Asher Gibbons
The Southern Editor
On Feb. 5, it was announced that award winning metal artist Ozzy Osbourne will make a final return to a live stage featuring a Black Sabbath reunion. Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward will be together on stage for the first time in 20 years.
Black Sabbath will be the headline of the event but the concert will also include other influential metal icons such as Metallica, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Anthrax and many, many others.
In Osbourne’s backyard, the back to the beginning concert will be performed at Villa Park in Birmingham, U.K. on July 5.
The artists are aiming to “make the greatest heavy metal show ever” according to music director Tom Morello. “It’s my time to go back to the beginning time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Osbourne said on his website, Ozzy.com. All of the profits of the show will be donated equally to three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice. The 76-year-old is known to have Parkinson’s since 2020 and has also battled spinal issues since the early 2000s. Being raised in Birmingham, Osbourne also has an affinity for the city and wants to give back. Both of the children’s hospitals that are being donated to are based in Birmingham.
“He owes so much to Birmingham, it’s his blood, that’s who he is,” Sharon Osbourne said in an interview with BBC. “He’s dying to come home.”
In January, Black Sabbath’s founding members were all awarded the Freedom of the City award by Birmingham, which is given to prestigious individuals in recognition of their service to the city. It is one of the oldest traditional ceremonies in the country.
“I’m honored and, at the same time, shocked that I would have ever been considered for this very special commendation. I’m a proud Brummie from Aston through and through. I started with nothing but a dream, which I shared with Tony, Geezer and Bill. We never gave up on that dream. My only regret is that my mom and dad are not here to see what I became. Birmingham forever!” Osbourne said, according to Forbes.
In terms of legacy, Osbourne has won countless awards such as multiple lifetime achievement awards, best live performance awards and won Album of the Year for the 9th Annual Classical Rock Awards. He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as the U.K. Music Hall of Fame.
The Prince of Darkness is conscious that Black Sabbath has influenced other bands and people greatly in the music they create.
“Bands on the Ozzfest would say, ‘Man, Sabbath influenced me,’” Osbourne said in an interview with Rolling Stone. “The influence that [Ozzy] has on metal is pretty big. I know when I was talking to people about metal one of my first bands introduced me to was Black Sabbath,” sophomore and avid metal listener Rebecca Scali said.
