Ozzy Osbourne and original Black Sabbath lineup announce final gig
Ozzy Osbourne is reuniting with the original Black Sabbath lineup for a one-off stadium show this summer.
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath are performing for the final time this summer.
The 'Paranoid' heavy metal legends have planed a hometown charity gig called 'Back To The Beginning' at Villa Park, Birmingham on Saturday, July 5.
It will see the original lineup - formed of the 75-year-old bassist Geezer Butler, the 76-year-old guitarist Tony Iommi and the 76-year-old drummer Bill Ward - reunite for the first time in two decades.
The 76-year-old Prince of Darkness will do a short solo set before he joins the rest of his bandmates in his "final bow".
He said in a statement: “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.”
Ozzy has stepped away from touring in recent years as he battles spinal injuries and Parkinson's disease.
His 72-year-old wife Sharon Osbourne confirmed this will be his final performance.
She told BBC News: "Ozzy didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there's no been no full stop.
"This is his full stop."
The group formed in the UK city in 1968 and went onto become pioneers of the metal genre.
The one-day event will also include sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax and Mastodon.
Organisers for the all-dayers have put together a supergroup of musicians.
Names announced include Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan and Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) and Jake E Lee.
Rounding off the first batch of names are Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde.
Regarding the supergroup, Sharon Osbourne added: "They're going to be doing some Sabbath songs, some Ozzy songs, and they'll all mix together.
"Different little groups will be coming on, but they're all icons."
Profits from the stadium show will be split between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
Tickets go on sale at 10am GMT on Friday, February 14, 2025.
To buy tickets, click here.
