Image: Musiclipse

Watch Black Sabbath’s Last Show, Filmed in Moscow

Nearly fifty years after they first formed in 1968, legendary rockers Black Sabbath are  finally winding down. It is almost five years since Ozzy and the band announced their reunion, and over the coming months they are set to play farewell shows all around the world.

Currently touring Europe, one fan in Moscow captured Black Sabbath’s entire live set at the Olympiski stadium on July 12. Viewers can watch the band’s last ever show in Russia via YouTube, where they played for one hour and forty five minutes. Opening with Black Sabbath, the thrashed out fourteen of their best known tracks including War Pigs, Iron Man and an encore of their iconic Paranoid.

There are many myths surrounding Black Sabbath, most of which are probably best left unsolved. But any rumours that the band might be too old to do justice to their hefty catalogue, are easily dispelled with one watch of this video…

The farewell tour, The End, continues through to next February, hitting the USA , Mexico and South America before returning to their native UK for their very last shows. With festival appearances at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest in California, Black Sabbath with finish their tour of North America in Texas.

To be precise, in San Antonio, the home of the Alamo. A fitting finish for anyone who knows their Sabbath lore, as Ozzy was once arrested for public urination and intoxication at the famous landmark. Much to the displeasure of proud Texans, although he has since apologised.

Performing as the original line up, Osbourne is joined by guitarist Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler on bass and Bill Ward on drums. Having regrouped a number of times since the 70’s, Sabbath embarked on a successful world tour in 2013 after the release of their album 13 – despite Iommi being treated for lymphoma since 2012.

For a band with such a long career and such international success, the idea of saying a final goodbye to fans and cities can be a melancholy one. Speaking to The Pulse Of Radio, Butler said “It’s sad, especially when we’re in Australia or New Zealand, I was just thinking, ‘I’m never gonna come to these places ever again’… It’s too far to go on holiday. But yeah, it is sad. It’s like, you enjoy it.”

Ending the tour in their hometown of Birmingham, UK, Black Sabbath will exit the stage for the last time next February. Which, admittedly, is probably a good many decades later than a lot of people anticipated.

Image: Musiclipse