One less star will rise over Birmingham this summer.
Wolfgang Van Halen has officially withdrawn from Black Sabbath’s highly anticipated Back to the Beginning farewell show, set for July 5 at Villa Park. The concert, already shaping up to be one of the most epic send-offs in metal history, will now carry on without the Mammoth WVH frontman, who was originally scheduled to take part in an all-star tribute supergroup.
The original lineup for the tribute band was eyebrow-raising in the best possible way: Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jonathan Davis (Korn), and Van Halen. Yes, that’s as chaotic as it sounds—and possibly why the universe intervened.
Speaking with Detroit’s WRIF Radio, Wolfgang explained his departure:
“I, unfortunately, had to back out because the Creed tour starts the day after, and I [wouldn’t] be able to pull it off, unfortunately,” he said. “I’m very excited to watch it, but I unfortunately had to back out.”
Van Halen’s band, Mammoth WVH, is supporting Creed on their massive reunion run, leaving little breathing room to moonlight in a one-night-only metal Avengers fantasy league. Still, he expressed genuine enthusiasm for the Sabbath celebration, which will no doubt remain unforgettable with or without his presence.
Meanwhile, excitement around the farewell show is reaching fever pitch. Just yesterday, Ozzy Osbourne dropped a bomb of nostalgia on Instagram—a rehearsal shot featuring himself, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, stirring rumors and goosebumps across the metal world. Yes, it looks like the core of Black Sabbath is ready to make thunder one last time.
As if that weren’t enough, the show’s supporting lineup reads like the main stage of a very heavy dream: Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Gojira, Mastodon, Anthrax, and many more are set to join the celebration (and possible emotional breakdown) of Sabbath’s final bow.
While Wolfgang Van Halen won’t be taking the stage, the spirit of family lineage and heavy metal legacy will still hang thick in the air. July 5 is shaping up to be a bittersweet moment for metal history—a goodbye that’ll echo far beyond Birmingham.
