In a new conversation with WBEZ, Tom Morello shared how it feels to be the musical director of Ozzy Osbourne’s final show with Black Sabbath.
“Heavy metal is the music that made me love music, and Black Sabbath is the band that invented heavy metal,” the guitarist said.
He added, “So, when Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne asked me to be the musical director of what’s going to be the last Black Sabbath show — the last Ozzy Osbourne show in the soccer stadium that’s like a half-block down from where Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, the bass player of Black Sabbath, grew up — I was honored to do that.”
On February 5, Black Sabbath announced their final live show in Birmingham on July 5. Opening acts and special guests include Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Gojira, and more.
Morellowill also be at the gig as the music director. He called Ozzy Osbourne’s final show ‘the greatest heavy metal show ever.’
After the announcement of Black Sabbath’s final gig, Sharon Osbourne talked to NME at Villa Park about Morello being the music director and said, “He is so knowledgeable on all different genres of music, but especially Sabbath.”
She continued, “He’s really passionate about everything he does and is such a great mate. He volunteered and the stuff that he’s managing to put together has been amazing.”
“He’s going to take care of all the different bands that are playing together and arranging who does what song. It’s a huge undertaking, and he can manage it all,” Sharon noted.
“I’m not planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath but I am doing little bits and pieces with them. I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable,” Osbourne recently revealed in an episode of Ozzy Speaks.
The proceeds will go to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, with support from Aston Villa. This will be the first time in 20 years that Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward perform together.
