07/06/2025
The Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath concert livestream was amazing beyond what words can give it credit! Love how every band covered a Sabbath or Ozzy song to pay tribute. And Tom Morello’s all-star jam group performance had some great highlights including (to my obvious delight) a 3 way drum battle between Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Travis Barker from Blink-182, and Danny Carey from Tool! Other highlights included Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins singing Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law” with founding guitarist KK Downing, former Ozzy backing musicians Rudy Sarzo and Jake E. Lee being part of the performance, Sammy Hagar singing Ozzy’s “Flying High Again”, and a surprise comeback performance by Steven Tyler after Aerosmith canceled its farewell tour due to Steven’s larynx troubles!
I’m so happy and thankful that Ozzy got this chance to not only play the final show in his solo career he was so determined and hopeful to have, but that he got to share it with his OG Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for a farewell performance by them as well in their hometown of Birmingham (England, not Alabama). They still got it! It’s great too they were supported by all the bands and artists they either grew up with or influenced as the forefathers of heavy metal! And I pray all four of them will have an easy time transitioning to life after the concert stage to spend time with their families. Particularly for Ozzy, I pray he’ll be able to continue to fight his Parkinson’s and that he’ll be able to record more new music now that he doesn’t have to play live anymore.
Other highlights from the other bands? Metallica’s whole set, just the whole thing (I loved “Battery” transitioning into “Master Of Puppets” so seamlessly)! Halestorm’s whole set too and Lzzy’s powerful voice! Pantera performing their version of Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan” during their set. Lamb Of God covering “Children Of The Grave.” Jack Black’s and Fred Durst’s pre-recorded renditions of “Mr. Crowley” and “Changes,” respectively. Guns N Roses did four Sabbath covers before launching into “Welcome To The Jungle” and “Paradise City.” Jason Momoa made a great MC and hype man for the concert!
Overall, concert was a total 11/10! All tribute concerts should be structured like this from this point forth!