Ozzy Osbourne has never hidden his admiration for THE BEATLES, and now he’s revealed a dream collaboration he’s still hoping to make happen: a duet with Paul McCartney.
On a recent episode of his SiriusXM radio show Ozzy Speaks, which he co-hosts with guitarist and longtime friend Billy Morrison, the legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman shared his desire to work with the former Beatle.
When Morrison asked, “Is there people that you’d like to do a duet with?”, Ozzy didn’t hesitate. “Paul McCartney,” he replied instantly. Morrison chimed in, “I think it’s good that we have this show so we can both say, ‘Paul, if you’re listening, it’s about time,’” to which Ozzy sheepishly added, “No, I would be honored but I couldn’t…”
Morrison encouraged him not to second-guess himself, telling Ozzy, “Why not? … Put it out into the universe. You never know.”
Ozzy, reflecting on his previous duet work, cited “Close My Eyes Forever” — his 1988 collaboration with Lita Ford — as the best duet he’s ever done. He also shared a personal memory of meeting McCartney back in 2001. “He’s a really nice man,” Ozzy recalled. “I was like, ‘Grrr,’” clearly still starstruck by the encounter.
The iconic BLACK SABBATH will play their farewell show, “Back To The Beginning,” on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham. This will be a historic night, as it marks the first time in 20 years that Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward will perform together.
And this won’t be just any farewell show. In an interview with Planet Rock, Download Festival booker Andy Copping revealed that “Back to the Beginning” will feature a massive all-day lineup and surprise appearances. “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… we don’t want to miss out on opportunities of people we think will give us a second enhancement of how great the bill is.”
Already confirmed to perform are heavyweights like METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, SLAYER, PANTERA, TOOL, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, ANTHRAX, SAMMY HAGAR, LAMB OF GOD, and Papa V Perpetua — making this a colossal celebration of metal history. With rumors swirling about “two or three” surprise acts still under wraps, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch.
To keep the day moving at full throttle, organizers are employing a revolving stage that will allow only 10–12 minutes between bands. “It’s going to be act after act after act,” Copping said. “It’s almost like blink and you’ll miss it.”
The event, hosted by actor and lifelong metalhead Jason Momoa, will also feature a special supergroup segment, further paying tribute to BLACK SABBATH’s monumental legacy.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.