The Ulcer Joins the Lineup
The ulcer was added to the line for the final living show Black Sabbath, to stand all the details below.
New York Thrash Metal Band Performance
The New York Thrash Metal Band is set to perform at Ozzi Osbourne’s massive “Back to Back” concert in Villa Park, Birmingham, on Saturday, July 5.
They will share the stage with renowned acts such as Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Gojira, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, and Korn. Tom Morello will also perform and serve as the musical director of the concert. Guns N’ Roses, Tool, and more joined the lineup earlier this year.
Notably, this marks the first time Siberian Ulcer shares a stage with the legendary metal outfit. Their previous encounter was during the 1986 Seventh Star tour, which also included Anthrax. The last time both groups performed on the same bill was at the Download Festival 2005.
“I am a huge fan of Black Sabbath,” explained Charlie Benante from Anthrax, “and Black Sabbath was heavily influential in the sound of Siberian Ulcer back in the day.”
“Back in ’86, while working on our third album, we wanted to create a Black Sabbath song,” he continued. “Growing up in a Catholic family, my mother did not appreciate Black Sabbath. Once, when I came home wearing a Black Sabbath t-shirt with the cover of ‘Bloody Sabbath,’ my mother insisted my sister return it because it had ‘666’ on it. I had to keep my fandom hidden from her.”
Scott Ian added, “I discovered Black Sabbath when I was around eight years old, sitting in my uncle’s room at my grandparents’ house. He had a massive vinyl collection, and I thought he was the coolest dude in the world.”
“As I rummaged through his albums, I found one labeled Black Sabbath, and the album cover was a bit creepy. I asked him what it was, and he said, ‘Oh, they’re acid rock…’ I had no idea what that meant at the time. When he played the album, the opening with sound effects, rain, and a bell blew my mind. It was the most terrifying and heavy thing I had ever heard.”
He continued, “Even to this day, there’s nothing like the intro to that song ‘Black Sabbath.’ I started playing guitar around 10 years old, and Tony Iommi was undoubtedly a big influence on me. I tried to figure out how to play ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Paranoid’ by ear; Tony essentially became my guitar teacher.”
Reflections on Black Sabbath
The vocalist Joey Belladonna stated: “I am definitely a huge fan of Sabbath. Over the years, I’ve covered many of their songs along with Ozzy. We toured with them in ’86, and it was electric. It was a monumental tour for us, and we were amazed to be part of it.”
“To be invited as part of the back-to-back events with Black Sabbath is an incredible honor,” he added.
Frank Bello reminisced, “I first heard about Black Sabbath through friends at school who said they were amazing. Plus, I thought the album covers were terrifying. While I love most of Black Sabbath’s albums, the first one, ‘Black Sabbath,’ remains my favorite, as it was my introduction to them, and the songs are still incredible.”
“I am also a huge fan of Geezer Butler—I grew up on his playing, and being able to call him a friend is a fantastic honor. He’s always infused such musicality and melody into everything he plays, making his bass lines incredibly inspiring. He is an amazing person.”
“Being part of this event is a great honor for me, and I’m extremely grateful to Black Sabbath and Sharon Osbourne for including us in this.”
Guitarist John Donais expressed, “I am a 100 percent fan of Black Sabbath. Initially, I became a fan of Ozzy, growing up in the ‘80s, when he was constantly featured on MTV.”
“When I got into the band, my first Black Sabbath album was ‘Sabotage,’ which is still my all-time favorite. I remember listening to it late into the night with my friend in college, completely absorbed in the music.”
Anthrax is also scheduled to open for Slayer at their big show in Finsbury Park, London, this summer, in addition to the event at Cardiff’s BlackWeir Fields.
During a conversation with NME in February alongside Tony Iommi in Villa Park, Sharon Osbourne revealed that her husband is currently “doing really well.” She shared that Ozzy felt “very emotional” about his last Saturday show, expressing that it was “what he wanted.”
“He wants to thank everyone,” Sharon stated. “He hasn’t had the chance due to his health, but now he finally does.”
Talking about Ozzy’s health, she added, “He has Parkinson’s, as we all know, but he’s fantastic, and it doesn’t affect his voice.” Iommi mentioned to NME that Ozzy’s show “will do him good,” explaining, “That’s what he wants—he wants to go out and do something.”
Sharon remarked, “He feels he never got the chance to thank the fans; to say: ‘Thank you for this incredible life.’” In another part of the interview, she said that the concert would “simply celebrate the old music that still lives,” and that Black Sabbath is not producing any new music for the occasion.
“You reach a stage in your career where everything you do simply cannot compare to what you did before,” she told NME. “To bask in your past successes and realize people still love your work is enough.”
Sharon continued, “This is a celebration—of the genre and the pioneers who started it and passed it on to all these bands. Usually, these tributes occur posthumously, so it’s wonderful that these legends can appreciate it while they are still alive!”
Iommi added, “I was just thinking about that! We have this chance before we leave.” In the meantime, Tom Morello hinted at “huge superstars” as “surprises” for the Birmingham show, expressing that it is an “honor” to serve as musical director.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/anthrax-added-to-black-sabbaths-back-to-the-beginning-final-gig-line-up-3854739?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=anthrax-added-to-black-sabbaths-back-to-the-beginning-final-gig-line-up
