As anticipation builds for “Back To The Beginning”, Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert set for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, Sharon Osbourne has revealed two legendary rock acts she wishes could be part of the historic night: JUDAS PRIEST and Angus Young of AC/DC.
In a recent interview with Music Business Worldwide, Sharon — Ozzy’s wife and longtime manager — opened up about the vision behind the event, which is not only Ozzy‘s farewell to fans as a solo artist but also marks the last-ever performance of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup. The concert, which doubles as a charity event, promises to be a powerful sendoff that celebrates decades of heavy metal history.
“Since Ozzy‘s illness, which has been six years, he’s said his one regret is that he never got the chance to say goodbye to his fans and everybody that he’s ever worked with,” Sharon explained. “So then I thought of having all the bands he’s ever had relationships with perform and maybe do SABBATH songs and Ozzy songs.”
She described the show as a “celebration of the music,” one that will include artists spanning multiple generations, all influenced by Ozzy and SABBATH‘s legacy. The location — Aston, the Birmingham neighborhood where Ozzy was born and raised — adds a deeply personal touch to the farewell.
Despite the impressive lineup coming together, Sharon admitted there were two names she had hoped to include but couldn’t due to scheduling conflicts.
“There are two bands that we would have loved to have been there, but they couldn’t because they’re working that day,” she said. “And that was JUDAS PRIEST, a local band, and Angus from AC/DC, because he’s always been a huge supporter of Ozzy‘s.”
Those logistics came into sharper focus when JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford, in an interview with Metal Hammer last month, revealed he is “absolutely gutted” to miss his friends’ big night. PRIEST are locked into a marquee appearance at the SCORPIONS’ 60th-anniversary show in Hannover—also on 5 July—leaving no practical way to hop more than 600 km back to Birmingham in time. Even Sharon’s offer of a private jet couldn’t erase “technical” risks or unpredictable summer weather, Halford explained. “I had no idea [the SABBATH show] was happening… I was absolutely gutted,” he said.
Despite the clash, Halford stressed that founding PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing will appear at Villa Park, “representing the spirit of the band.” From afar, Halford still cherishes what the concert means: “It’s a wonderful and epic moment for SABBATH and heavy metal—it re-emphasises that Birmingham is where metal came from.”
The concert will feature the original lineup—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—reuniting for a once-in-a-lifetime show. The performance will also include a star-studded lineup, with appearances from METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, GUNS N’ ROSES, TOOL, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MASTODON and more.
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