Sammy Hagar Praises Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s Epic Farewell Concert, Reflects on Missed Eddie Van Halen Tribute
via Sammy Hagar / YouTube
A Big Night for Rock in Birmingham
Sammy Hagar was one of the rock legends who joined the “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath on July 5 in Birmingham, England. The event was a major moment for heavy metal fans, as the original Black Sabbath lineup came together one final time.
On July 9, Hagar shared a 20-slide Instagram post filled with professionally taken photos from the show. He included a long caption sharing his feelings about the night.
“I can’t say enough about how impressed, inspired and touched I am about the Back To The Beginning event, especially @OzzyOsbourne, @BillWardDrummer, @TonyIommi, and @GeezerButler. They not just did it, they f—ing crushed it! And let’s not forget about all the musicians that showed up & gave it up, for all the right reasons.”
Gratitude and Respect for Everyone Involved
Hagar also thanked the many people behind the scenes who helped make the event happen.
“As for me being asked to be a part of this event, it meant the world & actually doing it in real time is something I’ll never forget,” he said. “How bout some XXXTRA love and respect for @SharonOsbourne @tommorello & all the technicians, crew, security, & the fans that made this event not just happen but made it one of the greatest rock events of all time 🤘🤘🤘… Thanx to you all.”
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Still Waiting for an Eddie Van Halen Tribute
While Hagar was thrilled to honor Black Sabbath, he still feels strongly about a missed opportunity to celebrate his late bandmate Eddie Van Halen. In a November 2023 interview on the Rock of Nations podcast, Hagar said he was upset no official tribute had taken place.
“For them not to have done something for Eddie Van Halen, the greatest guitar player in the world, on the planet. Greatest rock musician, I’m telling ya. It’s ugly,” he said. “But it’s not my job.”
Keeping Eddie’s Legacy Alive in His Own Way
Even if there hasn’t been a formal tribute, Hagar has honored Eddie in his own way. In May, he performed a Las Vegas show called “Best of All Worlds” at Dolby Live at Park MGM. The show’s title came from Van Halen’s 2004 compilation album The Best of Both Worlds. The setlist included several classic Van Halen tracks.
