Black Sabbath

**I Coulda Hada VH** · 02.13.25, 06:39 PM

**Simon Ribeiro** · 02.14.25, 03:27 AM

Originally Posted by I Coulda Hada VH

Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die.

**MF5150** · 02.16.25, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Number 47

Bill Ward will probably fuck it up somehow at the last minute. Really hope he follows through.

Bill Ward didn’t fuck anything up the last time, either.

They offered him a shit contract (ie. they were perfectly fine with his physical condition) and he told them to shove it. Hell, he was at the press conference announcing the tour back in 2011-12.

Bill Ward is one of the greatest drummers of all time next to Bonzo and Neil. And Sharon (and by association the rest of Sabbath) treated him like utter shit in 2013. They simply didn’t want to pay him the same amount as the other guys.

I’m prepared to eat my words if he comes up on that stage and fucks up. But I doubt that’s going to happen.

I’m also not sure I could be less interested in a Sabbath show with Ozzy sitting down for the entire thing. I’m gonna be watching for the rhythm section.

**bklynboy68** · 02.16.25, 01:54 PM

OZZY OSBOURNE Will Only Do 'Little Bits And Pieces' With BLACK SABBATH At Farewell Concert

February 16, 2025

Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed that he will just be doing "little bits and pieces" with BLACK SABBATH during his final gig.

Ozzy announced his last-ever performance on February 5, revealing that the original members of BLACK SABBATH are reuniting for the first time in 20 years for the show. Joining them at the concert called "Back To The Beginning", which will take place on July 5 at at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, will be a host of metal bands SABBATH inspired, including METALLICA, SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, PANTERA and ANTHRAX.

Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — said on his SiriusXM show "Ozzy Speaks": "I'm not planning on doing a set with BLACK SABBATH but I am doing little bits and pieces with them. I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable."

The 76-year-old heavy metal singer, who revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, added that he is doing what he can to get ready for the Villa Park concert.

"I am trying to get back on my feet," he said. "When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I'm not dead. I'm still actively doing things."

Earlier in the month, Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne told The Sun that her husband is struggling to walk amid his battle with Parkinsons disease, but that his singing voice is "as good as ever". She said: "[Ozzy's] very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.

"Parkinson's is a progressive disease. It's not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been."

Ozzy talked in more detail about his condition on his SiriusXM radio show. 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."

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The concert will mark the first time that Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have played together in 20 years.

Sharon told BBC News about Ozzy: "He's doing great. He's doing really great. He's so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It's exciting for everyone."

According to Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring "for now" in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery and rescheduled his "No More Tours 2" shows from going ahead several times because of illness, the pandemic and logistical issues, will not play any more shows after the Villa Park event.

"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," she explained. "This is his full stop."

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

"It's an endless amount of people," said Sharon. "They're going to be doing some SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and they'll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they're all icons."

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

"For Ozzy right now, it's definitely: 'I love you and good night'," Sharon told Reuters.

She added that Ozzy was doing well and excited about the gig. "It's stimulated him," she said. "He's very, very excited and very thankful that he can do it."

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Osbourne's previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February 2023.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

https://blabbermouth.net/news/ozzy-o...rewell-concert

**Little Intruder** · 02.16.25, 02:04 PM

MF, it really is a shame how they treated Bill but that shit went years back. He was the hardcore alcoholic of the band and they wanted to let him go many times. The finally had enough enough after recording Heaven & Hell and he was gone for years. Then they reunited in the 90s and all was well again, at least for a while. Granted, they all had problems with drugs and booze but Bill came the closest to dying from heart failure a few times. One of the reasons he quit drinking and became a vegetarian. This time it's Ozzy's turn. As I said before, Sabbath will play only one song with him and it will be Paranoid. All the other guests that night will do the rest.

**Little Intruder** · 02.19.25, 06:01 PM

Happy 77 to the Iron Man of Rock, Tony Iommi!

**Little Intruder** · 02.19.25, 06:20 PM

**Little Dreamer** · 02.19.25, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Little Intruder

MF, it really is a shame how they treated Bill but that shit went years back. He was the hardcore alcoholic of the band and they wanted to let him go many times. The finally had enough enough after recording Heaven & Hell and he was gone for years. Then they reunited in the 90s and all was well again, at least for a while. Granted, they all had problems with drugs and booze but Bill came the closest to dying from heart failure a few times. One of the reasons he quit drinking and became a vegetarian. This time it's Ozzy's turn. As I said before, Sabbath will play only one song with him and it will be Paranoid. All the other guests that night will do the rest.

That's because he was the drummer. A drummer can't fuck around. If a drummer can't keep time anymore, he has to go, because the whole band goes down if a drummer can't do his job. It's just like an engine in a car. The foundation of the band.

**Little Intruder** · 02.19.25, 10:44 PM

LD, totally agree. Drummers are the pulse of the band. They actually work out physically way more than other band members. So obviously it's a hard task. I've met some that were pretty good but for what ever reason, always fucked up. We had to let them go but it still sucked since they were also good friends. I can only imagine the shit with major bands.