Sharon Osbourne is open to Black Sabbath ABBA-style hologram show
Sharon Osbourne has said she is open to the idea of a Black Sabbath hologram show in the future.
The legendary heavy metal band will be reuniting for one final live concert at Villa Park in their hometown of Birmingham on Saturday July 5.
The gig will see the group’s most iconic line-up – comprising frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward – play on stage together for the first time in two decades.
There is also a stacked line-up of other major acts set to perform at the event, dubbed ‘Back To The Beginning’. These include Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan, Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, and KoRn.
Additionally, Tom Morello will be performing and serving as the show’s musical director. In February, Guns N’ Roses, Tool and more were added to the bill.
Speaking to Metal Hammer magazine, Ozzy’s wife and manager was asked if she would ever consider an ‘ABBA Voyage’-style return for Sabbath. “Sure I would, yeah,” Sharon responded (via Music-News).
“Technology keeps moving on and on. You can do incredible things now, so what you could do in five years will be even better. You never know what the opportunities are.”
As for the return of drummer Ward – who did not participate in Sabbath’s farewell tour ‘The End’ in 2016/2017 – Sharon told the publication: “Bill has always been fantastic with Ozzy.
“I always say they’ve got that invisible connection between the four of them, and he’s gonna be there, which is amazing.”
She added: “I’m not going to bullshit you and say we’re the best of friends. We’re not. We are such different people. But I respect Bill so much, and I’m so happy that he has agreed to come, for the band and for the fans.”
It was recently reported that Ozzy was back in the gym in preparation for the last-ever Black Sabbath gig.
His longtime collaborator and guitarist Zakk Wylde has since teased that the Prince Of Darkness may perform from a “throne that flies over the stadium” at the concert. Earlier, Ozzy told fans that he would only be “doing little bits and pieces” with Sabbath at the massive date amid his health issues. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable,” he said.
“I am trying to get back on my feet. When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I’m not dead. I’m still actively doing things.”
This came after Ozzy revealed that he now “can’t walk” as a result of Parkinson’s disease. However, his wife and manager Sharon has assured fans that his illness “doesn’t affect his voice”.
When speaking to NME alongside Tony Iommi at Villa Park, Sharon explained that her husband was doing “really great” at the moment. She told us that Ozzy was feeling “very emotional” about the final Sabbath show, and that it was “what he wants”.
“He wants to say thank you to everybody,” Sharon continued. “He didn’t have that chance because of his illness, but now he does have the chance.”
Speaking further about Ozzy’s health, she added: “He’s got Parkinson’s, which we all know, but he’s great and it doesn’t affect his voice.” Iommi then told NME that the Sabbath gig would “do him good”, explaining: “That’s what it’s all about: he wants to get out and do something.”
Sharon said: “He feels like he’s never had a chance to thank the fans; to say ‘thank you for this unbelievable life.’”
Elsewhere in NME‘s interview, Sharon said that the concert would be “just about celebrating the old music that still lives on” rather than Black Sabbath releasing any new music to coincide with the date.
“You get to a stage in your career where whatever you do just doesn’t stand up to what you did before,” she told NME. “To be able to rest on your laurels and say, ‘People still love that and it’s still selling and we can’t do better than what we’ve done’, that’s enough.”
Sharon said: “This is a celebration – of the genre and the pioneers who started it and passed it on to all these bands. Usually this thing is done when you’re dead – so it’s nice that these guys can be alive to be appreciated!”
Iommi added: “I was just thinking that! We’re having it before we go now.”
In other news, Tom Morello has teased some “huge superstars” as “surprises” for the Birmingham show, and said he is “honoured” to serve as musical director.
The post Sharon Osbourne is open to Black Sabbath ABBA-style hologram show appeared first on NME.
Tom Skinner
NME
