Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has shared the reasoning behind his decision to decline an invitation to Ozzy Osbourne‘s and Black Sabbath‘s farewell concert, “Back to the Beginning.” In a recent interview with Mojo, Plant revealed that he was personally invited by Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi to attend the event, which took place in their shared hometown of Birmingham, England, on July 5. The concert, which featured performances from major bands like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, turned out to be Ozzy Osbourne‘s final live performance before his passing.
Despite the personal connection and the significance of the event, Plant explained that he has moved in a different musical direction and no longer feels a part of that world. “I said, Tony, I’d love to come, but I can’t come,” Plant recalled. “I just can’t. I’m not saying that I’d rather hang out with Peter Gabriel or Youssou N’Dour, but I don’t know anything about what’s going on in the world now, at all.” He stressed that his decision was not a criticism of the event, but rather a reflection of his current artistic focus. “I don’t decry it, I’ve got nothing against it,” he added. “It’s just I found these other places that are so rich.”
Plant is currently preparing for the release of his new album, Saving Grace, on September 26. The album, which features a new band and vocalist Suzi Dian, is described as a collection of diverse, century-old songs. The first single from the record is a cover of Low‘s “Everybody’s Song.”
To support the new material, Plant will embark on a U.S. tour, kicking off on October 30 in Wheeling, West Virginia. The tour, which includes stops in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, will give fans an opportunity to experience Plant‘s new musical direction firsthand.
Robert Plant 2025 U.S. Tour Dates:
- October 30 – Wheeling, WV @ Capitol Theatre
- November 2 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Paramount Theater
- November 3 – Washington, D.C. @ Lincoln Theatre
- November 5 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
- November 6 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Shubert Theatre
- November 8 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
- November 10 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
- November 12 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
- November 13 – Chicago, IL @ Old Town School of Folk Music
- November 15 – Denver, CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
- November 18 – Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre
- November 19 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
- November 21 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
- November 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The United Theater on Broadway
