OZZY OSBOURNE will call it a day in true rock-god style with a final blow-out hailed as “the greatest heavy metal show ever”.
But the Brummie’s long-awaited return to the stage with Black Sabbath at Villa Park on July 5 will be bittersweet, as he can no longer walk due to his Parkinson’s disease.
Sharon reveals how husband Ozzy is ‘very emotional’ about the show[/caption]
The Sun’s Howell Davies meets Tony Iommi and Sharon[/caption]
Wife and manager Sharon teamed up with Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at the football ground in Birmingham yesterday to announce the landmark gig called Back To The Beginning.
They will be joined by Metallica, Slayer, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Pantera, Anthrax and Alice in Chains.
In an exclusive interview with Bizarre’s Howell, Sharon said: “He’s very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.
“Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. It’s not something you can stabilise. It affects different parts of the body and it’s affected his legs.
“But his voice is as good as it’s ever been.”
Yesterday Ozzy, 76, who is due to move back to the UK next month, also talked on his Sirius XM radio show in the US about his condition.
He said: “I have made it to 2025. I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive.
“I may be moaning that I can’t walk but I look down the road and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it.”
Black Sabbath have sold more than 75million records since forming in 1968, while Ozzy has also released 13 solo albums.
That will make it hard to pick a setlist of their hits, with Paranoid, War Pigs and The Wizard being among the best known. But it won’t just be them playing their tunes.
Huge names including Slash and Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses and stars from bands such as Limp Bizkit, The Smashing Pumpkins and Korn will also be there on the day.
Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, who is the show’s music director, said: “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.”
Tickets go on sale at 10am on February 14 through LiveNation.co.uk.
Profits are being shared between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Acorn Children’s Hospice.
It will reunite the original Black Sabbath line-up — Ozzy, Tony, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for the first time in 20 years.
Ozzy’s return to the stage with Black Sabbath will be at Villa Park on July 5[/caption]
Tony, pictured with Sharon, admitted there would probably be tears on the night[/caption]
But Tony remained tight-lipped on whether there could be new music, too. He said: “I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about that. In fact, we haven’t seen each other.
“We certainly haven’t seen all of us together for a long time. I mean, I stay in touch with Oz and occasionally Geezer, but never Bill. So I don’t even know what Bill does these days.”
One person who certainly won’t be at the concert is Kanye West.
The rapper, who made headlines at Sunday’s Grammys when his wife Bianca Censori walked the red carpet in a see-through dress, sampled Sabbath’s song Iron Man on his album Vultures last year.
Sharon slammed him for using it after they forbid him when he asked permission.
Mammoth concert
On whether he would be welcome at the gig, Sharon said: “No, not at all. I wouldn’t have him anywhere near. And his wife’s a big old floppy arse, either. And her sagging t**s.”
Last year, Sharon also had a social media spat with Amanda Holden after she criticised the former X Factor judge for badmouthing Simon Cowell.
But asked if she would be welcome at the concert, Sharon added: “Yes, but the poor old thing wouldn’t understand the music, would she?
“No, actually she’s all right. Amanda’s fine. She was just sticking up for her mate and he can stick up for himself.”
On planning the mammoth concert, Sharon added: “It was difficult because summertime is the busiest time for bands.
Ozzy is due to move back to the UK next month[/caption]
Tickets go on sale at 10am on February 14[/caption]
“It’s one festival after another after another, and especially with the genre of Sabbath’s. Metal music now back in vogue.
“In my view, it’s always been in vogue, but now it’s stronger than ever, and these bands are booked out two, three years in advance.
“To try to find a date that fitted for everyone at the height of the summer was really tough.
“But we managed it in the end. It took a long time, probably a year and a half.” And on approaching the rock greats they will share a stage with, Sharon explained: “The response was overwhelming.
“I keep saying that the guys have been pioneers — they’ve been doing this for so long and have influenced so many bands. You can’t believe so many bands have come forward to do it.”
Tony admitted there would probably be tears on the night.
He said: “It’s going to be very emotional because it’s the end of the end.
It’s something that needs to be documented. You know, it’s musical history.
Sharon Osbourne
“We’ve all known each other for so long. And, yeah, it’s a great way to end it all, I think. It’s nice that it’s going to be here in Birmingham and in Aston, where we all lived, where we were all brought up.”
The last time Ozzy performed in Birmingham was at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, when he walked on stage.
The Prince of Darkness sat on a mechanical bat throne to accept his induction into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame in October, but didn’t sing.
Sharon added: “It’s unbelievable, really, to think it’s all happening here at Villa Park as well.
“They’re hometown boys that were self-made, self-taught. It’s not like Tony went to music school every week. And it’s just a great inspiration for the next generation to say, look at what they did.”
There are already plans to capture the show on film. They were followed by cameras at the announcement and a documentary is hoped for.
Sharon said: “It’s something that needs to be documented. You know, it’s musical history.”
Tony added: “It’s certainly a very special thing, isn’t it?”
In a summer of incredible live music, this will be right up there.
I Kan’t pay bill
KANYE WEST has revealed he had his credit cards frozen and that a mate had to buy him dinner when he lost billions of pounds in a single day.
The rapper and entrepreneur, who now goes by the name Ye, was slammed in October 2022 after a series of anti-Semitic comments, which led to Adidas ending its business deal with him.
Kanye West lost his billionaire status as he was abandoned by Adidas[/caption]
The move meant Kanye lost his billionaire status as he was deserted by the industry.
During an interview on The Download podcast, host Justin Laboy recalled going out for dinner with him at the time and told Kanye: “I remember when they froze your accounts.
“Man, I remember I had to put my little American Express down.
“That was the first time I saw a billionaire have no access to money.”
Kanye replied: “It was crazy. It was like some Black Mirror episode.
“They wanted to do everything to prove to me I didn’t have the right to say anything out loud that went against the people who own the media and the people who own the music industry, people Drake is going up against right now, ironically.”
Kanye, who releases an album called Bully in June, has previously blamed his behaviour on bipolar disorder, but now says he has autism after seeing a doctor who worked with Justin Bieber
He admitted his meltdowns have been tough for people around him, including fashion designer pal Don C.
Kanye said: “He’s been in situations where it was so hard on him because he loves me. It’s so difficult for them because this is a grown man and you can’t tell him. You can’t take control of my bank account and you can’t control what I’m saying on Twitter.
“The constant feeling of not being in control spun me out of control.”
Elton believes Angels album is new start
SIR ELTON JOHN has teamed up with Brandi Carlile for a new album called Who Believes in Angels?
They made the record, above, which is out on April 4, in just 20 days and got music whizz Andrew Watt to produce it.
Elton John is set to release a new album called Who Believes in Angels?[/caption]
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Pearl Jam’s Josh Klinghoffer and Pino Palladino from Nine Inch Nails also came on board to make up Elton’s backing band.
And once again, lyrical maestro Bernie Taupin, wrote the words.
Elton said: “This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life. It has given me a place where I know I can move forward.
“Who Believes In Angels? feels like going into another era and I’m pushing the door open to come into the future. I have everything I’ve done behind me and it’s been brilliant, amazing.
“But this is a new start for me. As far as I’m concerned, this is the start of my career, mark two.”
Bring on the live dates, we say.
