Ozzy Osbourne announces farewell tour
Black Sabbath co-founder, multi-million selling solo artist and renowned decapitator by mouth of things that fly Ozzy Osbourne has announced that beginning next year he will embark on his farewell tour. Anyone else getting a sense of déjà vu?
It was more than 25 years ago when the singer embarked on his famed ‘No More Tours’ jaunt, ultimately a 64-date trek fraught with multiple cancellations. Three years to the day after that one began, the Oz man launched his ‘Retirement Sucks Tour,’ and has been active ever since with both solo and on multiple Black Sabbath reunion tours, the latter of which saw their own farewell tour come to an end this past February in their hometown of Birmingham, England.
To be fair though, Osbourne was in his early 40s during ‘No More Tours,’ and he’s now creeping up on 70, an age which he’ll have surpassed when the latest retirement tour is scheduled to end in 2020.
The as-yet-unnamed tour will celebrate Ozzy’s more than five decades as a performer, and is expected to take the heavy metal legend around the world with dates beginning next May in Mexico then heading to South America before traveling to Russia and throughout Europe. A North American run will be announced sometime in 2018. Though this will mark the end of global touring for Osbourne, he will continue to perform select live shows.
“People keep asking me when I’m retiring,” Osbourne said in a statement. “This will be my final world tour, but I can’t say I won’t do some shows here and there.”
Osbourne ending his live performances is certainly a sad day for music, as his shows have consistently provided some of the most energetic and entertaining shows over the years, so it’s certainly one not to miss when it does come around.
Black Sabbath final show from ‘The End’ gets release
Almost five decades ago, the toll of a bell and rolling thunder followed by a monolithic guitar riff signaled the advent of heavy metal. The title track opener from Black Sabbath’s eponymous debut changed the music landscape forever, and last February, where it all started in Birmingham, England, the band’s journey came to an end.
The release of the final Black Sabbath show on multiple audio and video formats Nov. 17 is fittingly titled ‘The End,’ capturing the final destination of the farewell tour at the Genting Arena in the group’s UK hometown. Filmed Feb. 4, ‘The End’ captures three-quarters of the original lineup celebrating their storied career, marking the closure of a monumental chapter in rock history.
The hits packed set list includes classics like “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” “War Pigs” and many more, with all the visual effects and pyrotechnics which wowed fans as the band delivered the most emotionally charged show of their lives.
“Because it was Birmingham, it was a special night for us,” said guitarist Tony Iommi in a statement. “It was great to look out and know that all these people have come to see us. What a great feeling. There’s nothing like it”.
All visual formats feature special bonus material of the band playing a selection of their favorite songs not played on tour. These intimate live sessions at Angelic Studios in England were recorded in the days after their final live performance, and mark the band’s final studio recordings. Dubbed ‘The Angelic Sessions,’ it includes six in-studio performances, including the deep cuts “Wicked World” and “Tomorrow’s Dream.”
Following last month’s world premiere of a companion documentary film in over 1,700 cinemas around the world, Eagle Vision will be releasing the full live show of ‘The End’ on DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, double CD, triple 180gm vinyl and a limited deluxe collector’s edition. There are also a limited number of exclusive merchandise bundles are also available at PledgeMusic, simply go to the site and search “Black Sabbath.”
Most hard rock and metal fans are sad to see the band come to an end, especially since they didn’t get to play a final show with original drummer Bill Ward, who sat out the tour due to a contract dispute which turned nasty in the press. Taking the place of Ward on the dates was frontman Ozzy Osbourne’s solo drummer Tommy Clufetos who, it should be noted, did a superb job on the road.
Iommi, whose touring had been limited in recent years due to a bout with cancer, has hinted that there might be a few oneoff gigs here and there for Sabbath, but nothing has been announced and it isn’t expected in the near future.
Sabbath influenced not just legions of artists with their groundbreaking, heavy and gloomy material, but entire genres. Their sound can be directly tied not just to metal, but to doom, sludge, stoner rock and more. Acts as varied as Alice and Chains and Soundgarden to The Cult, Danzig and Monster Magnet have cited the band as a musical touchstone.
“It will never be ‘The End’ for me,” said bassist and primary songwriter Geezer Butler. “I’ll always be a part of Sabbath, and Sabbath will always be a part of me.”
To contact music columnist Michael Christopher, send an email to rockmusicmenu@gmail.com. Also, check out his blog at www.thechroniclesofmc.com