Metal Hammer reported Rob Halford’s explanation for Judas Priest’s absence from Black Sabbath’s farewell concert.
A scheduling conflict emerged when the Judas Priest frontman committed to perform at Scorpions’ 60th anniversary show. This prior engagement prevented their participation in Black Sabbath’s final performance.
“I had no idea it was happening!” Halford explained. “We’ve known this guy Ossy Hoppe – he’s like god in Germany for metal. He came in to see me at one of our last shows and says, ‘Would you consider doing something really special and important? I’m putting on the Scorpions for their 60th anniversary, in their hometown.’ And I was just like, ‘Done! We’ve got no plans, it’s all good.'”
Sharon Osbourne reached out to Halford after he had already committed to the Scorpions show.
“It all got announced and was a big deal – Scorpions and Priest – and suddenly I get this phone call [from Sharon Osbourne]: ‘Robbie, I know you’ve got this gig with Scorpions, but could you consider coming over to do a thing with Ozzy and the guys, he’d love to see you,'” he continued.
Logistical challenges made it impossible to attend both events. “Even with a private plane, there’s a word called ‘technical’, where something could go wrong, or the weather that time of year could cause problems… I was absolutely gutted,” Halford concluded.
Judas Priest will be one of the few veteran metal bands missing from Black Sabbath’s historic final performance due to this scheduling conflict.
These events mark two significant moments in the 2025 metal music calendar.
Blabbermouth revealed the details of Scorpions’ milestone celebration. The 60th anniversary concert will take place on July 5, 2025, at the Heinz Von Heiden Arena in Hannover, Germany. This historic hometown celebration promises to be memorable for the legendary German band.
Ultimate Metal highlighted the unique nature of the concert experience. Several high-profile guests will join Judas Priest at the event, underlining its significance in the metal community.
Judas Priest’s official website confirmed this performance as one of their key appearances in 2025. The show will showcase the enduring legacy of both Judas Priest and Scorpions in the heavy metal scene.
This clash between two momentous events has created a difficult situation. One of metal’s most influential vocalists must choose between Black Sabbath’s farewell show and Scorpions’ 60th anniversary celebration.
