Tool are officially set to take the stage at Black Sabbath’s final concert on July 5th—a momentous farewell for the band that helped birth heavy metal. But according to guitarist Adam Jones, the progressive metal icons almost turned down the opportunity entirely.
Speaking recently with Guitar World, Jones revealed that Tool were initially reluctant when first approached to be part of the “Back to the Beginning” celebration, which will see Ozzy Osbourne reunite with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward one last time.
“The four of us were on the phone, or texting – I can’t remember – and someone went, ‘I don’t think I can do it,’” Jones said. “Someone else went, ‘Okay, yeah, I think I’m gonna do this other thing.’ I think I even went, ‘Yeah, let’s not do it.’ But it was really an honor that they asked us.”
The invitation originally came via Tom Morello, who’s serving as musical director for the event. But even with Morello’s endorsement, Tool remained hesitant. It wasn’t until months later—when Morello casually asked Jones to join him and Billy Corgan for a performance—that the wheels slowly began turning.
“I said, ‘That could be fun, yeah!’” Jones recalled. But what truly shifted things was learning that Tool’s other members were already planning to be involved in different capacities.
“I was again talking to Tom, and I went, ‘Yeah, I’m sorry we all couldn’t do it.’ He goes, ‘Well, you know Dan [Danny Carey, Tool drummer] is playing with these guys, and Maynard [James Keenan, Tool singer] is playing with those people…’ I went, ‘I didn’t know that…’”
“I went, ‘I didn’t know that…’ It hit me, and I said, ‘If the three of us are there – and I know Justin [Chancellor, TOOL bassist] will want to do it…’ I went back to our people and went, ‘Why don’t we just do it? We’re all going to be there.’ That’s how it happened – and why it was announced later.”
“I went, ‘I didn’t know that…’ It hit me, and I said, ‘If the three of us are there – and I know Justin [Chancellor, Tool bassist] will want to do it…’ I went back to our people and went, ‘Why don’t we just do it? We’re all going to be there.’ That’s how it happened – and why it was announced later.”
Now confirmed as part of the massive, star-studded sendoff, Tool will join a lineup that includes Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, and more. The sold-out show will also be livestreamed globally—offering fans everywhere a final glimpse of Black Sabbath as they bring their legendary story to a close.
