HEAVY metal was invented in Birmingham by Black Sabbath and Judas Priest – that much we know.
And on Saturday at Villa Park in that very city, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath will bid farewell to live performance with a tribute show being described as the greatest heavy metal show of all time.
Everyone from Metallica to Tool to Guns N’Roses is scheduled to play the long sold-out 10-hour show, which will start with all star bands at 1pm local time before the heavy hitters come on stage.
Then at the end of a momentous day, Ozzy – ailing with multiple health issues at age 76 – will play his final solo songs live before he reunites with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward as they sign off with a short set.
But Priest will not be there because of prior touring commitments in Hanover, Germany. So on Wednesday they released their own version of the Sabbath classic “War Pigs”, with full video, in tribute to their friends.
In other news around the Back To The Beginning concert, the original four members have attended the unveiling of a mural in their honour in Birmingham. They were given the freedom of the city on Saturday.
Wolfgang Van Halen has pulled out of the show. Slipknot are firming as the band kicked off the bill by Sharon Osbourne after a disagreement. A premiere for the movie The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne will take place on the eve of the show.
And Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless has been added to the bill, making her the second female vocalist after Lizzy Hale of Halestorm.
Hot Metal will be at Villa Park. We are considering a live blog.
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