Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler has admitted he is having “nightmares” and “palpitations” ahead of the band’s farewell show this summer.
In February, the legendary metal band announced that they will play their last ever show at their beloved Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5, with the iconic line-up of Butler alongside frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward set to play together for the first time in two decades.
With the date starting to draw near, Butler has spoken to The Guardian about how his nerves are now very real. “I’m already having palpitations,” he said. “In fact, I had a nightmare last night.”
“I dreamed everything went wrong on stage and we all turned to dust,” he added. “It’s important that we leave a great impression, since it’s the final time that people will experience us live. So it has to be great on the night.”
In the same interview, Osbourne also spoke about his concerns ahead of the gig, after his health issues in recent years. The singer had a fall in 2019 that aggravated an earlier spinal injury, requiring numerous surgeries, and he has also been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s.
“I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can,” he said. “So all I can do is turn up.”
He continued: “I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.”
“We’re only playing a couple of songs each. I don’t want people thinking ‘We’re getting ripped off’, because it’s just going to be … what’s the word? … a sample, you’re going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath.”
Former Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello will be appearing at the event too and serving as Music Director, while the enormous line-up includes the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Anthrax, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Gojira, Billy Corgan, Disturbed’s David Draiman, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Sammy Hagar, Papa V Perpetua of Ghost, Wolfgang Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, Korn’s Jonathan Davis and Slash. Earlier this week, the list got even longer with Aerosmith‘s Steven Tyler and the surviving Soundgarden members also joining the bill.
Speaking to NME back in February, Iommi and Sharon Osbourne teased what to expect from Sabbath’s final concert, while also providing an update on Ozzy’s health.
“He’s really great. He’s got Parkinson’s, which we all know, but he’s great and it doesn’t affect his voice,” said Sharon.
Iommi added: “This will do him good, to do this show. It really will. That’s what it’s all about: he wants to get out and do something.”
Osbourne previously stated that he would only be playing “little bits and pieces” with Black Sabbath at the final reunion gig. The frontman has since returned to the gym in order to prepare for the performance.
The concert will raise funds for three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children’s Hospice – a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa Football Club.
