Formed in 1968 by Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath helped define the heavy metal genre. This summer, fans will see Ozzy reunite with his original bandmates for one final concert in Birmingham, England. Several other big-name heavy metal groups, including Metallica and Pantera, will also participate in a final send-off for the Prince of Darkness. And according to Ozzy’s guitarist, Zakk Wylde, all their setlists will consist strictly of Black Sabbath hits.
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Zakk Wylde: “If It Wasn’t For Black Sabbath, None of Us Would Exist”
On July 5, Zakk Wylde will join Black Sabbath and many of their successors at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, for “Back to the Beginning.” The one-night-only show, which sold out in less than 10 minutes, will mark the first time in 20 years that Black Sabbath’s original lineup has shared a stage.
The star-studded lineup is a metalhead’s dream, with Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, and Alice in Chains just some of the names set to make an appearance. In a recent interview with Riff X’s Metal XS, the Black Label Society frontman, 58, confirmed that none of those bands will play their own music.
“Considering all the bands that are on that thing and everybody’s gonna be playing Sabbath songs, it’s gonna be pretty mind-blowing. It’s gonna be pretty awesome, “Wylde said.
He continued, “I think for all the bands that are gonna be there, ’cause if it wasn’t for Sabbath, none of us would exist. You know what I mean? So I think it’s gonna be special for everybody.”
Zakk Wylde May Have an Ulterior Motive
Although Zakk Wylde is honored to take part in Black Sabbath’s final concert with their leader, the “Spoke in the Wheel” singer admits he has other reasons for participating.
“So hopefully we’ll just do this, and then Ozz will go, ‘Let’s just fire up the machine again and we’ll do another tour,’” Wylde said.
Given Ozzy’s health problems, this seems unlikely. The “Iron Man” singer, 76, recently revealed that he can no longer walk due to Parkinson’s disease. While he isn’t planning on performing a full set with his bandmates, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer fully intends to do “little bits and pieces” where he feels comfortable
In fact, as producer Andrew Watt recently told Howard Stern, the “Mama, I’m Coming Home” singer is already beginning to hit the gym in anticipation of his final show.
“He is the real-life Iron Man,” Watt said.
Featured image by Katja Ogrin/Redferns
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