In a candid new interview on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation, legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi opened up about the emotional and logistical weight of the band’s historic final reunion at “Back To The Beginning”, held July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.
Although SABBATH performed only four classic songs — “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid” — Iommi revealed that the band had rehearsed six to seven tracks and were ready to do more. However, time constraints, venue curfews, and concern for Ozzy Osbourne’s health limited the set.
“We ended up doing four songs where we put aside sort of six or seven,” Iommi said. “It worked out that we did four. So that was fine.”
⚙️ Reuniting with Bill Ward After 20 Years
The performance marked the first time SABBATH’s original lineup had played together since 2005, and notably, the first live performance with drummer Bill Ward in two decades.
“We hadn’t played on a big stage with Bill for 20 years,” Iommi admitted. “Bill, when he plays, he plays different things every time. So you just have to be on your toes.”
Despite the long hiatus, rehearsals — which began a month prior — went smoothly, and the chemistry quickly reignited.
“It just slotted straight back into like we hadn’t left each other,” he recalled. “We got to know each other again. It was good.”
🎤 Ozzy’s Determination and the Setlist Dilemma
According to Iommi, one of the biggest concerns going into the show was Ozzy Osbourne’s stamina. Ozzy, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, performed a full five-song solo set before returning to the stage with SABBATH.
“I didn’t want him to get burnt out by the time he’d come with us,” said Iommi. “But he didn’t — and he did his own set.”
Originally, the plan was to unveil SABBATH with a curtain drop. However, due to technical and weather issues, that plan was scrapped last minute. The band instead used a revolving stage, with Bill already seated, Geezer and Iommi walking on, and Ozzy being brought in seated on his throne.
⏰ Time Limits, Curfews, and the Set That Might’ve Been
Despite preparing additional tracks like “Fairies Wear Boots” and “Black Sabbath,” time was tight. The strict Villa Park curfew and a packed performance schedule left little room to stretch out.
“You couldn’t go over your time span,” Iommi said. “Otherwise I don’t know what would’ve happened — because they do work to a serious cut-off.”
He praised Tom Morello for expertly organizing the daylong event, noting that fitting so many major acts into a single day was a near-miracle.
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🥹 Emotions, Legacy, and Saying Goodbye “Properly”
Iommi acknowledged that he was initially reluctant to participate, citing SABBATH’s 2017 final show in Birmingham — captured on the live album and DVD The End — as the band’s official farewell.
“That’s why I said in the first place I didn’t wanna do it. We’d already done the final show before… But the other three guys wanted to do it, and because it was for charity, it was a great reason to do it.”
He also noted that the event gave fans the closure many had been waiting for, especially with Bill Ward finally on stage for a proper send-off.
“A lot of people said, ‘Why didn’t we finish it off properly with Bill?’ And so here we are. We’ve done it. Finished it off with Bill. And that’s great. We’ve wrapped it now.”
🤘 Bill Being Bill — And the Band’s Chemistry Offstage
Despite nerves, Iommi shared some humorous anecdotes that reminded him of the band’s early days — including Bill Ward removing his shirt during rehearsals, much to Geezer’s horror.
“Bill got his shirt off, and Geezer was just about to have a sandwich. He went, ‘Oh, Bill, put your shirt on. You’re putting me off the sandwich.’ [Laughs]”
He added, “It was really fun, actually. All the jokes started again as soon as we were together. The communication carried on from years ago.”
📺 A Moment Watched Around the World
According to The Guardian, “Back To The Beginning” was streamed by over 5 million fans globally, with Ozzy’s deeply emotional farewell leaving many in tears.
Ozzy’s solo set included:
-
“I Don’t Know”
-
“Mr. Crowley”
-
“Suicide Solution”
-
“Crazy Train”
-
“Mama, I’m Coming Home”
After joining SABBATH for four tracks, Ozzy declared:
“It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Fireworks lit up the sky, and a massive screen read:
“Thank you for everything. You guys are fucking amazing. Birmingham Forever.”
🎸 A Historic Goodbye — One Final Sabbath
More than 40,000 fans attended the festival, which also featured METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, LAMB OF GOD, and ANTHRAX. Proceeds benefited Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Captured by Mercury Studios and streamed via Kiswe, the show was produced by Live Nation and hosted by Jason Momoa.
💬 “We’re in our seventies and late seventies, so you can only do so much,” Iommi reflected. “But everybody did what they could — and that’s what matters. We wrapped it up with Bill. That’s great.”
👉 Full story here
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