The countdown is on for BLACK SABBATH’s last-ever live performance, and fans can expect more than just a historic farewell — they’re in for some major surprises.
Speaking exclusively to Planet Rock backstage at this year’s Download Festival, promoter Andy Copping revealed that the “Back to the Beginning” mega-concert — set for Saturday, July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham — will feature “two or three” surprise acts that haven’t yet been announced.
“There’s a couple of acts that have confirmed but not been announced yet,” Copping said. “They’re going to be part of the proceedings. There’s still one or two that have kind of popped their head up literally in the last week saying they would like to be part of the event.”
With a massive all-day lineup that already includes METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, SLAYER, PANTERA, TOOL, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, ANTHRAX, SAMMY HAGAR, LAMB OF GOD, and Papa V Perpetua, plus final performances from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, the addition of more unannounced talent promises to elevate the show to legendary status.
“We’re talking about how we can fit those [acts] into the schedule,” Copping added. “We’re completely full, we’ve only got a set amount of time, but we also don’t want to miss out on opportunities of people we think will give us a second enhancement of how great the bill is.”
To keep the energy flowing all day, the event will also utilize a revolving stage, allowing for seamless transitions between acts.
“The event itself is going to be very fluid,” Copping explained. “When somebody is playing, we’re gonna be building up the backline and everything for the act after that. It is going to make things run really, really smoothly.”
Rather than waiting through long set changes, fans can expect only 10 to 12 minutes between performances. “It’s going to be act after act after act,” Copping said. “It’s almost like blink and you’ll miss it.”
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