It’s. Finally. Happening. Heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath have announced a one-off, final concert for later this year -- called Back to the Beginning -- bringing together the original members for the first time in 20 years along with some of the biggest and baddest bands of the genre.
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Announcing the news on Wednesday, February 5, across social media, Black Sabbath has revealed a one-off reunion concert in the band’s birthplace, Birmingham, England, will be taking place on July 5 featuring all four original members: Frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward.
Joining Sabbath on stage during their final show at Birmingham's Villa Park will be fellow masters of metal Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Lamb Of God, Gojira, HALESTORM, Mastodon, and Anthrax.
Tickets will be available starting February 14 via Live Nation. Scroll below for further information. Profits from the show will be donated to charitable organizations including Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorn Children's Hospice.
“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning….time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Ozzy, 76, said in a statement, which also revealed he will perform his own short solo set before taking the stage with Sabbath. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
Music Director Tom Morello [Rage Against The Machine] adds, “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.” The all-day event will also feature a supergroup of musicians so far including Morello, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, David Draiman of Disturbed, Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns ‘n Roses, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Judas Priest’s KK Downing, Mike Bordin of Faith No More, Sammy Hagar, Wolfgang Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, and many more.
More artists will be announced shortly.