Black Sabbath Announces Intimate "Warm-Up Show"

Exciting news for Black Sabbath fans today, especially those who live in the UK, as the band has announced that they will be playing a special intimate (by Sabbath standards) “warm-up” show at the 3,000-capacity O2 Academy in their hometown of Birmingham on May 19.

The interesting thing about this announcement is that we still have no idea who will be drumming alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler. Bill Ward still has yet to commit to the reunion project, stating the contract he was offered is not satisfactory – Sharon Osbourne is publicly taking the high road, saying the door is always open – while Vinny Appice says he has not been approached. All signs point to Ozzy’s drummer Tommy Clueftos taking over, but we’ll just have to see.

At any rate, tickets for Sabbath’s May 19 show in Birmingham are £45, and go on sale at 9 a.m. GMT on May 4.

Black Sabbath’s only two other shows this year will be June 10 at Download Festival in Donington Park, England, and at Lollapalooza August 3-5 at Grant Park in Chicago.