“It’s been an incredible journey, but it’s only fitting that it ends here”: Tony Iommi shares emotional statement on Black Sabbath’s final show
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has shared his first statement since the band announced their final return to stage in their hometown of Birmingham this coming July.
The reunion will see Black Sabbath’s original lineup – featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Iommi – playing live together for the first time in 20 years as they headline the one-day Back To The Beginning festival.
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“It’s been an incredible journey, but it’s only fitting that it ends here, where it all began in Aston,” Iommi writes on his X/Twitter account.
“It’s great to be honoured by your fellow musicians and at the same time support good causes. None of this would’ve been possible without Ozzy, Geezer, and Bill. What we created together was bigger than any one of us, and I’ll always be grateful for that. Tony.”
It’s been an incredible journey, but it’s only fitting that it ends here, where it all began in Aston. It’s great to be honoured by your fellow musicians and at the same time support good causes. None of this would’ve been possible without Ozzy, Geezer, and Bill. What we created… pic.twitter.com/GGjOA8Xyoa
— Tony Iommi (@tonyiommi) February 5, 2025
In addition to Black Sabbath, the one-day festival also boasts an impressive lineup of metal bands including Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Gojira and many more. All profits from the event will go to charities including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice – a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa Football Club, whose home ground, Villa Park, will host the festival.
Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, whose health issues have been well-documented in recent years, will play a short solo set before joining his bandmates.
Speaking to the BBC, Ozzy’s wife Sharon says that Osbourne is “doing really great” and that he is “so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends.”
She also confirms that the concert will be the 76-year-old’s final show, stating: “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. This is his full stop.”
Echoing the sentiment of homecoming, bassist Geezer Butler says on his Instagram account, “Looking forward to seeing you all on July the 5th at Villa Park. It’ll be the first time the Black Sabbath has played in Aston since we used to live there. And where we wrote most of our first album — places like Aston Community Center and Burlington Hall down High Street. So it’s a return home for us when it all started and it will be a very special occasion for us all. See you there.”
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A post shared by Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler)
Tickets to Back To The Beginning will go on sale next Friday (14 February) at 10am GMT. Visit Ticketmaster for more information.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
