Soundgarden has addressed their absence from Black Sabbath’s farewell concert “Back to the Beginning.” The band explained why they were unable to participate despite being invited to the festival lineup, as shared in a statement on Instagram.
The band issued an official statement expressing their gratitude to Black Sabbath. They also explained the scheduling conflicts that prevented their participation.
“Congratulations to Black Sabbath on the grand and final pealing of their vesper bells!” the statement read. “Thank you for an astounding career that provided us and your legion of fans with a lifetime of beauty, horror, love, power, happiness, melancholy and a profoundly sublime, yet viscerally rocking transcendence informed by both doom and hope.”
The statement continued with praise for the legendary metal band’s influence on the music industry.
“Your majestic brilliance has inspired greatness in scores of other bands, musicians and songwriters,” Soundgarden noted. “However, the crown will forever remain yours!”
The band then acknowledged the invitation they received to perform at the farewell event.
“We are very grateful to Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, as well as Sharon Osbourne and music director, Tom Morello for the honor and invitation to Soundgarden to perform at the Back to the Beginning festival!” they stated.
Finally, Soundgarden explained the reason for their absence. They expressed regret about missing the historic event.
“We are super bummed and regret that we were unable to coordinate the schedules of our individual and collective projects to attend and contribute to the festival,” they concluded. “The warmth, love and support from the Black Sabbath team has been a continuing source of encouragement and strength throughout our career.”
The absence of Soundgarden from this historic farewell event carries particular significance. This is due to the deep musical connections between the two bands and the expectations that had been set for their participation.
Loudwire reported that Sharon Osbourne had announced earlier in May during an interview with The Guardian that the surviving members of Soundgarden were scheduled to perform alongside other guests like Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, who did appear at the concert. This initial announcement raised expectations among fans. Soundgarden’s absence became particularly noticeable when the event took place.
The connection between Soundgarden and Black Sabbath runs deeper than just a scheduled performance. Pearl Jam Online noted that Soundgarden’s members have long cited Black Sabbath as a major influence. Drummer Matt Cameron credited Sabbath with shaping his musical growth. Guitarist Kim Thayil spoke openly about Tony Iommi’s impact on his playing style. The event would have been a full-circle moment for the band, honoring their roots and the shared legacy between Sabbath and Soundgarden’s grunge-era sound.
The “Back to the Beginning” concert itself was a massive undertaking that demonstrated the scale of Black Sabbath’s cultural impact. Wikipedia documented that the farewell show was a major 10-hour event held in Birmingham with fourteen supporting acts, video tributes, guest appearances, and even featured a marriage proposal that was accepted by Kelly Osbourne after the show. The event celebrated both Black Sabbath’s legacy and the broader rock and metal community.
Soundgarden’s heartfelt statement reflects the profound respect and admiration they hold for Black Sabbath’s contribution to heavy music despite the scheduling conflicts that prevented their participation. The statement clarifies the scheduling conflicts that prevented Soundgarden from participating in what many considered a significant moment in heavy metal history.
