VIDEO: Black Sabbath rock Birmingham

Black Sabbath rocked their hometown of Birmingham Saturday night.

The event marked the first time the band had played the city in more than a dozen years, and acted as a warmup show to the group’s upcoming headline appearance at Download next month.

Original Sabbath members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were joined by Ozzy’s drummer Tommy Clufetos for the show as Bill Ward released a statement this past week declining to participate in the reunion based on a current contract offer.

Rolling Stone reports much of the audience’s focus was on guitarist Iommi, still receiving treatment for lymphoma, with the first emotional chant of "Tony! Tony! Tony!" going up immediately after opening song, "Into the Void." Later, Osbourne introduced him as the "Iron Man" before the song of the same name, and a clearly-moved Iommi remained an immutable presence throughout: black-clad, smiling and infusing the most famous riffs in heavy metal history with a vitality to thrill both the veteran Sabbath fans in the 3,000-strong audience, and those born decades after they were first committed to vinyl.

Those riffs were forged just down the road here in Birmingham and Osbourne, in particular, was clearly delighted to be back on stage in his hometown. "People say I sound like a Yank now," he said before "War Pigs" caused the first of many mass sing-alongs, "but I’m from England and proud of it."

"Get home safely," said Ozzy at the end of the show, "before I come back and kick your butts again."


Black Sabbath
O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK – May 19, 2012

01 – Into The Void
02 – Under The Sun
03 – Snowblind
04 – War Pigs
05 – Wheels Of Confusion
06 – Electric Funeral
07 – Black Sabbath
08 – The Wizard
09 – Behind The Wall Of Sleep
10 – N.I.B.
11 – Fairies Wear Boots
12 – Tomorrow’s Dream
13 – Sweet Leaf
14 – Sympton Of The Universe (intro)
15 – Iron Man
16 – Dirty Women
17 – Children Of The Grave
18 – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (intro)
19 – Paranoid.


Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath – Into The Void
O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK – May 19, 2012

Black Sabbath – War Pigs O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK – May 19, 2012 Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath / The Wizard O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK – May 19, 2012 Black Sabbath – Iron Man O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK – May 19, 2012 Black Sabbath – Children Of The Grave O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK – May 19, 2012 Black Sabbath – Paranoid O2 Academy – Birmingham, UK – May 19, 2012 See also: SETLIST: Black Sabbath rock Birmingham Black Sabbath reveal substitute drummer for semi-reunion shows Black Sabbath remove Bill Ward images from website Black Sabbath bassist talks homecoming concert Black Sabbath hire drummer for upcoming shows Drummer Bill Ward to sit out Black Sabbath reunion Best of Black Sabbath due next month Ozzy Osbourne: Speak Of The Devil DVD due in July Black Sabbath sell out homecoming show in 10 minutes Black Sabbath announce intimate homecoming show Ozzy Osbourne becomes Grandfather for the fifth time Black Sabbath to headline Lollapalooza VIDEO: Report on Randy Rhoads 30th Annual Memorial event Ozzy Osbourne: Record Store Day vinyl releases confirmed Black Sabbath guitarist issues cancer update The Osbournes get animated for new TV series Black Sabbath to add one US date to reunion tour Black Sabbath: Reunion tour rescheduled as Ozzy & Friends Black Sabbath reunion update from drummer Bill Ward Sharon Osbourne says she isn’t Black Sabbath’s manager AUDIO: Ozzy talks about Black Sabbath guitarist’s cancer battle Black Sabbath reunion: Bill Ward’s son speaks out Black Sabbath Day supported by Birmingham Culture Chief Black Sabbath drummer overwhelmed by fan support Black Sabbath reunion will continue without Bill Ward Drummer Bill Ward threatens to quit Black Sabbath