The “Back to the Beginning” concert in Birmingham, England on Saturday (July 5), which featured Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne‘s final performances, generated nearly $200 million for charity. The proceeds will be split between Cure Parkinson’s (Ozzy has been diagnosed with the disease), Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice. Tom Morello, the show’s musical director, announced on Instagram on Tuesday (July 8) that the event – which attracted over 5 million paid livestream viewers in addition to a sold-out in-person crowd of 44,000 – raised “more than $190 million [which] will be donated to houses and hospitals for children.” “We set out to not just create the greatest day in the history of heavy metal,” Morello adds. “It was over a year of hard work but it was a labor of love. We raised a ton of money for a great cause and so many great musicians & bands & fans all over the world paid tribute to the ALL TIME greats.” All participating artists performed for free, ensuring that all proceeds from the event will go directly to charity. (Consequence of Sound)
