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Sun 27 April 2025 10:34, UK
Maynard James Keenan, the Tool singer, has expressed concerns about Black Sabbath’s final concert, stating it may have to take “modern miracles” to pull the thing off, given Ozzy Osbourne’s health.
On February 5th, Black Sabbath announced a spectacular line-up for their final performance before Osbourne retires from performing. Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Tony Iommi will perform together as a four-piece for the first time in 20 years with support from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Tool and Mastodon.
The star-studded event sold out in less than ten minutes. It will take place in Birmingham on July 5th.
Since the announcement, Osbourne revealed that he was “in heavy training” for the concert after several health issues had set him back. He also seems already to be distancing the magnitude of his abilities from the show, as he told fans he would only be “doing little bits and pieces” at the event.
However, the Tool singer has spoken on Loudwire Nights to air his scepticism and Osbourne’s ability to wow fans. He was not filled with confidence when he saw the Black Sabbath frontman at his induction at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
He told the host: “I think for me, seeing Ozzy moving around at [the Rock Hall ceremony], the idea of him playing a show at all, if we’re being honest, the conversation about going to do the song was like, ‘We’ll have this conversation, but, ahh… I don’t know that this [concert] gonna happen,’” he shared.
He continued: “And even now, I’m cautious about saying, ‘Yeah! All in, he’s gonna do it.’ Because man, I don’t know what kind of modern miracles we’ll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them.”
He finished by re-instating his privilege at being involved in the event: “So, I’m honoured to be a part of it, but I’m kinda preparing for the worst – but hoping for the best, as they say.”
The Black Sabbath singer is reportedly unable to walk because of Parkinson’s disease, so a wheelchair may be used in the show. Despite this ailment, his wife Sharon Osbourne has assured concerned parties that this “doesn’t affect his voice”.
It was also recently announced that former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar will sing ‘Flying High Again’ at the concert. Like Osbourne, he is in training for the gig: “Everybody’s asking, ‘What do you listen to?’ I’m saying, ‘I’m listening to fucking Ozzy until the fifth!’” he stated on a podcast enthusiastically.
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