SAMMY HAGAR Says He Will Sing 'Flying High Again' At OZZY OSBOURNE's Final Concert

Sammy Hagar says that he is “so honored” to be participating in Ozzy Osbourne‘s farewell concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Taking place on July 5 at Villa Park, the all-star event — billed as “Back To The Beginning” — sold out in less than 10 minutes in February.

The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.

Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.

In addition, there will be a performance by a “supergroup of musicians” including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS ‘N’ ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).

Speaking to Loudwire Nights host Chuck Armstrong, Sammy stated about his participation in “Back To The Beginning” (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Well, the fact that I got asked to do it almost the first day… When the word started leaking out — inside word — [the event’s musical director] Tom Morello calls me and says, ‘Hey, man, would you be interested?’ I went, ‘Yes.’ He didn’t even have to say what. ‘Would you be interested?’ ‘Yes, Tom. I’m in — all in.’

“I was so flattered that I was one of the early guys on,” Sammy continued. “But I had just done the [Rock And Roll] Hall Of Fame for inducting FOREIGNER, and I sang some FOREIGNER songs, and Ozzy, his induction followed my [performance at the FOREIGNER] induction. And they sat there and watched me do my thing, and I think I was just fresh on their mind. ‘Cause other than that, I don’t sing like Ozzy — I’m a different kind of singer. And so I’ve been studying. Everybody’s asking, ‘What do you listen to?’ I’m saying, ‘I’m listening to fucking Ozzy until the fifth [of July].’ I gotta learn his phrasing. And his melodic structures are so unique; he’s such a unique singer.

“I’m so honored,” Hagar added. “And I chose to do ‘No More Tears’. And Tom goes, ‘Oh, that would be great. Oh, that’d be great.’ And I’ll do another one. And then he comes back and says, ‘Guess what. Ozzy‘s gonna try and sing five songs, and he wants to sing ‘No More Tears’. I said, ‘Okay. ‘Flying High Again’.’ He goes, ‘You got it.’ So right now I’m singing ‘Flying High Again’. If Ozzy changes his mind, I’ll sing ‘Flying High Again’ and ‘No More Tears’. And I offered to sing one of my songs, and I thought I would sing [MONTROSE‘s] ‘Rock Candy’ because it’s from the same era as BLACK SABBATH — MONTROSE and SABBATH were from the same kind of era. So, I’m excited.”

Ozzy — who hasn’t played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.

Proceeds from the “Back To The Beginning” show will support Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson’s. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was ‘stricken” with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy‘s health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne‘s health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

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