“When they heard it was for charity, it was easy”: How Black Sabbath’s original lineup decided to reunite for one final show
Ozzy Osbourne‘s wife and manager Sharon says encouraging the original members of Black Sabbath to reunite for the “best metal gig ever” was “easy”.
In a recent interview with Birmingham Live [via Metal Hammer], Sharon says that Ozzy is in “constant contact” with bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi, and drummer Bill Ward. “They talk all the time,” she explains.
“Ozzy said, ‘I’m going to do my goodnight gig, my farewell, and would you come up and do Sabbath with me?’ He couldn’t do it on his own. They all said yes. When they heard it was for charity, it was easy.”
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The event, which will be held at Birmingham’s Villa Park on 5 July, is set to raise money for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospice, and Cure Parkinson’s charities.
Speaking to the full line-up, made up of the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Gojira, Mastodon, and Anthrax, Sharon continues, “It’s easy when you have such good friends, and friends that support you. We’ve known these guys for years and years, and many of them were passed the torch by Sabbath.”
The one-day Back to the Beginning event will mark the end of Ozzy’s performing career, as he continues to struggle with Parkinson’s disease. “It’s goodnight to his fans,” Sharon goes on, “The other guys in Sabbath will go on to their various projects, but for Ozzy it’s definitely farewell.”
She continues, “It’s going to take a lot of physical energy for Ozzy. It takes a lot, for someone with Parkinson’s. But we feel so proud of all Ozzy has achieved, and all he’s overcome. I’m proud of him and I’m happy for him.”
The concert is being promoted and produced by Download Festival’s Andy Copping and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. Sharon says Copping is “very much a part of our world in metal, and has been for years. We couldn’t have created this line-up without his help.”
Tickets for the Back to the Beginning event go on sale on 14 February at 10AM.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
