Latest news with #metalconcert
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Organising Black Sabbath farewell was an honour', says Tom Morello
The musical director of Black Sabbath's final performance, Tom Morello, has described putting the mammoth metal event together as an "honour". Morello, who is also the guitarist for Rage Against The Machine, said when planning the concert at Villa Park in Birmingham - it was the only venue considered. "It was very personally important to all the guys in the band," he told BBC Radio WM, "It was never going to be anywhere else."The show attracted 40,000 fans to the city on Saturday 5 July - joined by a star-studded line up of metal greats, including Metallica and Slayer. Morello said he was approached by Ozzy and wife Sharon about putting the event together "a couple of years ago"."I basically sat down with those guys, and made a list of sort. My first call was to Lars Ulrich of Metallica," Morello said."I thought, if I can lock in Metallica, and then I'm going to be able to say it's Ozzy's last show - it's Black Sabbath's last show and Metallica are playing. "From that point forward people are going to pick up the phone."During the event, Osbourne, 76, who has Parkinson's disease, sang while seated on a black throne - a piece of stage furniture that has since become coveted. He said before the event: "All of us took pictures sitting in it - I've got a great picture of me sitting in that throne. "I'm not sure what happened to it, but hopefully there'll be some Birmingham museum of Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, where it should be in the front and the first thing you see when you walk in." 'The world was paying attention' The show's bill also included fellow rock legends Guns N' Roses, the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood and Aerosmith's Steven said after the bill was announced, he was called by Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl said: "The phone rang because a couple of the guys from Guns N' Roses were playing. But then Axl Rose was like: 'Well, I want to play - why don't we just be Guns N' Roses?' "So I got a number of calls afterwards from a huge bands, saying 'can we please be on?'"Speaking about the positive reception the event had, Morello said: "I think that they were very, very aware that the world was paying attention to this moment."Not just the heavy metal world, but like the world was paying attention."He added: "Heavy metal is the music that made me love music. Black Sabbath is the band that invented heavy metal music, and it is a band that is so meaningful to so many of us, and the DNA of Black Sabbath is everywhere."Those are things that originated in your city. Those are things that originated with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne.""That band, and that music has meant so much to me, and it was a real honour to be any part of it." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Meet the charities receiving Birmingham Black Sabbath gig's proceeds
Thousands descended on Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday for Ozzy Osbourne's last-ever by Black Sabbath, Back To The Beginning featured a star-studded line-up of metal giants, including Metallica and 76, grew up within a few streets of his bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, a stone's throw from the Aston profits will be split equally between three local charities - but who are they, and what will the money be used for? One of the beneficiaries will be Birmingham Children's Hospital's charity - a cause that Sharon and Ozzy have supported in the past."We found out when everyone else found out, when the gig was announced... it was absolutely a lovely delight," said Sheeba Ali, a fundraising manager at the charity. Although the team do not know how much money will come their way, Ms Ali said the charity was hoping a lot would be cash will be used to improve patients' and families' experiences in the hospital."That can be anything in terms of improving the environment, there's a lot of development happening at the children's hospital at the moment… to make it a less scary space for kids," she work includes the ongoing transformation of the front entrance, which will see a large aquarium planned are emergency department improvements, entertainment activities brought in for the children, a new cinema and equipment."It was a brilliant surprise and we're over the moon," Ms Ali added. Cure Parkinson's is a cause close to the hearts of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne - as the singer has largely been forced to stop touring due to the disease and spinal revealed he had been diagnosed with the disease in January charity's director of fundraising and marketing, Andy Simons, said they were "over the moon", and "so grateful"."We are increasingly wanting to make sure people with Parkinson's all over the country... have some access to trials, and that includes Birmingham and the West Midlands, so any donations or funds raised from this will help us do that," he added that two trials coming up would be in the city and wider region."We want to make sure people who are living with Parkinson's in those areas are able to join in with trials which might benefit them, and it will certainly benefit the search for the cure," he told BBC Radio addressing the Black Sabbath frontman, Mr Simons said: 'This is making an enormous difference, it already has, because you mentioning us in your publicity has enabled us as a charity to reach more people with Parkinson's around the country than we had before."All hail the prince of darkness!" Acorns Children's Hospice is the final charity to benefit. It has its headquarters in Birmingham and also runs hospices in Walsall and Worcester, currently supporting 800 to 900 children every year."[This will enable us] to be there for more children and families," said Trevor Johnson, Acorns' CEO, who added that demand for services had more than doubled in the past two Hutton, a nurse at the Walsall hospice, said all donations were "crucial" because "otherwise we can't stay open".She added that the hospice aimed to create a home-like environment for children, with activities such as cooking and crafts, as well as daytrips. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's farewell shows are to be livestreamed globally: here's how you can watch
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. On July 5, the original Black Sabbath line-up - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward - will play their very last show together at Birmingham's Villa Park, bowing out atop a star-studded bill featuring a true who's who of the biggest names in hard rock and heavy metal. And for those who were unable to get tickets for what might just be the greatest metal show ever assembled, today brings good news, as it's been announced that the concert will be made available as a global livestream. Beginning at 3pm BST on July 5, the livestream will be hosted on the Back To The Beginning website: tickets are on sale now. Sabbath's full set will also be available to watch on demand for 48 hours after the curtain Back To The Beginning gig, which will see Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward sharing a stage for the first time since 2005, was announced back in February. The event will also feature Ozzy's final solo performance and a supporting bill that includes Metallica, Tool, Guns N' Roses,. Slayer, Alice In Chains, Mastodon and more, as well as appearances from Billy Corgan, Fred Durst, Jonathan Davis, Wolfgang Van Halen, Papa V Perpetua, Sammy Hagar, Zakk Wylde, Jake E Lee and others. Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) has been appointed as the event's musical director."We have a very, very simple goal," Morello said earlier this year, "and that's to make this the greatest day in the history of heavy metal. And to that end, you've probably seen the listed setlist. And let me tell you, there's some huge superstars who are gonna be surprises on that day too. So, the idea is to really acknowledge the importance of that band in a way that the whole world will forever know." In an interview with The Guardian last month, Geezer Butler confessed that he is already feeling nervous ahead of what is arguably the most talked-about show of Sabbath's storied career. 'I'm already having palpitations,' the bassist admitted. 'In fact, I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust. It's important that we leave a great impression, since it's the final time that people will experience us live. So it has to be great on the night.'
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Black Sabbath at Villa Park: All you need to know
Thousands of metal fans are due to descend on Birmingham in July, as Black Sabbath hosts its Back To The Beginning at Villa Park, the gig features dozens of huge names from the industry performing throughout the the most exciting part - Black Sabbath with reunite to perform, and Ozzy Osbourne will take to the stage for the final time for his own is everything you need to know if you are attending the concert: How significant is the event? The event is hugely significant - it's Ozzy's final performance, and 20 years since the original Black Sabbath have played together. Earlier this year, Sharon Osbourne told the BBC that Birmingham was the "home of metal" - after all, it was where the band was formed in Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward all grew up within a few streets of each other, a stone's throw from the Aston band's relevance to the city's cultural heritage was recognised when they were awarded the Freedom of from the deep connection the band has to the area, the line-up for the all day event is stuffed with icons of will play his own short set before joining the band, and other guests include Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira and also for a good cause - all profits are being split equally between Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Parkinson's is a cause close to home for Osbourne as he has largely been forced to stop touring due to the disease and spinal injuries. Is there extra transport? West Midlands Railway said it would run an additional 12 services to/from Whitton station on the day of the will be four additional services in the morning, and eight in the evening after the concert has company's normal timetable will be in place for Aston Villa will provide a regular shuttle bus service before and after the event. Before the concert, shuttle services will run from Dudley Street, departing in 10 minute will be dropped off at Aston Hall, over the road from Villa the gig, shuttles will run from Aston Hall to Dudley Street every 10 minutes, with the final bus leaving at can be purchased on its dedicated parking website, and can be bought on the day at either end of the service. How do you get there? Fan travelling by train can use either Aston or Witton stations, which are walking distance from the Midlands Railway said Witton is slightly closer to Villa Park, so is more suitable for fans with accessibility requirements, or who may struggle stations have connections to Birmingham New Street.A taxi rank will be operating at Aston Parish Church, adjacent to the services that serve Villa Park are the 7, 11A and 11C. Fans must get off at Witton well as this, services 65 and 67 operate close to the stadium where passengers get off at Aston Railway services are also available - Aston Villa recommends that fans use it to get to Grand Central, and then walk to the shuttle bus service from Dudley Street, or get a rail connection Villa's website has specific advice for those driving, including where you should exit off nearby motorways. Where can I park? Fans are not able to park at the stadium, however there are parking sites within a 45-minute walking distance of the they are filled, the next alternative is to park in the city centre, and use public transport to get to the stadium. Official car parks are not controlled by Aston Villa, but third parties. More information about reputable parking sites are on the club's website, as well as the city council website for car parks in the centre. Who is supporting and what is the set list? An official set list has not been announced for any of the musicians, so that part is still a is an all day event, so there are dozens of musicians taking to the include:Metallica SlayerPanteraGojiraHalestormTool Lamb Of GodAnthrax and MastodonBilly Corgan David Draiman Duff McKagan and SlashMore names can be found on the event webpage. Is the concert sold out? Yes, the concert is sold Black Sabbath announced that the event can be live streamed, and said it would be available to watch on-demand for 48 hours after the need to pay to view it, and only those who have paid can watch it on-demand afterwards. The steam begins at 15:00 BST on 5 July. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
