Zakk Wylde is hopeful that this weekend’s upcoming live sendoff for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath will not actually be the end of the road for the Prince Of Darkness and the heavy metal pioneers. That all-star concert, ‘Back To The Beginning‘, will be held this Saturday, July 05th at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK, and is set to host the farewell performance from both Sabbath and Osbourne.
Wylde, himself a longtime veteran of Osbourne‘s solo band, recently discussed his career with Osbourne and his excitement and plans for the upcoming extravaganza in Sabbath‘s aforementioned hometown.
In a newly published interview with Rolling Stone, Wylde was asked about his personal role at this apparent last hurrah, to which he replied:
“I’ll be doing dishes and laundry, and it’ll be wonderful… No, we’re going to play with the boss [Osbourne]. I guess we’re scheduled to do a couple songs with Oz, and then sit and watch Sabbath play. And then obviously we’re going to jam with Pantera as well.”
With a staggering roster that will include sets from heavy hitters in Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool and many more, there’s been some questions as to what fans can expect to be played. Promoter Andy Copping has already revealed that fans can expect a rotating stage to keep things moving along, and that there will be some as-yet unannounced surprise guests.
As for actual setlists, it would appear that each band will be keeping it brief, playing a few originals and a cover of Sabbath. To that end, it would appear that Guns N’ Roses will be taking on “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath“, having recently been heard soundchecking it at a show in Trondheim, Norway this week. Wylde himself laid out the basic overview of what the gameplan looks like:
“I think all the bands are going to do… let’s say, if they do three or four songs, do two of their songs and then do one Sabbath song. I think that’s what everybody’s doing. Everybody’s going to pay tribute to Sabbath, and then we’ll sit and watch Sabbath at the end of the night, watch them crush it.”
As for Osbourne‘s sendoff, Wylde also spelled out the expected roster of musicians set to join the heavy metal icon onstage:
“[Bassist] Mike Inez is going to be there. [Drummer] Michael Bordin is going to be there. [Drummer] Tommy Clufetos will be there. [Bassist] Robert Trujillo will be there, [keyboardist] Adam Wakeman…It’ll be everyone that’s played with Ozzy over the years. We’re going to figure it out when we get there.”
However, while Osbourne and Sabbath continue to indicate that this this show will well and truly be the end, Wylde himself is hopeful that isn’t the case. He had the following to say about that:
“I’m sure the promoters are going to go, ‘Wow, that was pretty amazing. Let’s do another world tour right now.’ I think not only will all the other bands be on the side of the stage to watch the amazingness, I think all the promoters are going to be up there going, ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
He went on to say:
“If Oz sounds great and everything like that, if he wants to continue carrying on singing on a throne, we’ll just make the throne so it goes out over the audience. It shoots fire and water and dragons come out of it. You know what I mean? And we’ll make the throne part of the show. It’d be amazing.”
When the subject of the various health problems of Osbourne and returning Sabbath drummer Bill Ward (neuropathy in his feet and more) were brought up as a potential hurdle , Wylde joked, “We’ll see. Let’s just pump Viagra and Cialis into both of them and let’s get this thing going. [Laughs].” Wylde then went on to express his hope that this show is actually just the *ahem* beginning of more to come, adding:
“Why not? I really think it would be great. If they do this Sabbath thing and it sounds amazing, and Ozzy sings great, and the band sounds amazing, and the only difference is Oz is just sitting down, like you said, like Phil Collins. Why not, right? You know every promoter’s just got their fingers crossed on this one.”
A portion of the proceeds from this weekend’s sold-out ‘Back To The Beginning‘ show will be going to several charities chosen by Osbourne including, Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice. Artists set to perform outside of Sabbath and Osbourne include:
Metallica
Guns N’ Roses
Slayer
Tool
Pantera
Gojira
Halestorm
Alice In Chains
Lamb Of God
Anthrax
Mastodon
Rival Sons
An all-star covers set led by Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello will also take place and is set to boast a deep roster paying tribute to the works of Sabbath and Ozzy. Confirmed performers include:
Andrew Watt
Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Danny Carey (Tool)
David Draiman (Disturbed)
David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth)
Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses)
Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit)
Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
Jake E. Lee (Red Dragon Cartel, ex-Ozzy Osbourne)
Jonathan Davis (Korn)
KK Downing (KK’s Priest, ex-Judas Priest)
Mike Bordin (Faith No More/Ozzy Osbourne)
Papa V Perpetua (Ghost)
Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, etc.)
Sammy Hagar (ex-Van Halen)
Slash (Guns N’ Roses)
Soundgarden
Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
II (Sleep Token)
Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
Whitfield Crane (Ugly Kid Joe)
The event will also be livestreamed via backtothebeginning.com.
