Black Sabbath rehearsal update as they 'don't know' if Ozzy can perform again
Black Sabbath take to the stage in July and have confirmed rehearsals start this month but Ozzy's input is not clear
Black Sabbath guitarist and rock icon Tony Iommi has admitted he 'doesn't know what's going to happen' when Ozzy Osbourne tries to get back on stage next month with the band.
Ozzy and Black Sabbath will headline their final gig on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, as part of an event titled "Back To The Beginning".
This show will reunite the original band members – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – for the first time in 20 years.
The band played its "last" gig in 2017 in Birmingham with Osborne, guitarist Iommi and bassist Butler but without Ward on drums.
But last year Ozzy was not well enough to perform at the band's Rock'N'Roll Hall Of Fame inauguration in America.
In a new interview ahead of the show Tony admitted he has "excitement mixed with fear' ahead of the show, whilst he also confirmed rehearsals are due to start this month.
He said: 'This would be a big, monumental thing if it all comes good. The worrying thing for me is the unknown.
'We don't know what's going to happen. Normally, when we'd tour, we'd rehearse and run through the thing for a while, and it's just us. But with this event there are so many other moving parts.'
He added: "You're used to Ozzy running around, but he certainly won't be doing that for this show. I don't know if he's going to be standing or sitting on a throne or what.'
Iommi and Ozzy have exchanged setlist wishlists, which will be consolidated in due course when they meet up in person.
Speaking to Music Week, Iommi said: 'Once we start playing, then we'll know we're doing it.
'It's always a worry, even when we did tours before, there's always that build-up, and then it gets to the point that we do it and it's OK.'
Ozzy, who is suffering from Parkinson's disease, told last month how he has been having physical therapy and training with a trainer virtually living with him in Los Angeles in a bid to get him fit enough to perform on stage after a catalogue of illnesses.
Ozzy's wife Sharon said: 'Ozzy's working with his therapist every single day. He's doing really well, actually. Ozzy's number one thing in life is his fans, so he's working hard to be ready for them, to make this show the perfect way to end things.'
Ozzy's wife also told Music Week(PLS REF) the celebration gig shows how well the band have endured through the years since they formed over 50 years ago. She said: 'You've got to remember, this is a band that started in the '60s – and they're still here,' marvels the manager. 'A lot of the bands who started in the '60s are no longer alive, or operating as they used to.'
In May Ozzy admitted he is suffering huge self confidence and stage fright issues ahead of his summer UK farewell show - but has vowed 'to give 120 percent'.
Speaking on his own radio show in America he said: 'My head's crazy. ADHD - I have that badly.
'I will have done the show and died a death before I even started my exercises. So I try and put it on the back burner.
'I'm not going up there saying 'It's going to be great. I'm really confident.' 'In my head I will have died on my ass. I remember being in f***ing Vegas one time being in the dressing room going, 'I'm going to play. I'm going to die.'
'And I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two f***ing songs.
'Sharon goes, 'just don't think about it.'
'But all I can say is I'm giving 120%. If my God wants me to do the show. I'll do it. Sometimes if I start obsessing on the time, I'll be insane by Friday. So I'm just taking it one day at a time.'
* Fans will be able to live stream the Back To The Beginning sold out concert. Details at www.backtothebeginning.com.
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