In preparation for the July show, Ozzy Osbourne will play alongside Black Sabbath for the final time.
Ozzy Osbourne has vowed to “do the best I can” as he prepares to play his final ever live show with Black Sabbath. The frontman and singer, 76, has been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s and has had other health issues for a number of years now which have prevented him going back out on tour. Instead Ozzy and Black Sabbath will headline their final gig on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, as part of an event titled “Back To The Beginning”.
For the first time in 20 years, this show will bring together the original band members, including Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Tony Ward. Ozzy said, “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can,” when he discussed the possibility of getting back on stage. So I’ll just have to “turn up” now.
He added that “we’re only playing a few songs each,” and that fans can expect more. Because it’s going to be… what’s the word, I don’t want people to think “we’re getting ripped off.” You’ll receive a few Ozzy and Sabbath songs each as a sample.
Additionally, bands from various heavy metal genres, such as Metallica, Slayer, and Pantera, will play at the concert.
However, Ozzy won’t be able to play a full set due to his poor health. He also has Parkinson’s, and he fell at home in 2019 to worsen injuries from a near-fatal quad bike accident in 2003, preventing him from advancing on his No More Tours 2 shows in Europe and the UK.
Due to illness, the Covid pandemic, and logistical issues, the tour had previously been rescheduled several times.
Ozzy told the Guardian, “You wake up the next morning and discover that something else has gone wrong. You start to believe that this will never come to an end.
He continued, adding that his wife Sharon had the idea behind the reunion concert as “something to give me a reason to get up in the morning.”
Without Ward on the drums, the band played its “last” gig in Birmingham in 2017 with Osborne, guitarist Iommi, and bassist Butler.
However, Ozzy missed the Rock ‘N’Roll Hall of Fame inauguration in America last year because of his poor health.
Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward were escaping a factory-based life in Birmingham where Black Sabbath’s story began.
Their 1970 debut album, which went on to become the UK’s top 10, opened the door to a long line of chart-topping hits.
With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide, they eventually became one of the most well-known and influential metal bands ever.
Osbourne was added for a second time last year after being inducted into the Rock &, Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
He previously celebrated his home city in 2022 when he helped close the Commonwealth Games.
Through their reality TV series The Osbournes, he gained even more fame alongside his wife Sharon, who he wed in 1982 and who has three children, Aimee, Jack, and Kelly.
All profits from the July 5 show will go to charities including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, which is supported by Aston Villa.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply