Alex Lifeson Shares RUSH is Invited For Black Sabbath’s Reunion Show

Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell concert, “Back to the Beginning,” is shaping up to be one of the biggest rock events of the year. Scheduled for July 5 in Birmingham, U.K., the show will bring together some of the biggest names in rock and metal history. However, two legendary musicians who were originally set to take part—Rush’s Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee—have unfortunately had to bow out.

In a recent interview on the Loudwire Nights podcast, Lifeson revealed that he and Lee had agreed to perform but had to cancel due to other commitments. “[Geddy and I] were asked to be a part of it, and we had agreed to do it, but other things came up,” Lifeson explained. “And sadly, we had to back out of it.”

While the news is disappointing for Rush fans, Lifeson admitted that he would have loved to be part of the historic event.

“[I]t would have been a lot of fun. And we enjoy playing with other people, and it gets Geddy and me together to do stuff, and all of that.”

Lifeson also reflected on his connection to Black Sabbath, saying he wasn’t necessarily a die-hard fan in their heyday, but he still had a lot of admiration for them. “I did get a couple records back then, and I enjoyed listening to them,” Lifeson said, adding, “I respected Tony [Iommi’s] guitar playing.”

While Rush won’t be part of the show, the event still boasts an incredible lineup, featuring Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Tom Morello, Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins, and Sammy Hagar.

Ozzy’s Final Performance with Black Sabbath

One of the most anticipated moments of the night will be Ozzy Osbourne’s brief reunion with Black Sabbath. While fans hoped for a full set from the legendary band, Ozzy, who has struggled with various health issues in recent years, made it clear that he won’t be performing an extended show with his former bandmates.

Still, even a short set will be a historic moment for rock fans, as Ozzy, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler reunite on stage one last time.

Alex Lifeson’s Next Chapter: Envy of None’s New Album and Possible Tour

Even though Lifeson won’t be part of “Back to the Beginning,” he’s keeping busy with his new band, Envy of None. Their second album, Stygian Wavz, is set to release on March 28, and fans are eager to hear what’s next from the group. While Rush fans have been waiting for Lifeson and Lee to tour again, Lifeson admitted that he’s not in a rush to get back on the road full-time.

“We’ve spoken a lot about that lately, and we’re trying to figure out how we could do it in a viable fashion,” he explained. “I toured for 40 years. I’m not really prepared to jump in a van and drive around the country and do little gigs … at a loss.” That said, Lifeson isn’t completely ruling out live performances for Envy of None.

“[I]f the record does well and there’s movement on it, and there’s the possibility of taking it on the road, for example, I could see doing several dates or little packages of dates.”

He also described how a live show for Envy of None would be different from a traditional rock tour.

“[I]n a theater, with a nice subtle light show, with two albums’ worth of this kind of cinematic, ambient music, I think it would be a great evening of really, really emotional, passionate music.”

Envy of None Drops New Single “The Story”

Ahead of their album release, Envy of None just unveiled a new single, “The Story,” along with an artistic music video featuring lead singer Maiah Wynne. The video captures the song’s emotional depth with dramatic visuals of Wynne wearing smeared black-and-white face paint while delivering a powerful performance.

Wynne shared the personal inspiration behind the song: “I wrote about wanting to be better, to grow, and the sense of desperation that comes with that desire,” she explained. “To me, the song is about the struggle of not being able to break bad cycles.”

She continued, explaining how the song connects with people’s real-life struggles:

“Whether it’s habits, addiction, self-sabotage, or just unhealthy patterns, we all are trapped by something we are trying to break away from. If I had the power to write my own story, I’d want to be the hero, but so often I am my own villain.”

What’s Next for Envy of None?

Stygian Wavz will be released in multiple formats, and fans can already pre-order it. The album follows their 2022 self-titled debut, which introduced listeners to the band’s unique blend of cinematic rock, ambient soundscapes, and haunting melodies.

Alongside Lifeson and Wynne, Envy of None includes longtime Rush collaborator Andy Curran (bass, guitar, synths, backing vocals) and producer Alfio Annibalini (guitar, keyboards). Curran, best known for his work with Coney Hatch, has been a close friend of Lifeson for years.

While it remains to be seen whether Envy of None will tour, the band is clearly gaining momentum with Stygian Wavz. Whether on stage or in the studio, Lifeson continues to push his musical boundaries beyond what fans might expect from a classic rock guitarist.