culminated in a show at Birmingham’s Genting Arena on February 4, 2017 and was captured in the documentary Black Sabbath: The End Of The End, was exactly that – the end. He admits now, however, that there was a caveat.
“I did say that if one show came up, we’d think about it,” he says.
Iommi and Ozzy did make a surprise appearance at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham back in 2022. And now, three years on, there’s Back To The Beginning, which may lead some to take the finality of this enterprise with a pinch of salt… so is this really the end?
“It’s absolutely the end,” says Iommi, his chuckle not detracting from his conviction. “This show has come up because of the situation [with Ozzy’s health] and because it’s a charity thing. But there’s no way we could go out and do a tour. Everybody in
30 or 40 other individuals doing supergroups together – and he’s in charge of all of that.”
Another of his responsibilities, it would appear, has been to galvanise the members of Black Sabbath by reminding them of the esteem they’re held in.
“Tom has said that these bands grew up with us and love us and they want to pay their respects, which is really fantastic,” reveals Iommi. “I just can’t believe they’ve all come forward – and even still more artists are coming, like Steven Tyler and [members of] Soundgarden.” As it turns out, a degree of flattery and cajoling had been necessary. Despite drummer Bill Ward having not performed with Black Sabbath since Ozzfest in 2005, it was Iommi, in fact, who took the most convincing – initially unsure he wanted to join the trend of bands reuniting having called time on live performances. Happily, his doubts were assuaged by the fact that all
profits are going to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice. “[The show] being for charity drew me into it,” says Iommi. “It’s not just to get out and play again with the band, because we would never be able to do a full show because of everybody’s condition now.”
Iommi was sure Black Sabbath’s The End Tour, which
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Hair and now: (Clockwise from top) Black Sabbath in their heyday, Ozzy on stage in 1978, with Sharon in 1985, the band pose with gold discs in 1973
the band is looking forward to doing it, though it’s a nerve-racking thing, as we’ll be touching on some stuff that we haven’t done for a long time.”
While Sharon Osbourne is unsure if she’ll even be able to look at Ozzy on stage, given the wealth of emotions the moment will elicit, she reaffirms the show’s status as the final curtain call. “The fact this is the end is what makes it special,” she says. “I just want the fans to be ecstatic about the day.”
“You don’t want to f**k with me – if I’d been a really sweet woman, I’d never have got here”
SHARON OSBOURNE
As does Iommi, though he’s conscious there are thousands who were unable to get tickets.
“It’s a shame because so many people won’t be able to see this show,” he says. “I don’t know if they’re going to stream it or what…” “We’re talking to people about it now,” says Osbourne of plans to ensure no one misses out.
But will celebrations of this magnitude become a thing of the past? Is it possible for more Ozzys and Sabbaths to come through in the future, with new Sharon Osbournes championing them? The manager believes so, because, for all the changes in the industry, one fundamental remains.
“It’s all about the talent,” she says. “I’ve never been someone who says, ‘If you have a face job, lose 20lbs and stick a toilet roll down the fucking crotch of your jeans you’re going to make it.’ You can’t just find someone who’s a great singer and think you can turn them into a star. You’ve either got it or you don’t…”
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