Robert Plant has revealed the explanation he declined an invitation to Ozzy Osbourne‘s final ever dwell present, Black Sabbath‘s ‘Again To The Starting’ gig.
- READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne, 1948-2025: culture-smashing revolutionary that redefined rock and actuality TV
Heavy metallic pioneer Ozzy died final month at age 76, which got here shortly after he took to the stage for his final-ever dwell present on the large ‘Again To The Starting’ occasion in Birmingham on July 5, which was attended by a number of rock royalty.
Nevertheless, former Led Zeppelin frontman Plant was not amongst them, and has since informed Mojo that whereas Tony Iommi did prolong an invite, he declined it on the time, with out specifying whether or not he was requested to carry out on the gig, solely saying that he was requested to “attend”.
He was chatting with the publication about his upcoming album with Saving Grace, which the band will rejoice with a European and North American tour this autumn, and make clear his intent to maneuver away from large-scale venues on the forthcoming trek.
“For me,” he defined, “as a result of I’ve been from a really questionable Stay Assist to the O2, to Obama and the White Home and all these issues, I used to be beatified. I felt the tug of doing this – Saving Grace wanted simply to maneuver on up in glory, as Mavis [Staples] would say. We’ve received to be very cautious now that we be sure it stays nearer to Bert Jansch than Axl Rose,” he stated.
He continued to make clear feeling extra “free” to play smaller venues with Saving Grace, which can have impacted his resolution to say no ‘Again to the Starting’. The landmark present was watched by hundreds of thousands across the globes and roughly 40,000 attendees dwell in Villa Park – with Plant seemingly referring to the efficiency as “doing the soccer stadium with some outdated mates.”
“The gigs are sufficiently small in order that if no person needs to go, it’s not the top of the world. And so, by having that laissez-faire, easy-going, no matter it’s referred to as – suicidal! – angle, as a substitute of doing the soccer stadium with some outdated mates, there it was: we had been free. We might mess about.”
“I stated, Tony, I’d love to return, however I can’t come,” Plant stated. “I simply can’t. I’m not saying that I’d fairly hang around with Peter Gabriel or Youssou N’Dour, however I don’t know something about what’s happening in that world now, in any respect. I don’t decry it, I’ve received nothing towards it.
“It’s simply I discovered these different locations which can be so wealthy.”
Saving Grace are set to play play dates throughout New York, Vancouver, Chicago, Los Angeles and extra later this yr, with 4 intimate reveals in London set for subsequent month. You’ll be able to go to right here for tickets and take a look at a listing of dates beneath.
Robert Plant’s upcoming reveals are
SEPTEMBER
28 – Kingston, LDN, Circuit (Present one at 5pm, present 2 at 7pm)
29 – Kingston, LDN, Circuit (Present one at 5pm, present 2 at 7pm)
OCTOBER
30 – Wheeling, WV – Capitol Theatre Wheeling
NOVEMBER
2 – Charlottesville, VA – The Paramount Theater of Charlottesville
3 – Washington, D.C. – Lincoln Theatre
5 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
6 – Boston, MA – Boch Heart Shubert Theatre
8 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
10 – Toronto, Ontario – Massey Corridor
12 – Chicago, IL – The Vic
13 – Chicago, IL – Previous City College of Folks Music
15 – Denver, CO – Ellie Caulkins Opera Home
18 – Seattle, WA – The Moore Theatre
19 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Vogue Theatre
21 – Oakland, CA – The Fox
22 – Los Angeles, CA – United Theater on Broadway
Plant was amongst those that paid tribute to Ozzy following his demise, saying he had “really modified the planet of rock”.
Elsewhere, it was introduced earlier this month that the flowers and tributes laid by followers in Ozzy’s hometown Birmingham had been being preserved by the Central Bid Birmingham to be despatched to the late singer’s household.
The exhibition ‘Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero’, which showcases his most prestigious worldwide honours, will stay open on the Birmingham Museum and Artwork Gallery till January 2026. Moreover, a biopic of Ozzy and Sharon’s lives is within the works at Sony Photos, with negotiations with a director ongoing. The venture was first introduced in 2021.