Black Sabbath call it quits in Sharon Osbourne's Ozzfest announcement

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Black Sabbath call it quits in Sharon Osbourne's Ozzfest announcement

By Peter Vincent

First it was Motley Crue calling time on their career. Now one of popular music's most influential bands, metal heavyweights Black Sabbath appears to have announced the date for its final show.

In a brief video released on Sunday Sharon Osbourne announced the band will play at Ozzfest, from November 21-22 near Tokyo, adding "and this will be Black Sabbath's farewell". Although Sharon Osbourne manages Ozzy Osbourne, not Black Sabbath, she is co-founder of Ozzfest. Her claim has not been disputed by Ozzy's bandmates Tony Iommi or Geezer Butler, or by the verified social media sources for the band.

Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of Black Sabbath.

Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of Black Sabbath.Credit: Michael Clayton-Jones

It is understood founding guitarist Iommi's lymphoma diagnosis and treatment was a factor in the decision to cease playing live. In January, Iommi told the Mirror: "The surgeon told me he doesn't expect the cancer to go away."

Black Sabbath sold 70 million records, created several iconic albums and cult songs (including War Pigs and Iron Man) and was once voted the greatest heavy metal band of all-time by MTV. Most informed discussions about the origins of heavy metal credits Black Sabbath with a pivotal role, especially the band's sole composer, Iommi, 67.

Tony Iommi on guitar with Black Sabbath at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in 2013.

Tony Iommi on guitar with Black Sabbath at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in 2013.Credit: Michael Clayton-Jones

Iommi lost the tips of two fingers on his last day working at a sheet metal factory in 1965 but was inspired to continue playing guitar after hearing Django Reinhardt's abilities with only two playing fingers. Iommi began playing with thimbles on his damaged fingers and later adjusted his playing style by tuning his guitar strings to lower pitches to ease the tension on his fingers, leading to a much heavier sound.

Black Sabbath was formed in Birmingham in 1969 and are expected to release one final, as-yet unnamed album, produced by Rick Rubin. The band's 2013 album, 13, topped the charts in the United States and United Kingdom and the single God is Dead? won a Grammy.

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