Black Sabbath Announce Plans for Final Show and Studio Album
Back in September, Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne announced that the legendary metal band, which enjoyed an extra-successful 2013 and 2014, would be releasing their final album this year.
It turns out they'll also be playing their final show this year. As in, their last show ever.
The show will take place November 22, when they'll be headlining the second day of Ozzfest at Japan’s Makuhari Messe venue, which is outside Tokyo. Korn will headline the first day of the Japanese Ozzfest, also known as November 21.
Sabbath’s lineup will include Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, but (once again) not original drummer Bill Ward (at least not officially at this point), although Osbourne has said he hopes Ward will rejoin the band for its final tour.
“[It will be] our last hurrah,” Osbourne, 66, said. “Then it’s no more Sabbath at all. We’re disbanding the name and everything. ... They [Iommi and Butler] don’t want to tour anymore. I get it. But I love it. I’m gonna continue my solo thing.”
Last year, Osbourne announced that Black Sabbath would begin working on their final studio album with producer Rick Rubin in early 2015. The new album will be the followup to their successful 2013 release, 13.
Tickets and other Ozzfest Japan details are available at ozzfestjapan.com.
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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.