In a year packed with milestone moments for heavy metal, one absence is already being felt. Rob Halford, the commanding voice of Judas Priest, has expressed his deep disappointment at missing Black Sabbath‘s final show — an event he only learned about after committing to another major gig.
Speaking to Metal Hammer, Halford revealed that he and Judas Priest were already booked to perform at the 60th-anniversary celebration for Scorpions, happening on July 5 in Hannover, Germany. The catch? That date is also when Sabbath will take their final bow at Villa Park in Birmingham — more than 600 miles away.
“I had no idea it was happening!” Halford admitted.
The overlap puts Priest in the unusual position of being one of the few veteran metal acts not sharing the bill with Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, and others for Sabbath’s grand send-off. The event will also feature Ozzy Osbourne’s final-ever solo performance.
“We’ve known this guy Ossy Hoppe – he’s like god in Germany for metal,” Halford said, explaining how the Scorpions show came to be. “He came in to see me at one of our last shows and says, ‘Would you consider doing something really special and important? I’m putting on the Scorpions for their 60th anniversary, in their hometown. Would you work with the band?’ And I was just like, ‘Done! We’ve got no plans, it’s all good.’”
What seemed like an open calendar suddenly filled up with a high-stakes dilemma. Halford said the situation grew more complicated when Sharon Osbourne personally reached out. “It all got announced and was a big deal – Scorpions and Priest – and suddenly I get this phone call: ‘Robbie, I know you’ve got this gig with Scorpions, but could you consider coming over to do a thing with Ozzy and the guys, he’d love to see you.’”
While Sharon even offered to fly him to Birmingham on the day of the show, the logistics quickly became a concern. “My mind went to Phil Collins when he did Live Aid, where he got on the Concord from London to Philadelphia to play two gigs in two places,” Halford said. “He was there before he left, thanks to the time zones!”
Still, Halford emphasized that even with a private plane, the risks were too high. “Even with a private plane, there’s a word called ‘technical’, where something could go wrong, or the weather that time of year could cause problems… I was absolutely gutted,” he admitted.
Though no current Judas Priest member will be part of the Sabbath send-off, Halford took some comfort in knowing former guitarist K.K. Downing, who left the band in 2011, will be there. He’ll represent “the spirit of the band,” Halford noted.
“All my mates are going to be there though, great bands and artists,” he added. “It’s a wonderful and epic moment for Sabbath and heavy metal – it re-emphasises that Birmingham is where metal came from.”
The shared legacy between Judas Priest and Black Sabbath — both hailing from Birmingham — has long been central to metal history. It’s why Halford’s absence, even if unavoidable, carries emotional weight.
Meanwhile, Priest continues to stay active. They wrapped their tour for Invincible Shield in Monterrey, Mexico, on May 7. Upcoming summer dates include the Scorpions celebration, headline shows honoring 35 years of Painkiller, and a co-headlining run with Alice Cooper from July through October.
