Geezer Butler is having “nightmares” about Black Sabbath’s farewell show: “I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust”
As Black Sabbath prepare to take their final bow at their hometown stadium this summer, bassist Geezer Butler says he’s already having nightmares about how it could all go wrong.
The farewell show, titled Back To The Beginning, will bring together the original Sabbath lineup one last time, and take place on Saturday, 5 July at Villa Park in Birmingham, where the band was born more than five decades ago. The one-day festival will also feature performances by Metallica, Slayer, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Gojira, Anthrax and more.
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With the big night fast approaching, 75-year-old Butler admits to The Guardian that he’s been feeling the nerves — even in his sleep.
“I’m already having palpitations,” says the musician. “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.”
The bassist isn’t the only one feeling the pressure. Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who’s faced a host of health challenges in recent years, also opened up about his concerns ahead of the gig. Following a fall in 2019 that aggravated a spinal injury and several surgeries later, the Prince of Darkness is taking nothing for granted.
“I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up,” he says. “I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.”
Fans hoping for a full Sabbath set may want to temper their expectations as well, for Osbourne has confirmed that their slot will be more of a “sample” than a marathon show.
“We’re only playing a couple of songs each. I don’t want people thinking ‘We’re getting ripped off’, because it’s just going to be … what’s the word? … a sample, you’re going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath,” he says.
Meanwhile, Ozzy previously revealed that he’s undergoing “endurance training” in preparation for Sabbath’s final gig.
“The first thing to go when you’re laid up is your stamina, so believe it or not, I’m doing two sets of three-minute walks and weight training. I’m going and going, you know?” he said in an interview with guitarist Billy Morrison. “I’m waking up in my body, you know? I mean, three minutes to you, for instance, is nothing, but I’ve been laying on my back recovering from umpteen surgeries.”
More information on Back To The Beginning is available via the Black Sabbath website.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
