Former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing has called for Sharon Osbourne and Black Sabbath members to receive knighthoods from King Charles III. This follows what he described as an incredible charity event performance in a statement shared on Facebook.
Downing’s comments focused on his experience performing at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ charity event and his gratitude toward the organizers and Black Sabbath members.
‘Back To The Beginning was incredible,’ Downing said. ‘That is the only word for what has just taken place.’
He described the pre-show atmosphere and his initial concerns about the complex production setup.
‘All throughout rehearsals and up to soundcheck I was thinking is this really at all possible,’ he continued. ‘There were amplifiers, speakers, pedal boards, and miles and miles of cables everywhere, and hundreds of people all going in tons of different directions. I had to ask myself could I actually be a bit nervous? Hell yeah! I was, this is going to be the most Important show in rock and metal ever.’
Downing praised the professional organization of the event. He noted it ran ahead of schedule.
‘Then when I arrived on the day, the show was already under way, and when I got to my dressing room I was notified that the show was running 20 minutes ahead of schedule,’ he said. ‘This was truly in itself a very rare achievement, I cannot praise everyone enough that was involved with organising this wonderful event.’
The guitarist expressed gratitude to his fellow performers and the event’s musical director.
‘The curtain went up for me and my amazing bandmates and everything had come magically together, this event was truly in the hands of top professionals,’ Downing said. ‘I would like to thank the band — Adam Jones, Danny Carey, Rudy Sarzo, Billy Corgan, and last but not least the event’s musical director Tom Morello, who really did dedicate himself to this show over so many months.’
He concluded with his suggestion for royal recognition of Black Sabbath’s contributions.
‘I cannot end without saying a massive thank you to Sharon, Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill for making all of this possible, and for their great contribution to a very worthy charity,’ Downing said. ‘I think King Charles III of England should now prepare to award Sharon and the Mighty Black Sabbath each a very well-deserved knighthood.’
Downing’s praise for the event reflects the massive scale and success of what became one of rock music’s most significant charity concerts in recent history.
MetalSucks reported that the ‘Back To The Beginning’ concert held on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham raised nearly $200 million for charity. The funds will be evenly distributed to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Children’s Hospice. These organizations provide critical healthcare services in the Birmingham area.
The event’s fundraising success was significantly boosted by its global reach. Rock 92.9 revealed that a paid livestream attracted over 5 million viewers worldwide. The digital component generated upwards of $150 million alone. This allowed fans across the globe to participate in the historic farewell event.
The concert marked a milestone moment in rock history. It featured the final live performance for both Ozzy Osbourne and the original Black Sabbath lineup performing together for the first time since 2005. Rue Morgue Records noted that the event showcased a star-studded lineup including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, and many others. This highlighted the wide-reaching impact of Black Sabbath’s legacy on the rock music community.
The scale and success of the charity event provides context for Downing’s suggestion that Black Sabbath and Sharon Osbourne deserve royal recognition for their contributions to both music and charitable causes.
