The unique lineup of BLACK SABBATH — singer Ozzy Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Invoice Ward — has commenced rehearsing for its ultimate efficiency, “Again To The Starting: Ozzy’s Last Bow”, set to happen on July 5 at Birmingham, United Kingdom’s Villa Park.
Earlier in the present day (Tuesday, June 24),the official BLACK SABBATH social media shared a brand new photograph (see under) of Osbourne, Ward and Butler at what seems to be a rehearsal studio and included the next message: “Rehearsals are underway for Again To The Starting: Ozzy’s Last Bow”.
The sold-out “Again To The Starting: Ozzy’s Last Bow” occasion shall be out there as a world livestream at www.backtothebeginning.com.
Those that missed out on being there can nonetheless expertise this unforgettable second, with entry to the uncooked livestream from 3:00 p.m. on July 5, and the possibility to rewatch the live performance in its entirety for an additional 48 hours.
“Again To The Starting: Ozzy’s Last Bow” shall be captured, produced and distributed by Mercury Studios (“One To One: John & Yoko”, “American Symphony”, “Metallica Saved My Life”),who’re pioneering the way in which for premium, music-driven storytelling throughout movie, tv, podcasts and immersive codecs. Mercury has partnered with Kiswe — the worldwide D2C streaming associate behind the record-breaking BTS live performance livestream — to ship this unforgettable second of music historical past to followers throughout the globe.
Ozzy‘s spouse and supervisor Sharon Osbourne stated: “We had such an amazing demand from followers from across the globe, who could not get tickets to the present, and so they took to social media, pleading with us to broadcast a livestream of the present. Being that is such a historic occasion, we simply could not allow them to down.”
Kelly Sweeney, managing director of Mercury Studios, stated: “Mercury Studios are extremely proud to be concerned in capturing this monumental milestone at Villa Park. ‘Again To The Starting’ shall be an unforgettable expertise, and our intention is to ship this second to followers worldwide, wherever they’re, so they do not miss out on seeing music historical past being made.”
The all-day occasion at Villa Park, produced by Dwell Nation, shall be hosted and compered by American actor Jason Momoa, and have a supergroup of musicians.
This previous February, Sharon informed The Solar that her husband is struggling to stroll amid his battle with Parkinsons illness, however that his singing voice is “nearly as good as ever”. She stated: “[Ozzy‘s] very completely happy to be coming again and really emotional about this.
“Parkinson’s is a progressive illness. It is not one thing you possibly can stabilize. It impacts totally different components of the physique and it is affected his legs. However his voice is nearly as good because it’s ever been.”
Proceeds from the “Again To The Starting” present will help Remedy Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Youngsters’s Hospital and Acorn Youngsters’s Hospice, a Youngsters’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
In line with Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring “for now” in 2023 after in depth spinal surgical procedure and rescheduled his “No Extra Excursions 2” reveals from going forward a number of occasions due to sickness, the pandemic and logistical points, won’t play any extra reveals after the Villa Park occasion.
“Ozzy did not have an opportunity to say goodbye to his associates, to his followers, and he feels there is no been no full cease,” she defined. “That is his full cease.”
As well as, there shall be a efficiency by a “supergroup of musicians” together with Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS ‘N’ ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),Okay.Okay. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).
“It is an countless quantity of individuals,” stated Sharon. “They’ll be doing a little SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and so they’ll all combine collectively. Totally different little teams shall be approaching, however they’re all icons.”
The unique lineup of BLACK SABBATH final carried out in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has performed in partial reunions however by no means in its authentic lineup.
“For Ozzy proper now, it is positively: ‘I like you and good evening’,” Sharon informed Reuters.
She added that Ozzy was doing effectively and excited concerning the gig. “It is stimulated him,” she stated. “He is very, very excited and really grateful that he can do it.”
The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was recognized in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a really uncommon genetic type of Parkinson’s. Throughout a TV look in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was ‘stricken” with the illness which happens when the nerve cells of the physique degenerate and ranges of dopamine are lowered. Dopamine is an important chemical that’s produced by these nerve cells which ship alerts to totally different components of the mind to regulate actions of the physique.
Ozzy‘s well being points, together with struggling a nasty fall and dislodging steel rods positioned in his backbone following a quad-bike accident in 2003, in addition to catching COVID-19 three years in the past, pressured him to cancel a few of his beforehand introduced excursions.
Whereas Osbourne‘s well being points pressured him to scrap most of his reside appearances, the musician stated he would return if his situation improved.
Osbourne‘s beforehand introduced European tour with friends JUDAS PRIEST, initially set for 2019 after which rescheduled 3 times, was formally canceled in early February 2023.
Regardless of his well being issues, Osbourne has carried out a few occasions within the final three years, together with on the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham in August 2022 and on the NFL halftime present on the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Payments recreation in September 2022.
Rehearsals are underway for Again To The Starting: Ozzy’s Last Bow
Posted by Black Sabbath on Tuesday, June 24, 2025
