While everybody is eagerly anticipating the last Black Sabbath show, at least one performing artist has some trepidation about how it will happen.
The “Back to the Beginning” concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on July 5 will feature the last performances from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, along with short sets from Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, and many others.
Frontman Maynard James Keenan was a part of a tribute performance for Osbourne during his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year. In a new interview with Loudwire Nights, as transcribed by ThePRP, he explained the rumors of a final Black Sabbath concert started that night. Keenan was initially going to collaborate with Wolfgang Van Halen and Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, but Tool got the call to perform separately.
Keenan also expressed confusion about how a Black Sabbath concert would occur given Osbourne’s recent health difficulties.
“That’s kinda how it came up, but I think for me, seeing Ozzy moving around at [the Rock Hall ceremony], the idea of him playing a show at all, if we’re being honest, the conversation about going to do the song was like, ‘We’ll have this conversation, but, ahh… I don’t know that this [concert] gonna happen,’” said Keenan.
Osbourne has undergone procedures to alleviate some of his back ailments, which he sustained in a fall in 2019. In 2020, the musician revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Keenan is all in on performing, but is still hesitant about thinking everything will go smoothly.
“And even now, I’m cautious about saying, ‘Yeah! All in, he’s gonna do it,’” said Keenan. “Because man, I don’t know what kind of modern miracles we’ll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them. So, I’m honored to be a part of it, but I’m kinda preparing for the worst — but hoping for the best, as they say.”
Osbourne has noted he is currently in heavy endurance training for the upcoming show. However, he will be performing in bits and pieces with Sabbath, rather than a complete set.
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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com