Lamb of God recently offered profound insights into their experience at the historic “Back To The Beginning” farewell concert for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Guitarist Mark Morton and frontman Randy Blythe have since shared their unique perspectives on participating in this monumental event.
In a recent interview with Mark Strigl on SiriusXM‘s “Ozzy’s Boneyard,” Mark Morton discussed the overwhelming nature of the day.
He told that “Nothing could have prepared me for what the day actually was. Once we got on site and got the energy around the whole thing, it was just so special. There was no amount of thought or preparation that could’ve really gotten me in the mindset for what I walked into…” (transcribed by Blabbermouth). Morton also reflected on his personal history with Ozzy Osbourne‘s music, recalling attending the No Rest For The Wicked tour at the age of sixteen. He further expressed gratitude for the consistent support Ozzy and his family, including Sharon Osbourne, have shown Lamb of God, noting: “Ozzy and that whole organization around him and Sharon and the family, they have always been so supportive of Lamb of God… They gave us some of our first big shows at Ozzfest. It just felt so special to be invited to this last hurrah for Ozzy.”
The day following Lamb of God‘s performance, which included a powerful rendition of Black Sabbath‘s “Children Of The Grave,” Randy Blythe took to social media to articulate his deep emotions. “I do not have the words to explain what merely being at, much less performing at, Black Sabbath‘s final show yesterday felt like. I’m still trying to process it- it’s crazy,” Blythe wrote. He emphasized the extraordinary atmosphere, stating, “But the overwhelming energy at this show— in the audience, in the backstage area, and onstage (because I was in all 3 areas at different times)— was something I have never felt before, and I know I never will again. It was something DIFFERENT, something very, very special.”
Blythe underscored Black Sabbath‘s seminal role in the genesis of heavy metal. “If you play in a heavy metal band, or are a fan of any heavy metal music, then know that your roots lay in Birmingham, starting way back in 1968 with four working class Englishmen named Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, & Bill Ward. They created this. PERIOD.”
He reflected on the unique significance for all the artists involved, acknowledging that “For those of us who make this music, there will never be another chance to play with the original creators again. That was IT… & it was amazing.” Blythe also revealed a shared sense of reverence among all participating acts, from Mastodon to Metallica.
“If you were there in the audience, you should know that every single band member I talked to- from Mastodon who opened the show up all the way to Metallica who played right before Ozzy– was nervous to go onstage… & I do mean EVERYONE (God knows I was.) It a sign of our respect for the dudes who created this music that we all felt this way.” He concluded by extending thanks to Black Sabbath, Birmingham, and the fans, highlighting the event’s charitable contributions: “We also raised A LOT of money yesterday for 3 different charities- Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, & Acorn Children’s Hospice. None of the bands took a single penny for this gig- hell, none of us even got a guestlist! I am so happy to have witnessed it & beyond grateful to have been asked to be a part of it. A simply unbelievable day…”
The nine-hour “Back To The Beginning” concert, hosted by actor Jason Momoa, took place in Black Sabbath‘s hometown of Birmingham. Over a dozen bands performed Black Sabbath or Ozzy Osbourne covers as a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who lives with Parkinson’s disease. Following their performance, Lamb of God released a studio version of their powerful cover of “Children Of The Grave” on streaming platforms.
Mark Morton articulated the profound honor of being part of this event in a statement accompanying the studio track. “Lamb of God being invited to perform with Black Sabbath at their final show is one of the greatest honors of our career,” he stated. He further explained the choice of their cover: “As an offering to the celebration, we’ve recorded our take on their classic ‘Children Of The Grave‘, a protest song with lyrics that are as relevant today as they were in 1971 when the original was released.”
Morton concluded by emphasizing Black Sabbath‘s immense impact: “Black Sabbath invented heavy metal and in doing so, they changed the world… This genre that they created brings immeasurable joy to fans all over the world. We are so grateful to have the heavy metal community to call our home, and so grateful to Black Sabbath for the gift of their music that they’ve given to all of us.”
