Ahead of the recently announced Back to the Beginning concert at the hometown of Black Sabbath, Ozzy answered a few questions regarding the reunion at Villa Park in Birmingham, on an event that has one of the most sought of line ups of a single day concert in history: Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon. A supergroup of musicians, including Billy Corgan, David Draiman, Duff McKagan, and Slash, will also perform. Check out the interview below:
Ozzy Osbourne interview
What does this show mean to you personally?
It’s my final encore; it’s my chance to say thank you to my fans for always supporting me
and being there for me.
How does it feel to be playing your final show in Birmingham?
I couldn’t have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning.
What do you hope fans take away from Back to the Beginning?
I hope they feel appreciated for how much they mean to me.
Why was a live stream important for this performance?
We never meant to have a livestream; it wasn’t in our plan. I was just surprised how many
people we were contacted by to do one, and so it seemed a great chance for people who
didn’t have the opportunity to get a ticket to be able to see the show
Can you share any memories about Villa Park or performing in your hometown?
My memories of Villa Park when I was growing up were: Every Saturday when there was a
match, I would go out with my friends and stand outside the Villa asking people for a
shilling to watch their car.
What does this line-up of legends mean to you?
It means everything, I am forever in their debt for showing up for me and the fans. I can’t
quite put it into words, but I feel very emotional and blessed.
Do you see this as a goodbye or the beginning of something else?
It’s a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out.
Cover photo is an unseen picture from Black Sabbath in 1972