Tool’s Maynard James Keenan Claims It Will Take “Modern Miracles” To Get Ozzy Onstage For Black Sabbath’s Final Gig

Getting Ozzy Osbourne onstage for Black Sabbath’s final show might take more than just good intentions.

In fact, according to Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan it might take “modern miracles”, according to Tool frontman

Set for July 5 at Birmingham’s Villa Park, the Back To The Beginning concert will bring together a lineup that reads like a heavy music fever dream: Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Anthrax, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Guns N’ Roses, Korn, and of course, Tool themselves.

While Ozzy recently said he’s in “heavy training” for the show, his long-running health battles have kept expectations realistic. Speaking to Loudwire Nights, Keenan said he’s preparing for the worst but still quietly hoping for the best.

“I think for me, seeing Ozzy moving around at [the Rock Hall ceremony], the idea of him playing a show at all… if we’re being honest, the conversation was like, ‘We’ll have this conversation, but, ahh… I don’t know that this [concert] gonna happen,’” Keenan admitted. “We don’t know what kind of modern miracles we’ll come up with to get him on stage.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Black Sabbath (@blacksabbath)

Keenan first heard whispers of the Sabbath show while hanging out with Wolfgang Van Halen and Metallica’s Robert Trujillo at last year’s Rock Hall induction. Initially planning to contribute a one-off performance, he got the call that Tool would be taking on a full song instead. “Fuck,” he joked. “Now I have to call back Wolfgang and those guys and go, ‘I’m going to do it with Tool, sorry.’”

Meanwhile, guitarist Zakk Wylde has hinted that Ozzy may even appear from a throne that flies over the stadium. Honestly, if anyone deserves a medieval rock opera-style entrance for their farewell, it’s Ozzy.

While Parkinson’s has robbed Osbourne of his mobility, Sharon Osbourne has reassured fans that his voice remains intact — and that this final Sabbath show is something he wants. Tom Morello is serving as musical director and has teased some massive surprises in store.

In other words I would prepare for chaos, tears, flying thrones, and maybe — just maybe — a little bit of magic.