Sharon Osbourne discussed BLACK SABBATH‘s upcoming reunion concert with Birmingham Live, which will be held on July 5 in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
This event will be a historic reunion for BLACK SABBATH’s original lineup—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—playing together for the first time in two decades.
The legendary heavy metal band will headline a special one-day festival at Villa Park, showcasing numerous bands they influenced, such as METALLICA, PANTERA, SLAYER, GOJIRA, and ANTHRAX.
The proceeds from the event will benefit Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a hospice for children supported by Aston Villa.
When asked what needed to happen for the SABBATH reunion to become a reality, Sharon told Birmingham Live: “I left that to Ozzy. He’s in constant contact with Tony and Geezer. And Bill too. They talk all the time.
“Ozzy said ‘I’m going to do my goodnight gig, my farewell, and would you come up and do SABBATH with me’,” she continued. “He couldn’t do it on his own. And they all said yes. When they heard it was for charity, it was easy.”
Speaking about the all-star lineup of bands set to perform at the concert, Sharon stated: “I think it’s the best metal gig ever. It’s easy when you have such good friends and friends that support you. We’ve known these guys for years and years and many of them were passed the torch by SABBATH. It goes down the line. When you need them, they come.”
“For Ozzy, it’s goodnight to his fans. The other guys in SABBATH will go on to their various projects but for Ozzy, it’s definitely farewell.
“Our friends want to come, and they know it’s for charity, so it’s brilliant. It’s a win-win for everybody… But especially the fans.”
Discussing Ozzy‘s health issues and their potential impact on his ability to perform in July, Sharon stated: “It’s going to take a lot of physical energy for Ozzy. It takes a lot for someone with Parkinson’s. But we feel so proud of all Ozzy has achieved, and all he’s overcome. I’m proud of him, and I’m happy for him.
“He’s overwhelmed. He’s very overwhelmed by the response of his friends. He said, ‘Wow, they’re doing this for me?’
“When you’ve got your peers, and your friends with you, there’s nothing bigger. Well, aside from fans, of course. They come first.”
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