Black Sabbath headlined the closing night of the 10th annual Download Festival on Sunday.
It was Sabbath’s second show of 2012 and, like last month’s warm-up gig in their hometown of Birmingham, the band used fill-in drummer Tommy Clufetos in place of the absent Bill Ward, who continues to sit out the group’s planned reunion due to a contractual dispute.
NME reports the metal pioneers came onstage at Donington Park on Sunday to a montage of vintage photos, opening the show with their eponymous track from their eponymous debut album. Guitarist Tony Iommi was in full force on a crucifix-adorned fretboard while frontman Ozzy Ozbourne played harmonica.
Ozzy kept the banter to a minimum but stopped for a tribute at one point, declaring: "The guy on the stage I've known for most of my life, and he's one of the strongest guys I know. Let's hear it for Mr. Tony Iommi."
Iommi announced in January that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of cell that forms part of the immune system. Iommi’s illness and timely treatment – including chemotherapy, steroids and radiotherapy – scaled Sabbath’s reunion plans down to just three dates, with one more to go: Lollapalooza in Chicago this August.
"You have do something for me on this last song, go nuts," Osbourne insisted before the band launched into “Children Of The Grave.” The band then went off stage and returned for an encore featuring “Paranoid” and a short fireworks show.
Black Sabbath
Download Festival – Donington Park, UK – June 10, 2012
01. Black Sabbath
02. The Wizard
03. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
04. N.I.B.
05. Into The Void
06. Under The Sun
07. Snowblind
08. War Pigs
09. Sweet Leaf
10. Drum Solo
11. Iron Man
12. Fairies Wear Boots
13. Tomorrow's Dream
14. Dirty Women
15. Children Of The Grave
Encore:
16. Paranoid
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath – Intro / Black Sabbath
Download Festival – Donington Park, UK – June 10, 2012
