Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo has shared a powerful, behind-the-scenes memory from the “Back To The Beginning” tribute concert, describing the emotional experience of watching the original members of Black Sabbath soundcheck for their final performance. In a new interview, he compared the moment to watching “Muhammad Ali shadow box,” a raw display of power that left the small group of onlookers headbanging, smiling, and even crying.
Speaking on the official The Metallica Report podcast, Trujillo, whose own band performed at the July 5 tribute, recounted being one of the few musicians to witness the private warm-up.
“They were soundchecking, and Ozzy wasn’t on stage yet. And even just hearing them warm up on their instruments, this is a whole another level. This is like [watching] Muhammad Ali shadow box or hit the speed bag — it’s that intense,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). He described hearing Bill Ward‘s “tribal beats,” Geezer Butler‘s bass noodling, and Tony Iommi‘s “jazz chords” before they launched into a “really slow and super heavy” version of “Into The Void.”
The impact on the small audience of fellow musicians was immediate and profound. “Everybody that was watching — there was a few of us — just started headbanging, and we were all smiling. And some people were crying, some people were crying. It was so beautiful, and it was a powerful moment that anybody that witnessed it, that was something that they’ll probably remember for the rest of their lives.”
Trujillo also offered a musician’s analysis of what made the band so unique, stating that “they were the seed” for everything that followed. “Take Bill Ward, for instance, as a drummer. He’s so unique in his style of playing and that swing that he has, it reminds me of big band music,” he explained. He also cited Ozzy‘s “very bluesy, soulful style of singing” and Tony Iommi‘s use of “smart chords, which are basically jazz chords.”
In an earlier interview, he also reflected on the private funeral for Ozzy Osbourne, which he attended on July 31. He described a “very magical moment” during Geezer Butler‘s emotional eulogy. “When Geezer spoke, actually spoke, the sun came out. I’m not kidding. The sun actually came out, and then it was beautiful from that moment on,” he recalled.
Robert Trujillo‘s heartfelt and detailed recollections provide a unique, ground-level perspective on the final, historic chapter of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. From the private soundcheck to the intimate funeral, his stories paint a picture of a man who was deeply honored to be a privileged witness, paying his final respects to the band that “paved the way for us.”
