Standing alongside Ozzy Osbourne on the evening of August 3rd, 2012, was the legendary guitarist Tony Iommi. Black Sabbath had initially been set to headline Coachella but had to pull out because Tommy Iommi had been battling Lymphoma. However, on the night of August 3rd, Tommy Iommi stood firm and played furiously as he had never lost a step. Black Sabbath’s original bassist, Geezer Butler, played in perfect unison with Tommy Iommi’s signature guitar licks, just like in the old days. For old-time Black Sabbath fans, it was a dream come true seeing Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Iommi, and Geezer Butler all standing on stage together once again. However, the reunion was only seventy-five percent complete as original drummer Bill Ward had chosen not to participate due to a contract dispute. Bill Ward was replaced by Ozzy Osbourne’s drummer Tommy Clufetos.
The Black Sabbath Reunion show at Lollapalooza was fueled by excitement and sentiment. Was the band firing on all cylinders like they had never left, or was it just enough for fans to see Black Sabbath standing on stage together without even playing a note? It’s pretty obvious that if you listen to the videos below, the fans who were at the concert were blown away by the triumphant return of one of the greatest rock bands of all time and one of the pioneering bands of the genre of Heavy Metal.
The Lollapalooza shows were eventually followed by another Black Sabbath Reunion tour to promote the eventual release of the album 13 one year later in 2013. The band’s final album, 13 was the first Black Sabbath album to feature Ozzy on lead vocals since their 1978 album Never Say Die. Like Black Sabbath’s Lollapalooza show, the album featured members Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Iommi, and Geezer Butler. Bill Ward did not perform on the album, as the drumming duties for the record were handled by drummer Brad Wilk, who had played drums in Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine.
Black Sabbath’s Lollapalooza setlist from August 3, 2012.
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Black Sabbath
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The Wizard
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Behind the Wall of Sleep
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N.I.B.
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Into the Void
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Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes
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Snowblind
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War Pigs
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Electric Funeral
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Sweet Leaf
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Symptom of the Universe
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Iron Man
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Fairies Wear Boots
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Dirty Women
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Children of the Grave
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Encore:
Updated November 8, 2023
Black Sabbath’s Lollapalooza Performance in 2012 Was One for the Ages article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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