I mean, it wouldn’t be a proper Black Sabbath send-off without at least one backstage bust-up.
Just weeks out from what’s being billed as the band’s final-ever gig—Back to the Beginning at Birmingham’s Villa Park. Sharon Osbourne has confirmed she’s axed a band from the stacked lineup, and it sounds like things got ugly fast.
Speaking to Metal Hammer, the ever-unfiltered Sharon didn’t name names, but made it clear she pulled the plug after clashing with the group’s manager. “I had a huge, huge to-do with a manager over this celebration for Ozzy and Sabbath,” she said. “And it was probably the worst way I’ve felt in years.” She went on to accuse the unnamed rep of “making up bullshit lies” after getting the boot.
I mean, it’s classic Sharon.
While speculation immediately swirled, fans zeroed in on Tool after their name mysteriously vanished from the event website. It’s since been confirmed they’re still playing. So, who’s out? We don’t know yet, but clearly someone crossed the wrong Osbourne.
As usual, Sharon isn’t losing sleep over industry whispers. “You can’t care what an industry says, because you don’t love them,” she shrugged. “So how can it hurt you?” Say what you will, but she’s been in the trenches longer than most and doesn’t flinch easily.
The Back to the Beginning lineup still reads like a metalhead fantasy draft: Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Billy Corgan, Slash, Duff McKagan, members of KoRn and Limp Bizkit, and musical director Tom Morello are all on deck. Ozzy and Sabbath will each play a short set—just a few songs apiece—with Ozzy himself promising to give “120 per cent,” even if he’s seated.
It might not be a full-scale Sabbath show, but with that roster and that legacy, July 5 is still shaping up to be one hell of a goodbye. And thanks to Sharon, it’ll run exactly how it’s supposed to: no bullshit, no dead weight, and no apologies.
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