In an interview with Terrie Carr of WDHA-FM 105.5, bassist Rudy Sarzo, who played bass for Ozzy Osbourne from 1981 to 1982, shared how he was initially invited to join BLACK SABBATH‘s final show.
BLACK SABBATH‘s final show, scheduled for July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, is shaping up to be a historic event. Dubbed “Back To The Beginning,” this concert will mark the culmination of the band’s groundbreaking career and a celebration of their enduring legacy.
“I happened to be on the road with QUIET RIOT, playing some casino in the West — I think Idaho, I believe — and I just finished having lunch with [QUIET RIOT‘s] guitar player, Alex [Grossi]. And I got a text from Tom Morello. This was around October, November [of 2024]. It’s been in the works quietly behind [the scenes] for a year and a half by the time that it got confirmed last month. But going back to me getting that text, I’m reading it and it’s basically, ‘Hi, Rudy. Tom [here]. Sharon and Ozzy asked me to see if you were available and wanted to participate in this event.’ And at that moment, for so many reasons, it was like time stood still and brought me back, like, 40 years. So after I got out that trance, I immediately said, ‘Yes. Of course.’ And then he answers, ‘Okay, great. I’ll let Sharon and Ozzy know.’ So that was back in November, October.
“And I didn’t tell anybody except I told Alex, because not only is he our guitar player, he also works with the booking agency that books QUIET RIOT,” Sarzo explained. And he understood that this had to be kept quiet. ‘Don’t tell anybody, but this is going on. And the reason why mainly I’m telling you’ Alex‘ is because I need to block that date.’ So I told him far in advance in 2024 about this 2025, July 5th event that I was asked to participate. And then I told my wife. And that’s it. I didn’t tell anybody else. I just kept going on with everything that I was doing. Then I ran into Tom Morello at the Ronnie James Dio bowling event [last November]. And I said, ‘Is everything still on?’ And he said, ‘Yeah. It’s still on. And then fast forward to when the announcement happened. About a week before the announcement, I got a call from the person who’s organizing it through Live Nation in the U.K. to confirm me participating. And I, of course, said, ‘Yes. I’m there.’ So that’s when it became confirmed, official that this was gonna happen. And he told me, ‘Okay, don’t say anything until this day at this time that Sharon and Tony are gonna make the announcement on social media.’ And I said, ‘Yep. You got it.’ And that’s how it happened.”
Regarding the significance of the upcoming event, Rudy commented: “I’ve had time to really digest it, internalize it. The honor that it is to be a part of this and the true meaning of the event. For me, I’m doing it to be able to show my gratitude, but in reality it’s also a celebration of the tribes. It’s the union of all the heavy metal tribes gathering to pay homage to BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne, because a lot of those bands actually opened up for Ozzy when they were just an opening band, the ones that are going to participate, from METALLICA to ALICE IN CHAINS, maybe even SLAYER, because they were part of Ozzfest — all these bands that were part of Ozzfest and all of that, not just opening up for Ozzy as a solo artist, but also from Ozzfest. And in addition to that, they are the architects of the music that we play, of our genre of music, heavy metal. And I got to play not only Ozzy‘s music with Ozzy, I also got to play BLACK SABBATH music with Ozzy when I recorded Speak Of The Devil. So I am very versed, very educated in all things Geezer Butler.”
The event will also feature performances by METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, GUNS N’ ROSES, TOOL, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, and MASTODON.
Ozzy‘s wife, Sharon Osbourne, discussed BLACK SABBATH‘s upcoming reunion concert with BBC News, saying: “He’s doing great. He’s doing really great. He’s so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It’s exciting for everyone.”
Ozzy Osbourne, who has postponed his “No More Tours 2” shows several times due to illness, the pandemic, and logistical issues, and who paused touring in 2023 after spinal surgery, will perform his last concert ever at Villa Park, according to Sharon.
“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,” she said. “This is his full stop.”
“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning, time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Ozzy said in a statement. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love.
Source: metaladdicts.com
