Ozzy Osbourne makes emotional statement ahead of Black Sabbath farewell show Heavy metal legend will say final farewell to fans at Villa Park this weekend The Independent UK · Jul 3, 2025
"There was something about the way he carried himself. He quite clearly was going to shine": The early years of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell As Soundgarden broke out of the Seattle scene, Chris Cornell stood apartfrom his peers: a rock god among grunge’s iconoclasts Metal Hammer · Jul 3, 2025
‘I owe Ozzy Osbourne everything’: Metallica, Alice in Chains, Sammy Hagar and Yungblud on Black Sabbath’s farewell show INTERVIEWS: As one of the world’s most influential bands prepare to bid farewell with a huge show at Villa Park in Birmingham, Roisin O’Connor speaks to just a few of the musicians whose lives were changed by the Prince of Darkness The Independent UK · Jul 3, 2025
“We are honoured to show our love for Ozzy and Black Sabbath”: Judas Priest might not be playing at Back To The Beginning but they have just saluted the OG metal gods with a cover of War Pigs Also, is that Pelham Blue Les Paul Custom a new signature model for Richie Faulkner? MusicRadar · Jul 2, 2025
Corey Taylor hails Black Sabbath for providing a 'blueprint' for heavy metal rockers Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor has thanked Black Sabbath for paving the way for other heavy metal bands as the Paranoid rockers prepare to play the final gig of their career this weekend. BANG Premier · Jul 2, 2025
“I remember being physically frightened”: Tom Morello looks back on the first time he heard Black Sabbath The Rage Against The Machine guitarist was petrified when he first heard Black Sabbath as a kid – now he’s the musical director for the band’s almighty finale Metal Hammer · Jul 2, 2025
From Black Sabbath to Napalm Death: these are the 10 greatest metal bands from Birmingham 10 brilliant metal bands that show Birmingham really is the home of metal Metal Hammer · Jul 2, 2025
“I took Heaven and Hell to a sleepover – the other girls looked at me like Ihad aliens crawling out of my ears”: Lzzy Hale on how Halestorm ended up playing Ronnie James Dio’s final show – and doing the same for Ozzy Osbourne The Halestorm leader is a die-hard Black Sabbath fan who first encountered the Dio lineup before discovering the Ozzy era. She explains why Back to the Beginning will be a full-circle moment Guitar World · Jul 2, 2025
“Sabbath and AC/DC are similar to me because people make the mistake of thinking, ‘That’s so easy. It’s like a caveman. Anyone could play those parts’”: Tony Iommi was such a big influence on Scott Ian that he tried to play left-handed Ahead of his performance at Back to the Beginning, Anthrax's riff-master reflects on the influence of Black Sabbath, and how he got into their "acid rock" in the first place Guitar World · Jul 2, 2025
"We're one of the only bands where the original members are still alive and speaking with one another": The final Black Sabbath interview Soon there will be no more comebacks, no more tours,and no more ‘final’ shows: Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill look back at their incredible career Metal Hammer · Jul 2, 2025
“Judas Priest were doing something different. Black Sabbath gave us a real confidence boost to carry on what we were doing”: K.K. Downing on coming up with fellow metal gods Black Sabbath in Birmingham, and why no-one can play like Tony Iommi They are from the same city, sharing a similar mission, and this weekend they will gather for one last push for metal as the former Judas Priest man steps onstage to celebrate Black Sabbath Guitar World · Jul 1, 2025
“He wanted something that was a bit more heavier, had a bit more compression to it, a bit more gain”: Laney celebrates Black Sabbath's final show with a limited edition Black Country Customs reissue of Tony Iommi's TI100 signature amp Originally launched in 2012, the TI100 is a dual-channel 100-watt tube head with footswitchable boosts, lots of gain, lots of crosses. This is an exacting replica, signed by the man himself MusicRadar · Jul 1, 2025
“Alice in Chains have had a long relationship with Ozzy, who gave us one of our first breaks – and gave us a bass player”: Jerry Cantrell on his lifelong love of Black Sabbath and touring with Ozzy Osbourne (before taking his bassist) The Alice in Chains riffmaster on his love of Tony Iommi and what to expect from his performance at Black Sabbath's curtain call, Back to the Beginning Guitar World · Jul 1, 2025
“When you’re a kid, you go, ‘I could never be as good as a real rockstar,’ and here’s a guy that’s amazing, and he’s missing parts of his fingers”: Adam Jones on Tony Iommi’s influence and what took Tool so long to join Black Sabbath’s last hurrah Tool guitarist Adam Jones explains how Tony Iommi's triumph over adversity was every bit as influential as his horror-influenced riffs – and what to expect from his Back to the Beginning collabs with Tom Morello and Billy Corgan Guitar World · Jun 30, 2025
Metal Hammer · Jun 30, 2025 “We’ve been in the studio. We’ve been living in the studio, is what we’ve been doing”: Black Sabbath’s Bill Ward has two new solo albums on the way The seminal drummer says he doesn’t “give an ‘F’” as he records his first solo efforts in 10 years
MusicRadar · Jun 30, 2025 “It’s one of the greatest cities ever, it’s given the world so much”: Black Sabbath have been awarded the freedom of Brum Honour come a week before their final performance together
Evening Standard · Jun 29, 2025 Black Sabbath awarded freedom of Birmingham The bandmates are preparing for their farewell show – the first time they have performed together in 20 years.
Louder · Jun 29, 2025 “Wrapping this era-defining talent and power in a cloak of mystique only supercharges the legacy”: Jimmy Page or Tony Iommi? A heated debate over who is the best guitarist Two Classic Rock writers go toe-to-toe over the Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath guitar legends
Metal Hammer · Jun 28, 2025 Founding Black Sabbath members visit Birmingham mural ahead of epic hometown show See photo of Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Ozzy Osbourne at Black Sabbath mural in Birmingham
Louder · Jun 28, 2025 “He was the kind of guy who liked confrontation, and I would always give it to him”: This is what Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore really thought about Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham Friendship or rivalry? A little bit of both
Guitar World · Jun 27, 2025 “I called everybody! I looked at my heavy-metal Rolodex and just called up friends who Ozzy, Sharon and I had talked about having there”: Tom Morello on honoring Black Sabbath with the biggest metal show ever, and the all-star jam he is most psyched about Back to the Beginning will present Black Sabbath live for one last time, joined by metal's biggest stars, and RATM guitarist Tom Morello booked the bands. He tells us how it came together
Metal Hammer · Jun 27, 2025 When Sabbath had the blues: Black Sabbath's early recordings as Earth to be released as The Legendary Lost Tapes Before they invented heavy metal, Black Sabbath were a blue band called Earth…
Evening Standard · Jun 26, 2025 Ozzy Osbourne faces disappointing setback days before final Black Sabbath gig The British rocker, 76, is due to take the stage at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5
BANG Premier · Jun 26, 2025 Ozzy Osbourne admits he 'couldn't' duet with idol Paul McCartney Ozzy Osbourne has made no secret of the fact he loves the Beatles - but he would be hesitant about duetting with Paul McCartney.
BANG Premier · Jun 26, 2025 Wolfgang Van Halen forced to back out of Black Sabbath's final gig Wolfgang Van Halen will no longer be performing at Black Sabbath's Back To Beginning concert.