In a brand new interview with Mark Strigl, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson spoke about his participation in Ozzy Osbourne‘s farewell live performance in Birmingham, United Kingdon.
Going down on July 5 at Villa Park, the all-star occasion — billed as “Again To The Starting” — offered out in lower than 10 minutes final month.
The live performance will mark the primary time that the unique lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Invoice Ward — have performed collectively in 20 years.
Additionally set to seem on the occasion are METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.
As well as, there might be a efficiency by a “supergroup of musicians” together with Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS ‘N’ ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),Ok.Ok. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).
Requested by Mark Strigl to recount a few of his historical past with Ozzy and the remainder of SABBATH, Ellefson mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH>NET): ”I received to know Ozzy fairly effectively once we did the MEGADETH–BLACK SABBATH tour in 2014, I suppose that was, throughout South America… However, yeah, simply attending to know Ozzy simply as a gentleman — he is simply such a real man. He is an outdated soul in a means, however he is only a music fan, is, I feel, what I took away from it. And he is not a hippie — I would not name him a hippie — however when he grew up and his love of rock and roll again into the ’60s, and forgetting for a minute that he is Ozzy and that he is the lead singer of BLACK SABBATH and simply type of listening to him speak about Randy [Rhoads] and Mike Inez and simply type of do all that type of stuff. It was like a man sitting on the sofa, simply sitting round bullshitting about music. It was actually, actually nice. So I used to be very honored for that. And, in fact, Geezer and I’ve been mates. Tony, a bit bit. I do not know Invoice Ward. So it will be nice to see him once more.
“It is humorous. When Ozzy went again to BLACK SABBATH in 1998, they performed in Phoenix, the place I reside,” he continued. “They performed our, on the time, model new baseball stadium there the place the [Arizona] Diamondbacks play. It was known as ‘New 12 months’s Evil’. And it was on New 12 months’s Eve. It was SABBATH, PANTERA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and SOULFLY. We carried out the present, after which we went proper to Nashville proper after that, and actually like a pair days after that, had began the ‘Threat’ album. So, it was actually type of a cool technique to shut the door of ’98, headed to ’99, and, in fact, now Ozzy‘s again in SABBATH with Invoice Ward. It was large.
“Yeah, I really feel like I’ve had a great friendship with BLACK SABBATH by way of Ozzy and [his wife and manager] Sharon,” David added. “She had us on an Ozzfest in 1998, I suppose, which might have been proper earlier than Ozzy went again to BLACK SABBATH… So, I really feel prefer it’s type of a great — it looks like a household vibe round there. It actually does. And I commend Sharon for making it that means, that it has been like that. And MEGADETH has been part of that, and so they’ve been nothing however gracious to me.”
Ozzy — who hasn’t performed a full present since late 2018 — introduced his last-ever efficiency on February 5.
Proceeds from the “Again To The Starting” present will assist Treatment Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Youngsters’s Hospital and Acorn Youngsters’s Hospice, a Youngsters’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The unique lineup of BLACK SABBATH final carried out in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has performed in partial reunions however by no means in its authentic lineup.
The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was recognized in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a really uncommon genetic type of Parkinson’s. Throughout a TV look in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was ‘stricken” with the illness which happens when the nerve cells of the physique degenerate and ranges of dopamine are diminished. Dopamine is a vital chemical that’s produced by these nerve cells which ship indicators to completely different components of the mind to manage actions of the physique.
Ozzy‘s well being points, together with struggling a nasty fall and dislodging steel rods positioned in his backbone following a quad-bike accident in 2003, in addition to catching COVID-19 three years in the past, compelled him to cancel a few of his beforehand introduced excursions.
Whereas Osbourne‘s well being points compelled him to scrap most of his reside appearances, the musician mentioned he would return if his situation improved.
Regardless of his well being issues, Osbourne has carried out a few occasions within the final three years, together with on the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham in August 2022 and on the NFL halftime present on the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Payments recreation in September 2022.
