On July 5th, the OG BLACK SABATH (that’s Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward) will reunite for the first time in 20 years to headline Back To The Beginning at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. Yep, you read that right, the dads of heavy metal are back together again.
This all-star bash is all about celebrating the true creators of heavy metal, and Ozzy’s gonna play his own short set before joining the lads for his final bow. Talk about going out with a bang! By the way, did you know that BLACK SABATH’s early stuff was actually considered “acid rock”? Who knew those Birmingham lads were so groovy?
Drummer Charlie Benante (yes, that Charlie Benante from ANTHRAX and PANTERA) is doing double duty that day, and he recently chatted with BraveWords about what Music Director Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE) is calling “The greatest heavy metal show ever.” Here’s a sneak peek:
BraveWords: What’s the scoop on this once-in-a-lifetime show? What can we expect?
Charlie Benante: “That’s my question too. What am I going to get to see? I know what we (ANTHRAX and PANTERA) have planned. But for the most part, this is kind of like us giving thanks for the foundation that they laid down for all of us, and really, really be appreciative of what they accomplished and what they’ve done. Cause BLACK SABATH, growing up, BLACK SABATH had this mystique about them – you didn’t know if it was tongue in cheek. You didn’t know if they were serious about a lot of the stuff, back then. Remember, there was no such thing as heavy metal when they first started; it was called acid rock. And it evolved to be heavy metal. But those guys were very jazzy. Those first few records, there’s a lot of jazz stuff; especially the drumming of Bill Ward. At the end of the day, it was Iommi’s riffs that were blasting through the speakers, and they just compelled you. It’s something that they created that no one has since.”
BW: Can you spill the beans on how much stage time ANTHRAX and PANTERA will get on July 5th?
Benante: “I think we’re playing… I think ANTHRAX are playing three or four songs, and PANTERA are playing a few more. That’s what I hear right now.”
BW: Word is that each band will cover a BLACK SABATH song.
Benante: “Yeah. Well, PANTERA did it already. And ANTHRAX have done ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ back in ’86. PANTERA did ‘Planet Caravan’ on the Far Beyond Driven record. After that they did ‘Electric Funeral’ and ‘Hole In The Sky’. So, I think whoever’s going to be there, are pretty much there because they have to be there. There’s a reason. It’s like people crowding around to see The Pope.”
The stadium may be sold out, but you can still join the party from anywhere! Ozzy Osbourne & BLACK SABATH’s monumental farewell performance will be livestreamed, and you won’t want to miss it.
On July 5th, metal history will be made, and now, fans around the globe won’t miss a second. Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, will take to the stage for his final ever live performance, joined by the original BLACK SABATH lineup for the first and last time in two decades.
The lineup is a veritable who’s who of metal royalty: METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, SLAYER, PANTERA, and more. Back To The Beginning isn’t just a concert – it’s a global celebration of metal, culminating in a final, thunderous farewell to the genre’s godfather.
BLACK SABATH’s original lineup will reunite for the first time in 20 years to headline the sold-out event. They’ll be joined by metal’s most iconic and influential acts: METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, HALESTORM, ALICE IN CHAINS, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, MASTODON, and RIVAL SONS, all performing as part of this monumental moment, now confirmed for a global livestream.
Livestream tickets available now at BackToTheBeginning.com.
Sharon Osbourne said: “We had such an overwhelming demand from fans from around the globe, who couldn’t get tickets to the show, and they took to social media, pleading with us to broadcast a livestream of the show. Being this is such a historic event, we just couldn’t let them down.”
The all-day event at Villa Park, produced by Live Nation, will be hosted and compered by American actor Jason Momoa, and feature a supergroup of musicians. Further artists announced so far include: Andrew Watt, Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS), Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), Dave Ellefson, David Draiman (DISTURBED), Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT), Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM), Jake E Lee, KK Downing, Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE), Papa V Perpetua (GHOST), Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT), Sammy Hagar, Sleep Token ii (SLEEP TOKEN), Tom Morello, Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR), and Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE).
