Metal pioneers’ hometown swan song a masterpiece
Just over three years ago, heavy metal icons Black Sabbath took the stage for the last time. That concert, recorded on Feb. 4, 2017, in the group’s hometown of Birmingham, England, would hit record store shelves that November as a double album featuring 17 of the band’s classic tunes such as “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” “Paranoid” and others.
“The End: Live in Birmingham” features original members Geezer Butler (bass), Tony Iommi (guitars) and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Original drummer Bill Ward was absent due to long-running disputes with other band members. But his replacement, Tommy Clufetos, proves with his solos that he fits in with the band just fine. Keyboardist Adam Wakeman (son of legendary keyboard player Rick Wakeman) also performs here.
Although Osbourne is seen by many as an incoherent burnout who has been known to behave erratically in public, the singer is coherent here, and his vocals are top-notch. There are even some humorous interactions with fans documented in this collection. At one point, he says how he can’t believe that the band has been together for nearly five decades. He thanks the longtime diehards and welcomes the newbies. He even teases the audience, saying that this may not actually be the group’s final performance.
For one night presented on two discs, Osbourne appears to be enjoying the limelight with Butler, Iommi and the gang, which is taut and perfectly together for one last time. And with Osbourne having been officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, this likely truly was the end for Black Sabbath, which also featured the late Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple fame) as vocalists at different points in its history. But at least they go out on top in what stands as one of the band’s finest performances.
“The End: Live in Birmingham” is one of those bittersweet moments in rock ‘n’ roll, but it’s a must-have for hardcore metal fans or anyone who appreciates a good rock concert by a truly groundbreaking band.
