure I’ll be feeling dozens more emotions on the day of the show.
And… will this really be the end for Black Sabbath?
After this show, I’m going home, closing the door and will look back upon the great career I’ve had. But I’m done, done, done! You gotta know when to call it quits
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“We’ll probably keel over after two songs!”
Get the latest issue of MOJO to read the full interview with Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward about finally calling time on 57 years of sui generis heaviosity and tragi-comic conflict. “Someone will probably have our DNA and resurrect us in the distant future… Who knows?” More info and to order a copy HERE!
