Scott Ian has explained how Anthrax came to perform at Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s final show, ‘Back to the Beginning,’ and clarified the financial arrangements for the charity event. He discussed the offer in an interview on Chris Jericho.
The Anthrax guitarist described how Tom Morello first contacted him about the show, and what he understood from that initial conversation. Ian was then asked whether the band received payment or if they had to cover their own travel costs to perform at the event.
Question: “And the deal is like all that you got paid was the opportunity to go. You said you booked your flights. Did they pay for the flights or did you have to pay for them?”
“They paid the paid travel the expenses. Expenses. It’s not like we ran up some huge building, you know what I mean?” Ian said. “Just what it took to make it happen.”
He added that simply being part of the show held deep meaning for the band. “Of course, we would have I mean, even just walking in the dressing room sign with the, you know, back to the beginning, you know, who kidding you comes out and it says Anthrax.”
Ian stressed the motivation that brought all the performers together. “I mean, look, everybody was there for the same reason, and that was like to make mom and dad proud. Like, you know, we were all there because those guys gave us careers. If it wasn’t for them, none of us have jobs.”
The comments came as Ian reflected on Anthrax’s participation in the charity performance before Ozzy’s death. The band’s involvement represented a tribute to the legendary artists who shaped their careers.
The Back to the Beginning concert took place on July 5, 2025 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. The all-star event raised more than $200 million for three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine served as music director for the day-long show, which featured performances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, Halestorm, Yungblud and many others. Anthrax performed third on the bill, opening with their own song “Indians” and closing with a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Into the Void.”
The 1986 “Seventh Star Tour” marked Anthrax’s first arena tour and a key moment in their career when they shared a bill with Black Sabbath. The two bands did not appear on the same bill again until the Back to the Beginning concert in 2025. Vocalist Joey Belladonna has stated that Anthrax are huge Sabbath fans and have covered many of their songs throughout their career.
Black Sabbath’s performance at Back to the Beginning marked the band’s first show by the original quartet in 20 years. For Ozzy Osbourne, it was his final performance on stage before his death on July 22, 2025. The concert represented a historic reunion for both the band and their legendary frontman.
