Dave Mustaine recently addressed why Megadeth was absent from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s farewell concert “Back To The Beginning.” He clarified the band’s absence in an interview with Louder Sound.
The Megadeth frontman’s comments came in response to speculation about the band being the mystery act that was reportedly removed from Ozzy’s final show due to excessive financial demands.
When asked about the absence, specifically whether it was due to working on their record, Mustaine provided a different explanation.
“No, it was because we were over in Europe touring with Disturbed,” Mustaine said. “Nobody on the outside knew how imminent Ozzy’s passing was going to be, and I certainly didn’t.”
The guitarist expressed his admiration for the Osbourne family and his shock at Ozzy’s death.
“And I loved Ozzy,” he continued. “I thought he and Sharon were two of the nicest people to me in the music business. I was rocked when that happened.”
This statement came after Jack Osbourne’s recent comments about the mystery band demanding “high hundreds of thousands of dollars” just to appear at the tribute show without any talent fee.
Mustaine’s clarification comes amid ongoing mystery surrounding the identity of the band that was actually removed from the farewell concert lineup.
I Love Classic Rock reported that the “Back To The Beginning” concert featured major metal acts performing without fees to raise $11 million for charities including Cure Parkinson’s and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The event was particularly significant as Ozzy performed despite doctors’ warnings about health risks related to his condition.
The River noted that Jack Osbourne has confirmed several bands have been ruled out from being the mystery act, including Iron Maiden. Sharon Osbourne confirmed Iron Maiden was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts. Jack also confirmed that Megadeth wasn’t even asked to participate in the tribute show.
Metal Injection revealed that Jack Osbourne noted the only confirmed detail about the mystery band is that they had previously worked with Ozzy Osbourne in some capacity. The band even apologized afterward once tensions cooled. He stated that he has “not seen a single accurate guess” regarding the band’s identity.
The ongoing speculation has created significant buzz in the metal community. Fans and media outlets continue to theorize about which major act was removed from what became Ozzy’s final performance. Despite the controversy, the tribute concert successfully honored the metal legend’s legacy while supporting important charitable causes.
