In a new interview with BBC Midlands Today, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi opened up about what fans can expect at the band’s monumental “Back To The Beginning” farewell concert, set to take place this Saturday, July 5, at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK.
The historic show will mark the first time in two decades that all four original members — Iommi, vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward — perform together on stage. More than just a reunion, it’s a homecoming for the heavy metal legends, who will say goodbye to fans in their hometown in front of a sold-out crowd of over 40,000.
Joining SABBATH for this once-in-a-lifetime event are metal heavyweights METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, LAMB OF GOD, and ANTHRAX. Proceeds from the concert will go to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice — charities close to the band’s heart.
In the interview, Iommi confirmed that Ozzy Osbourne, who has been battling Parkinson’s disease in recent years, will take the stage for a limited but powerful appearance.
“He might not be able to do the whole show, but he’s gonna do four songs,” Iommi revealed. “He’s singing fine. It’s just a shame to see the way it is. But that’s life, I suppose. You’ve just gotta get on with it.”
While the band has played in front of hundreds of thousands before, Iommi admitted that this show carries a different weight.
“This is totally different from anything else we’ve done,” he said. “You know, we’ve played to 300,000 people, but this is nerve-racking. We’re playing in our hometown, we’ve got all these bands on with us, and we haven’t played together for 20 years.”
The “Back To The Beginning” concert not only closes the book on BLACK SABBATH’s legendary career but will also serve as Ozzy Osbourne’s final live performance — a deeply emotional moment for both the band and their fans.
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