TONY IOMMI Says BLACK SABBATH “Had Seven Songs Ready” For “Back To The Beginning” Farewell, But Had To Play Only Four Due To Curfew Constraints

After two decades apart, the classic Black Sabbath lineup took the stage once more during the Back to the Beginning event last Saturday — an emotional performance that became the final chapter for the forefathers of heavy metal. Speaking on the July 8 episode of Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, guitarist Tony Iommi opened up about the uncertainty leading into the reunion show.

“Well, it’s been stressful for the last couple of months, really, thinking about it. And we went into rehearsals a month ago. But you never know until the day. I mean, we hadn’t played on a big stage with Bill for 20 years, so I was wondering what’s gonna happen. But no, it all went fine,” Iommi said (via Blabbermouth)

Iommi, who had previously expressed hesitation about the gig, confirmed that his concerns ultimately gave way to relief. “Well, yes. After it’s happened, it’s fine. Yeah, of course. I mean, it raised a lot of money for the charities, and that was the main thing. And it was great to see the guys and all be together again for a few weeks, really, while we were rehearsing and got to know each other again. It was good, yeah.”

The reunion was more than just a musical farewell; it was also personal. “I live in England, and the other three are in the States. So by everybody coming over, yes, we had time to talk and talk of old times,” Iommi explained. “And it just slotted straight back into like we hadn’t left each other, which was great.”

But the logistics and pressure of reuniting weren’t lost on him. “And of course, a lot’s happened in the last — whatever — 10 years or whatever it was since we’d done a show, and, of course, as I said to you before, we hadn’t played with Bill live for 20 years, so it was hairy wondering what’s gonna happen, really. Because Bill, when he plays, he plays different things every time. So you just have to be on your toes. But no, it went well”

Despite the chaos, it worked. “It was strange for us going on a big stage in a big audience, and then also being streamed to millions of people. It’s very nerve-racking for a one-off show. Normally, we would do a tour and we’d be rolling, but to get all worked up for one show and then — bang, it’s over — seemed strange.”

The quartet performed a tight four-song set: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid.” Iommi noted that the selection was based largely on Ozzy Osbourne’s stamina, since the singer had just performed a solo set beforehand.

“We worked out what we were gonna play, what songs we were gonna play. And it was really a case of how long Ozzy could do it, really, because we didn’t know — with him doing his own set [right before], which I said to him I didn’t think he should do, because I didn’t want him to get burnt out by the time he’d come with us. But he didn’t, and he did his own set. We ended up doing four songs, where we put aside sort of six or seven. But it worked out that we did four. So that was fine.”

Getting Ozzy back on stage after his solo set was another hurdle. “That was my concern and that was all our concern, actually — Geezer, me and Bill. We thought that he should have a longer break.”

The original plan involving a curtain reveal was scrapped last-minute due to wind concerns. “We didn’t really know how we were gonna do it, because the original plan was we’d get a curtain and the curtain was gonna be raised and we’d all be there. But of course, on the day — well, the day before, when we went down for a soundcheck to the stadium — the curtain didn’t work and they thought best not to use it ’cause it was windy. So then we had to figure out how we were gonna get on stage, which was a revolving stage, by the way. It was mainly getting Ozz on, because he’s in his throne. And then Geezer and I walk on. And Bill was already on. So it was making it up as we went on, really.”

While the band had rehearsed as many as seven songs, curfews at Villa Park cut things short. “Well, we had seven songs that we’d gone through, and then it went down to six. And then, of course, there is a strong curfew at the Villa,” Iommi said, also praising Tom Morello’s organization of the event. “I’m surprised they managed to get all the bands in anyway — I really am — because the organization… How Tom Morello had organized that was just incredible. He had really done a great job. But they were working to the minute, and it was touch and go. You couldn’t go over your time; otherwise, I don’t know what would’ve happened because they do work to a serious cut-off.”

The rehearsals themselves brought back some challenges, especially for Ward. “Well, we started with ‘Fairies Wear Boots’, and then we’d done ‘Black Sabbath’. And it was a little difficult for Bill ’cause he hadn’t played them for so long. And Geezer and I, of course, played them on the last tour. And, of course, Bill hasn’t toured, don’t forget, for a long time.”

For Iommi, agreeing to the performance was not an easy decision. “That’s why I said in the first place I didn’t wanna do it, because I said we’d already done the final show before — it was the end, and that’s why it was called The End: Live In Birmingham. It was the end, and as far as I was concerned, that was it.” But he changed his mind when the rest of the band pushed for it, especially with Ward finally involved. “A lot of people said they hadn’t seen Bill, and why didn’t we finish it off properly with Bill? And so here we are. We’ve done it, finished it off with Bill. And that’s great. We’ve wrapped it now.”

When asked how he felt about Ozzy and Bill’s performances, Iommi responded with realism. “Well, I’m really a bit of a perfectionist, but they can only do what they can do, and you can’t expect anything else. We’re in our seventies and late seventies, so you can only do so much. And to expect perfection from everybody is just impossible at the moment. But they did what they could do, and everybody was fine about it.”

In true Black Sabbath fashion, there were also laughs. “Oh my God,” Iommi laughed when Trunk brought up Bill taking off his shirt on stage. “When we had a break on one of the rehearsals, we went in to eat at the studio, and Bill got his shirt off, and Geezer was just about to have a sandwich. He went, ‘Oh, Bill, put your shirt on. You’re putting me off the sandwich.’ [Laughs]” Iommi added, “I said to Bill, ‘Blimey, Bill, you look like [ancestral Hobbit] Gollum.’ And I don’t think he knew who Gollum was. He just doesn’t care. He goes on and does what he wants, which is great.”

The legendary chemistry between these four musicians clearly remains. “Immediately, of course, all the jokes started again as soon as we were together, having a go at each other. It was really fun, actually. It was great. The communication carried on from years ago.”

According to The Guardian, Back To The Beginning was livestreamed to over five million fans. It served as a fitting, heartfelt reunion, and perhaps the closure that many fans and even the band themselves had long awaited.