Black Sabbath Final Concert Draws Veteran Metal Lineup, Judas Priest Misses Due to Scheduling

Rob Halford, lead vocalist of Judas Priest, expressed his disappointment at missing Black Sabbath's final 'Back to the Beginning' concert due to a scheduling conflict with Judas Priest's commitment to perform at Scorpions' 60th-anniversary show in Hannover, Germany, on the same day. Despite receiving a personal invitation from Sharon Osbourne to join Black Sabbath's farewell concert in Birmingham and offers to facilitate travel between the two events, Halford declined due to concerns about logistical and technical risks. The Black Sabbath farewell concert on July 5 will feature original members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, alongside other notable acts such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Slayer, marking Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance. Halford acknowledged that Judas Priest founding guitarist K.K. Downing will represent the band at the event and expressed excitement about the gathering of legendary metal bands celebrating Birmingham's pivotal role in heavy metal history. He emphasized the significance of the concert as a historic and emotional moment for the metal community. Despite his absence, Halford supports the event and looks forward to the celebration of the genre and its roots.