Judas Priest have released their cover of Black Sabbath‘s ‘War Pigs’ with Ozzy Osbourne for charity. Listen below.
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The band’s version of Sabbath’s classic anti-war song was initially conceived as a tribute video, as they were unable to appear at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ show in Birmingham this summer.
The 1970 track has been used as Judas Priest’s walk-on music at their concerts since 2011.
Now, the group have officially released ‘War Pigs – Charity Version’ on major streaming platforms to benefit Parkinson’s charities. The guitarist, Glenn Tipton, went public with his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018, and quit touring with Judas Priest.
However, Tipton has contributed guitars to the emotional and poignant ‘War Pigs’ cover, despite his health issues. Frontman Rob Halford, meanwhile, trades vocals with Osbourne on the cut.
Judas Priest’s idea to turn their cover into a charity struck a chord with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, per a press release. The finished product is described as a “monumental collaboration honouring the heavy metal icons Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath”.
All profits of Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd and Epic Records in the UK from audio streams, downloads and physical sales of the recording ‘War Pigs (Charity Version)’ will be donated to The Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s.
Listen via YouTube below, or through your preferred streaming platform here.
Speaking about the collaboration recently, Halford explained: “What is cool and what is kind of waiting in the wings is Ozzy singing with me, doing ‘War Pigs’ together. We’ve been able to do that, it’s there – we’re just going through the rigamarole of legal clearance.”
He continued: “Ozzy’s singing a line and then I’m singing a line, and Ozzy’s singing a line and I’m singing a line. It’s the first ever time in my entire life that I’ve been able to do a duet with Ozzy, and I’m so eternally grateful and blessed that I was able to do that.”
Halford revealed that Sharon had approached Judas Priest after hearing their cover in early July: “She said, ‘I love your version of ‘War Pigs’. Is there a way we can get Ozzy?’ I was [like], ‘You’re asking me? This is gonna happen!’”
Earlier this year, Halford said he was “gutted” not to be taking part in Black Sabbath and Osbourne’s final-ever show, and was unaware of the gig until it was too late. Sharon Osbourne later explained that she “would have loved” Judas Priest to have been on the star-studded line-up, “but they couldn’t because they’re working that day”.
All proceeds from the ‘Back To The Beginning’ event were split equally between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acom Children’s Hospice. Sharon has since refuted “ridiculous” reports that the farewell concert raised $190million.
Ozzy died on July 22, aged 76, just 17 days after he played his final-ever live shows at Birmingham’s Villa Park. Last month, Halford said he “bawled his eyes out for hours” after hearing of the icon’s death.
Ozzy’s death certificate confirmed his cause of death to be a heart attack, while also mentioning that he was suffering from coronary heart disease and Parkinson’s. The document listed his occupation as “Songwriter, Performer and Rock Legend”.
In other news, the BBC is set to air its delayed new documentary, Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home, next week. Another upcoming doc, No Escape From Now, will detail the Prince Of Darkness’ final six years.