Metal Sludge Gossip Board

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c805m3l02v5o

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath are reuniting for one last time, to play a fund-raising concert in Birmingham on 5 July.

The heavy metal pioneers will headline a spectacular one-day festival at Villa Park, featuring dozens of bands they inspired, including Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Gojira and Anthrax.

The concert will mark the first time that Black Sabbath's original line-up - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward - have played together in 20 years.

Osbourne, who has largely been forced to stop touring due to a combination of Parkinson's and spinal injuries, will play a short solo set before joining his bandmates.

His comeback was announced at Villa Park by his wife, Sharon, and Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi.

Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who is serving as the event's musical director, said it would be "the greatest heavy metal show ever".

Proceeds from the show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

Other acts on the line-up include Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God and Mastodon.

In addition, the concert will feature a "supergroup", with stars like Billy Corgan, Slash, Fred Durst, Wolfgang Van Halen and Tom Morello. Although not confirmed, it is likely that some guest stars will fill in for Osbourne during Black Sabbath's set.

From the article, "Although not confirmed, it is likely that some guest stars will fill in for Osbourne during Black Sabbath's set."

If this was even 10 years ago I would've booked my flight minutes after the announcement. With the state Ozzy was in the last times we saw him...

Happy for Bill that he gets the sendoff he deserves though.

ha! Ozzy Synchborne?

Also, says Tom Morello will be the music director. Um...why? Fuck that. Adding one single outside element fucks it all up.

The most interesting part of that poster is.... Papa V Perpetua (Ghost).

This is clearly the name of the new "Papa" coming to coincide with the new Ghost album that's is expected to drop this year with their new tour.

This is the first bit of actual info regarding Ghost, other than the tour on sales which gave little detail, since the movie.

Sammy Hagar
KK Downing but not Judas Priest (not even Halford)
The Big 4 except Megadeth

Will he be sitting in a big throne like his last music video or held up on a big pole so he doesn’t fall over like that Olympics thing last year?

Fuckin go home and die, Osbourne.

It also says there will be a short Ozzy solo set before Sabbath takes the stage. The poster lists individual performer names so it looks like the Ozzy solo band might be: Jake E Lee, Rudy Sarzo and Mike Bordin.

With Ozzy's physical state these days I fully expect to hear some canned vocals. Him sitting on a throne wouldn't be too bad of an idea, I guess. But Oz was the type of guy that loved to run around the stage.

And Bill Ward? He's been in pretty poor health for years hasn't he? How long will Sabbath's set be? 60 minutes?

I'm also amazed that Dave Grohl didn't find some way to weasel himself into this thing. Whether it was as a performer or an emcee, he's famous for shit like that. But it looks like Morello scooped that up.

Lobo wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 6:26 am I'm also amazed that Dave Grohl didn't find some way to weasel himself into this thing. Whether it was as a performer or an emcee, he's famous for shit like that. But it looks like Morello scooped that up.

Grohl has been on the down low since he impregnated another woman. This show has no doubt been in the planning stages for months and months with this many acts involved. He only reappeared recently with the fire benefit and that was all last minute.

It's not too late for him to weasel his way in somehow.

Horrible lineup, it's weird to chuck a bunch of unrelated American thrash shit on the bill. Should've been focussed on UK bands and not so much thrash.

“ Coming to the stage weighing 417 pounds King Kong Wolfgang Bundy!!!”

Jesse Ventura should be the host

Will be cool, just turn it off before Ozzy takes stage.

Also, interesting Megadeth didn't get an invite.

Anthrax442 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:10 am Will be cool, just turn it off before Ozzy takes stage.

Also, interesting Megadeth didn't get an invite.

I didn't check the tour dates, 'deth stays pretty busy, maybe they are already scheduled for something?

It would be somewhat hilarious if Junior shows up instead

For anyone complaining about the lineup it looks like a 'friends and family' type gig, one big party for sure.

Ozzy REALLY wanted this, to set things straight and have a final gig with the real OG's

EzyRider wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:22 am

Anthrax442 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:10 am Will be cool, just turn it off before Ozzy takes stage.

Also, interesting Megadeth didn't get an invite.

I didn't check the tour dates, 'deth stays pretty busy, maybe they are already scheduled for something?

It would be somewhat hilarious if Junior shows up instead

For anyone complaining about the lineup it looks like a 'friends and family' type gig, one big party for sure.

Ozzy REALLY wanted this, to set things straight and have a final gig with the real OG's

I get it, but man, when Lemmy went out, he at least could still perform that last tour, even though he was frail. If this is anything like the RRHOF "performance", what the hell is he even going to do?

I'm putting my money on 5 songs.

Ozzy
Crazy Train
Mama, I'm Coming Home

Black Sabbath
Iron Man
Paranoid
War Pigs

I don't see him getting through more than that, unless they really do have people subbing in for him, and he's just sitting in a chair watching on.

Also, Megadeth only has two shows booked this summer, and they're in June.

This is cool. It’ll be the last time you ever see it.

Hometown heroes take a bow in their local stadium.

Not Parti-Gras enough for the majority in this thread eh?

I am most interested in Jake E Lee appearing.
With Oz? Solo?

El Vampiro Blanco wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 8:50 am I am most interested in Jake E Lee appearing.
With Oz? Solo?

One night only
RED DRAGON CARTEL
also: Metallica (time permitting)

I expect Ozzy will be taped to his chair and his voice will be taped, and I'm away when the tickets go on sale, with no chance of being able to log in, but my gig buddy is going to attempt to score some. It'll be a 1 in 100 chance at best though, and they'll sell out in minutes.

I first saw Ozzy in 1990 when he was a wreck and I just felt sorry for him. I saw the proper Sabbath twice (Sabbath forever, Scabbath never) but even if we do get lucky it'll probably be more like the 1st show. OTOH it'll be a little bit of history and the rest of the day would make up for it.

We’re going see Ozzman go full Valli. Going to be grim, dudes.

"Ozzy" (Sharon) REALLY wanted this, "to set things straight" (bilk the fans for one last windfall) and have a final gig with the real OG's

Chip Z'Hoy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:37 am We’re going see Ozzman go full Valli. Going to be grim, dudes.

This is sadly, probably a good analogy.

I think Ric Flair's Final Match is probably also a good comparison.

If it's really Ozzy wanting to do this one last thing, and there's money going to charity, then it's probably a good thing that everyone has rallied around the event, and hopefully it'll be a great send off.

But maaaaaan, it smells like elder abuse from Sharon. Especially seeing as how it was her in the promo picture with Tony, and they couldn't figure out a way to get Ozzy to even hold up a soccer jersey.

That's more likely Ozzy being in the US and the announcement being done in the Aston Villa stadium in Birmingham, England.

Where's Zakk? or did I miss it?

Ozzy this week.

Wild Obsession wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:50 am "Ozzy" (Sharon) REALLY wanted this, "to set things straight" (bilk the fans for one last windfall) and have a final gig with the real OG's

It thought I heard this in Geezers audio book, he said Ozzy was talking about it, I thought it would never happen.

Sharon obviously will maximize the profits to put it politely, but that's what she's always done, it's in her DNA

I thought about Ozzy's situation and he is literally married to his agent and manager, which is an interesting situation (hey, what's my cut? howz about EVERYTHING bwaahahahahahhhaaaaa!!!)

Would love to go to this. Current thought process is the lineup is stacked the way it is almost as insurance in case Ozzy has to bow out again like he did for Power Trip.

No Puppet show

Do love seeing Jake involved. Doing him right, opposed to how Ace and Peter got treated.