Speaking with Loudwire Nights, former Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar, who will perform at Black Sabbath‘s “Back to the Beginning” concert at Villa Park on Saturday, July 5th, shared that Ozzy Osbourne plans to sing five songs at the event.
Regarding his participation, the Red Rocker explained: “When the word started leaking out, Tom Morello [who is the musical director for the concert] calls me and says, ‘Hey man, would you be interested?’
“I went, ‘Yes!’ He didn’t have to say what. Would you be interested? ‘Yes, Tom, I’m all in.’ I was so flattered that I was one of the early guys on.”
Showing how seriously he’s approaching the performance, he went on to say: “I’ve been studying. Everybody asks, ‘What do you listen to?’ Him. I’m listening to Ozzy until the 5th. I got to learn his phrasing. His melodic structures are so unique, he’s such a unique singer. I’m so honoured.”
When asked which song he’s going to perform, Sammy offered: “I chose to do ‘No More Tears’ and Tom goes, ‘Oh, that would be great.’ And then he comes back and says, ‘Guess what? Ozzy‘s going to try and sing five songs and he wants to sing ‘No More Tears.’ I said, okay, ‘Flying High Again,’ and he goes, ‘You got it.’
“So right now, I’m singing ‘Flying High Again.’ If Ozzy changes his mind, I’ll sing ‘Flying High Again’ and ‘No More Tears.’“
The “Back To The Beginning” concert boasts an incredible lineup of rock and metal heavyweights joining Hagar to celebrate Ozzy‘s career, including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice. This performance marks the first time the original Black Sabbath lineup (Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward) has played together since 2005.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
