Metallica's Lars Ulrich reflects on Black Sabbath's farewell concert, dubbed "Back To The Beginning," expressing that the event didn't prompt a sense of finality regarding Ozzy's performances.
Ozzy Osbourne's Farewell Performance at Black Sabbath's Retirement Show
Ozzy Osbourne's performance at Black Sabbath's retirement show "Back To The Beginning" was a poignant moment for the heavy metal community, and particularly for Lars Ulrich and Metallica. The concert, which took place on July 5 at Villa Park, a football stadium near Aston, Birmingham, was a star-studded event that marked the end of an era for Black Sabbath.
The "Back To The Beginning" concert featured a lineup of major rock and metal acts, with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N' Roses, Tool, Gojira, Mastodon, and Metallica all performing. Metallica's participation was significant, as they have often credited Ozzy and Black Sabbath for helping to shape their career and the heavy metal genre.
Ozzy's four-song solo set was followed by Black Sabbath's performance, which was described as "great" or "better than ever" by Lars Ulrich. The band's lineup included Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, who had reunited for the occasion.
The concert was organized as a charity gig to raise money for local Birmingham causes, with the eventual total raised estimated to be over $190 million. The funds went to Birmingham Children's Hospital, Cure Parkinson's, and Acorns Children's Hospice. As of now, "Back To The Beginning" is the highest-grossing charity gig of all time.
The emotional weight of the event was heightened when Ozzy Osbourne died just 17 days later, on July 22. His death was met with shock and disbelief among those who attended the retirement show. Tributes poured in from around the world, including one from Metallica, who wrote on social media that he was a "hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and most of all, friend."
Ozzy's influence on Metallica was profound, as he introduced them to a mainstream audience by letting them open for him on his Ultimate Sin North American tour in 1986. Lars Ulrich, the drummer of Metallica, expressed his friendship with Ozzy Osbourne in an interview with Stern, stating that his death was not expected.
In summary, Ozzy’s performance at "Back To The Beginning" served not only as a farewell but also as a powerful moment of homage that strengthened Metallica’s connection to their heavy metal roots and honored the legacy of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. The concert will undoubtedly be remembered as a significant moment in the history of heavy metal music.
[1] Metallica pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne following his death
[2] Ozzy Osbourne dead at 71: Rock legend dies at his home in Buckinghamshire
[3] Ozzy Osbourne's final performance with Black Sabbath at 'Back To The Beginning' concert
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