The original lineup of heavy metal kings Black Sabbath will reunite for the first time in 20 years for a concert billed as Ozzy Osbourne’s last-ever show.
The Back to the Beginning charity concert, taking place on Saturday, July 5, 2005 at Villa Park, Birmingham, band’s hometown will include other metal greats including Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, and a supergroup of Billy Corgan, Slash, Fred Durst, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Tom Morello, who serves as the event’s musical director.
The rest of the bill is no slouch either, as it includes Gojira, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Mastodon, Lamb of God, and Halestorm. Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan and Slash.
Ozzy Osbourne said, “It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning….time for me to give back to the place where I was born. How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
Speaking with BBC News, Sharon Osbourne said her husband is “doing really great. He’s so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends.” She continued, “Ozzy didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there’s no been no full stop. This is his full stop.”
All profits will go to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, according to a press release.
