Tom Morello has been secretly working behind the scenes with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne for over a year on a major project that recently shook the heavy metal world. The announcement came in early February 2025: Ozzy Osbourne, despite his health struggles, is set to take the stage for one final performance in his hometown of Birmingham, England, with the original lineup of Black Sabbath and a lineup of special guests.
The event, set for July 5, 2025, is more than just a farewell performance; it’s a monumental tribute to Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s legacy. The show will feature a stellar lineup of artists including Morello, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Lzzy Hale, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Guns N’ Roses, among others.
The most exciting aspect of the event is the reunion of Black Sabbath’s original members: Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Tony Iommi. This marks the first time in years the full original lineup will perform together.
Morello shared with Guitar Player, “The idea is to curate the greatest day in the history of heavy metal for the greatest band in the history of heavy metal.”
This venture is not unfamiliar territory for Morello, a self-described “super fan” of metal. He has long admired and promoted bands like Iron Maiden, Kiss, Rush, and, of course, Black Sabbath. “Metal is the music that made me love music,” Morello said, reflecting on the genre’s profound influence on him. “It was the metal posters on my walls and the metal riffs I learned that made me want to play guitar and become a musician. It’s an honor to help push forward and celebrate the genre that has meant so much to me.”
Though Morello is tight-lipped about the specifics of the July 5 event, he teased that the day would feature numerous performances, each paying tribute to Black Sabbath’s influence. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime show,” he added. “Our goal is clear: to make it the greatest day in the history of heavy metal.”
The idea for this legendary event began over a year ago when Ozzy and Sharon approached Morello for help in putting it all together. “They asked me to curate the music and help bring the show to life, and I was honored to take on that role,” said Morello.
Reflecting on his personal journey with Black Sabbath, Morello shared that he initially found the band intimidating. “I was terrified of them,” he admitted. “When I saw the Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album cover, I couldn’t believe the band chose that for their artwork. It felt like a whole new level of intensity.”
It wasn’t until he heard Paranoid that Morello became a fan of the band. “It was unlike anything I had ever heard before,” he said.
Morello went on to explain how Sabbath’s influence runs deep in modern heavy metal. “The DNA of Black Sabbath is everywhere, especially in bands like Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Rage Against the Machine. In every one of those bands, there’s at least one person who loves Black Sabbath.”
For Morello, Black Sabbath’s music had a profound impact on his own sound. “I’m a riff writer. Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi are the two pillars for riff writing,” Morello said. “Tony Iommi’s riffs, especially, taught me a valuable lesson: Don’t be afraid to be simple and awesome.”
Reflecting on the profound simplicity in Iommi’s riffs, Morello recounted an early lesson where a guitar instructor dismissed “Sweet Leaf” as being too simple. “But who cares if it has four notes or 40,000? It rocks like nothing else,” Morello said.
He also acknowledged the unique contributions Iommi made, especially after his industrial accident, which resulted in the loss of part of two fingers. “Tony Iommi is literally an Iron Man,” Morello joked. “His fingers aren’t human.” He credited Iommi’s physical challenges as part of what made his riffs so distinctive.
Morello named some of his favorite riffs, including N.I.B., Into the Void, and Children of the Grave. “There are so many great riffs in Black Sabbath’s catalog, it’s an embarrassment of riches.”
Although Morello enjoys the Dio-era Sabbath albums, the upcoming event is dedicated to the original lineup. “This show is about the fearsome foursome. It’s amazing that we managed to get them all together for one last performance,” he said.
Being part of organizing this reunion is a tremendous honor for Morello. He recalled the last time he saw Black Sabbath perform at the LA Forum. “I thought it would be my last time seeing them, but they were so amazing that I went back the next night,” he said with a laugh. “It was heavy metal whiplash!”
In addition to the reunion, the show will feature Jake E. Lee, which Morello describes as a historic moment for fans of Ozzy’s solo work. “We’re celebrating Black Sabbath, but this is also Ozzy’s final show, which makes it a tribute to Randy Rhoads too,” Morello explained. “Randy Rhoads was a huge influence on me, and it’s an honor to include him in this event.”
When asked about the lineup and which songs will be performed, Morello remained tight-lipped. “We’ve got a lot of surprises, but we’re keeping it under wraps for now,” he teased. “What I will say is that there will be Sabbath playing, Ozzy playing, and twelve of the greatest Black Sabbath cover bands ever, including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Tool.”
The common thread between all the bands, Morello believes, is Black Sabbath’s profound influence. “Without Sabbath, there is no heavy metal,” Morello stated. “Their music and their ability to bring this genre into the world is something that has meant so much to me, and to so many others around the world. The sound they created in Birmingham drove a stake into the heart of the ’60s flower power movement. It’s part of the DNA of thousands of bands today.”
This historic event will surely be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Black Sabbath’s legacy, Ozzy’s career, and the genre of heavy metal itself.
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