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Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Black Sabbath at Villa Park: start time, tickets, potential setlist and what you need to know for Birmingham show
Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – four of the founding fathers of heavy metal – are reuniting as Black Sabbath one final time this weekend. Two decades since the original Black Sabbath lineup last played live, the foursome will be back in Birmingham (where their legendary music careers started in 1968) for their momentous Back to the Beginning concert, as Ozzy prepares to bow out of performing once and for all. It's essentially a day festival, with dozens of other rock artists performing at the stadium from 11am. If you've ever doubted how much of an impact Black Sabbath has had on the rock world, all you need to do is take a look at the insane line-up of legends that have agreed to support the band on Saturday – from Metallica and Slayer to Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Duff McKagan of Guns 'N Roses, to name but a few. So, here's everything you should know ahead of Black Sabbath's historic Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park this weekend. When are Black Sabbath playing Villa Park? Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill will be playing Aston Villa's home ground on Saturday, July 5 What time do doors open? The main gates to the stadium will be opened at 11am, with the event kicking off at 1pm. What time will Black Sabbath come on stage? It's not clear yet exactly what time Black Sabbath will take their place on stage one last time. However, we do know that curfew is at 11pm. Full lineup As we said, this is a full day event, and loads of pretty major bands and rockstars have been recruited to make sure Black Sabbath get the spectacular send off they deserve. The whole thing is being hosted by Hollywood star and heavy metal fanatic Jason Mamoa. The full lineup features: Metallica Slayer Pantera Gojira Halestorm Alice In Chains Lamb Of God Anthrax Mastodon Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins) Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) David Draiman (Disturbed) Davie Ellefson (Megadeth) Duff McKagan (Guns 'N Roses) Slash (Guns 'N Roses) Frank Bello (Anthrax) Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) Jake E Lee Jonathan Davis (Korn) KK Downing Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) Mike Bordin (Faith No More) Rudy Sarzo Sammy Hagar Scott Ian (Anthrax) Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token) Papa V Perpetua (Ghost) Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) Wolfgang Van Halen Whitfield Crane (Ugly Kid Joe) Vernon Reid (Living Colour) Zakk Wylde What's the seating plan? The stadium set up is likely to look something like it did back when the Foo Fighters played Villa Park last year. This was the seating plan: Setlist A setlist hasn't been revealed yet, and we reckon it will remain a mystery right up until Ozzy and co are up on stage. Can you still get tickets? Being the monumental, once-in-a-lifetime occasion that it is, tickets for Back to the Beginning sold out a long time ago. If you missed out, you can still get tickets to watch a livestream of the event, which begins at 3pm on Saturday. Sign up for that here. What's Villa Park's bag policy? Large bags and suitcases are strictly a no-no. When we say large, we mean any bags bigger than A4 size – they must be able to fit under your seat. Banned items Clear plastic water bottles less than 500ml, small cameras and walking aids (in seated areas) are all fine to bring into Villa Park. But fans are forbidden from taking any of the following stuff into the venue. Food and drink - refreshments will be available inside the venue. Anyone who needs to bring in specific food for special dietary requirements will need to provide a doctor's note on entry Alcohol - you can buy and consume alcohol in the stadium in plastic cups but you can't bring in your own Umbrellas Prams and buggies Laptops, tablets, large cameras and video recorders, recording or transmitting equipment Flags and banners with or without poles Fireworks, flares, air-horns, loud hailers, smoke canisters and laser devices Musical instruments Tools Sponsorship, promotional or marketing materials Knives, bottles, weapons and dangerous or hazardous items Bottles, cans, glass vessels, poles or any item that might be used as a weapon Weather forecast The sky may be slightly grey and cloudy on Saturday, but the main thing is that it doesn't look too likely to rain. The Met Office forecasts that there's a 30 percent chance of drizzle between 10am and 4pm and that the temperature will reach around 21C. The sun expected to peek out from the clouds at around 7pm.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two candidates backed by teachers' union elected to teachers' retirement system
May 10—The two newly elected members of the State Teachers Retirement System were backed by the Ohio Federation of Teachers, one of the largest teachers' unions in the state. New member Chad Smith got 11,293 votes and current member Michael Harkness got 10,647 votes. They were the top two in votes, with Joel Gleason, president of the Clearview Education Association near Lorain, receiving 6,155 votes. Current board chair Rudy Fichtenbaum was the only candidate to qualify for the retired member seat up for election this year, so no election was required. He will retain the seat with his new term beginning Sept. 1, 2025, and running through Aug. 31, 2029. Michael Harkness is the first vice president of the Akron Education Association and has been with Akron Public Schools for 14 years. Harkness has served on the STRS board since being appointed in fall 2024. Chad Smith is a 27-year veteran teacher in Columbus City Schools with leadership experience with his union, the Columbus Education Association. "Michael Harkness and Chad Smith have pledged to work with the current board majority to continue improving transparency and accountability at STRS and to continue stabilizing the fund's financial conditions," said OFT President Melissa Cropper. "These ongoing efforts, spearheaded by Board members that OFT has endorsed in past elections, has allowed STRS to begin restoring benefits by providing cost of living adjustments to retirees and lowering the years of service requirement for contributing members." Cropper said the OFT was concerned as legislators began to call for a review of the composition of the STRS board as the election period was finishing. The 11-member board currently consists of seven elected members (five contributing members and two retirees), three investment experts, all of whom are appointed, and the director of the Department of Education and Workforce or their designee. Educators are concerned that their elected representatives on the board will be pushed out in favor of more appointed members of the board, Cropper said. "Removing elected educators at a time when the fund is performing well and moving in the right direction would be a slap in the face to the people who contribute to the fund and are most impacted by the decisions being made," Cropper said. Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, agreed with Cropper. "Elected board members who represent participants in the system are the best stewards of the pension fund," DiMauro said. "The current composition of the Board provides for this along with significant input from four appointed members. OEA is actively engaging legislators to reiterate our position on board composition and will advocate on this issue throughout the legislative process." STRS oversees about $95 billion invested on behalf of Ohio's educators. About half a million teachers and retirees are paying into or receive benefits from STRS. STRS has been embroiled in controversy in the last few years following the dismissal of its previous executive director, a takeover by board members who want more transparency, and a lawsuit against two of its board members from the state. In 2017, the state stopped cost-of-living increases for STRS retirees, following a 2012 pension reform law that required public employees to work longer for fewer benefits. In 2022, a one-time cost-of-living adjustment of 3% was made, but retirees still say it is not where they want it to be. The board is looking for the next director of the STRS, after the previous director was paid to leave in 2024 and a previous interim director left in 2024.
