In an interview with Loudwire Nights, Sammy Hagar reveals that Ozzy Osbourne is “going to try and sing five songs” at Black Sabbath’s Back To The Beginning concert, scheduled for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England.
Set for July 5 at Villa Park, the sold-out event — titled “Back To The Beginning” — will feature the original Black Sabbath lineup (Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward) performing together for the first time in 20 years. Tickets sold out in less than 10 minutes when they went on sale back in February.
The stacked lineup also includes Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon.
In addition, a “supergroup” of major rock stars will perform, featuring 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 with Loudwire Nights host Chuck Armstrong, Hagar said he immediately agreed to participate when approached by musical director Tom Morello:
“When Tom asked if I’d be interested, I said, ‘Yes,’ before he even finished. I was so flattered to be one of the early guys asked.”
Hagar believes his recent appearance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, where he performed during Foreigner’s induction, helped keep him top of mind for the Ozzy event.
“I don’t sing like Ozzy — I’m a different kind of singer. So I’ve been studying. I’m listening to Ozzy non-stop until July 5 to learn his phrasing and melodic structures.”
Originally, Hagar chose to perform Ozzy’s “No More Tears,” but when Ozzy decided he wanted to sing it himself, Sammy pivoted to “Flying High Again.” Hagar also offered to perform Montrose’s “Rock Candy,” noting that Montrose and Sabbath came from the same era of rock history.
