Slash ‘Nearly Blew Up’ At Ozzy Osbourne Show

Tom Morello shared a story about how Ozzy Osbourne “nearly blew up” him and Slash while they were unknowingly sitting on the pyro engine during a live performance.

The concept of “Back to the Beginning” started as Ozzy’s desire to properly say goodbye to his fans and colleagues. It then evolved into an explosive celebration of heavy metal, which would see the original lineup of Black Sabbath reunite for one last time. In this context, Morello stepped in as the curator for the upcoming all-star event.

The choice seems to be a natural one. Morello is very involved in rock and metal circles, is a massive Ozzy & Sabbath fan, and even nearly got barbequed at one of Ozzy’s gigs. The guitarist remembered the experience during a recent interview with Guitar World, noting that Slash, too, nearly got “blown up”:

“There was one time where Ozzy nearly blew up me and Slash. We joined him and his band as guests at the Voodoo Fest in New Orleans [in 2015], and during a part of the show where we weren’t playing, the two of us were sitting behind the stage chatting.”

The performance was unforgettable, highlighted by Morello playing “Mr. Crowley” and “Bark at the Moon.” He then launched into “N.I.B” and “Iron Man,” joining forces with Slash and former Ozzy guitarist Gus G. However, things could have ended very differently if Morello and Slash hadn’t been so attentive.:

“There’s this crew guy at the side of the stage, who’s apoplectic. He’s gesturing wildly to us, and finally he gets the courage to come over. And he says, ‘You guys are sitting on the pyro!’ So yeah, Ozzy nearly blew us up.”