Black Sabbath Announce ‘Back To The Beginning’

Icons of Metal come together to celebrate Black Sabbath’s Final Performance – July 5th at Villa Park

All Profits From The Show Will Be SHARED EQUALLY BETWEEN Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice

The original Black Sabbath – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – will play for the first time in 20 years. The band will take to the stage to headline BACK TO THE BEGINNING on July 5th at Villa Park.

The all-star event will celebrate the true creators of heavy metal and will see Ozzy Osbourne play his own short set before joining with Black Sabbath for his final bow.

“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning… time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Ozzy Osbourne said. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”

Formed in Birmingham in 1968 and going on to become one of most successful metal bands of all time, Black Sabbath have sold over 75 million albums worldwide across their legendary career. Setting the blueprint for the many routes heavy metal took, Black Sabbath’s influence and importance is as vital today as it was in the early 1970s.

Music Director Tom Morello said: “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.”

BACK TO THE BEGINNING will feature sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon.

The all-day event will also feature a supergroup of musicians. Artists announced so far include Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde.

More names will be announced shortly.

Tickets go on sale at 10am GMT on Friday 14th February 2025 at http://LiveNation.co.uk

All profits will go to the following charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

Dear Oz

Congratulations on your second entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Thanks for all the great songs,

Much love all the time,
The Ward Family

Hey ya,

Bill Ward checking in regarding all the updates on a possible Sabbath show in England.

I’m in for playing some of everyone’s old favorites. Loved playing them then, I’d love to play them one last time.

I’m not going to talk about my health publicly except to say, everyday I’m pretty good for 76 years old, I’m active musically every day, and I have a very busy and gratifying life.

Love you all, all the fucking time.
Bill

BLACK SABBATH

HAND OF DOOM 1970 – 1978

Collectible Picture Disc Debut Of 8-LP Boxed Set

Limited & Numbered To 4,000 Copies Available August 18

PRE-ORDER HERE

Exclusive To North America

LOS ANGELES – In 1968, Black Sabbath was formed by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. The quartet created a fierce sound that was beyond anything that had been heard before. Throughout the 1970s, the band produced an array of metal classics that set the standard for heavy music and inspired countless generations of fans.

Comprising some of Black Sabbath’s most powerful albums ever produced, HAND OF DOOM features the Complete Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978 collection on picture disc for the first time. The highly collectible set contains the band’s self-titled debut (1970), as well as the multi-platinum Paranoid (1970), the platinum albums Master Of Reality (1971), Vol. 4 (1972), and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), the gold-certified Sabotage (1975), alongside Technical Ecstasy (1976) and Never Say Die! (1978).

HAND OF DOOM 1970 – 1978 will be available August 18 for $249.98 and is limited to 4,000 copies in North America only. The set is exclusive to the Rhino and Warner Music Canada stores. Pre-orders are available now HERE.

The boxed set includes each album’s artwork printed on Side A. The self-titled debut, Vol. 4, Technical Ecstasy, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath feature the original back album artwork on Side B. Paranoid, Master of Reality, and Sabotage features an album-era photo of the band. The collection also includes a large color poster of the band taken in Los Angeles during the summer of 1972 whilst the band were recording Vol. 4.

HAND OF DOOM 1970 – 1978 comprises a range of Black Sabbath’s most iconic albums throughout the decade. Starting with their self-titled debut LP in the 1970s, which boasted hits like “Black Sabbath” and “N.I.B.” This was followed by the breakthrough album Paranoid in 1971, which featured the popular songs “War Pigs” and “Iron Man.” Fans were then treated to Master Of Reality, Vol. 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy, and Never Say Die! – all of which are included in this comprehensive collection. Some of the standout tracks from these albums include “Snowblind,” “Supernaut,” “Symptom Of The Universe,” and “Hole In The Sky.”

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Many thanks to all those who sent their birthday wishes this year. It’s lovingly appreciated. 75 years, never dreamed I’d see it. Today I am with consequences of reaching my birthday, old bones groaning, too many meds, for this and that, and the other, but what a journey.

Thank the universal spirit for music, humour, laughter and love, what would we do without those things.

I’m awake with the overcast sky, and the crows, already busy looking for food. It’s amazing how good tea tastes. I light my candles everyday, burn incense and speak in humble thanks, the other birds will be showing up soon to chatter for a while.

Much love to every one of you out there, my heart is filled, no uncertainty is emboldened enough to alter the love we embrace each day.

Rock forever and ever,
Bill Ward

New Song. Mon Dieu.

Salutations to the energy, incredibility, insanity, wonderful and creativeness of you all who sent me birthday greetings. May 5 th was an overwhelming, busy, reflective, and teary and uplifting day, so many Happy Birthdays, thank you, it was fantastic.

74 years old, man yesterday spinned me around, lot of memories some of them melancholy, some of them fantastic, like when I was a kid leaving school to go to and practice at the parochial hall next to Slade Road School, Carlisle, Hamburg, Henry’s Blues House B’Ham, first time leaving for America, arriving in N.Y., first time in L.A., Hollywood, crazy times. I got lots of nice messages from fellow musicians, family members and old and dear friends, I got some t-shirts, one with a huge moon and silhouette of a 747 flying towards me, a book of stories about the Lake District, I went to bed done for. In gratitude for such a huge embrace, to everyone thank you so much.

Rock forever and ever and ever.
Be good to yourselves,
Bill Ward