BLACK SABBATH Ballet Premieres in Birmingham

A ballet soundtracked by the music of BLACK SABBATH premiered on September 23, 2023, at the Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham, England, the band’s hometown. The ballet was commissioned by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s director Carlos Acosta and Ballet Now, and featured eight specially reorchestrated BLACK SABBATH songs plus new music inspired by the band. BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi, who had attended some rehearsals, came on stage at the end of the performance to play guitar on the band’s classic song “Paranoid.“ Iommi also took a bow at the end of the night along with the cast and crew. Other notable attendees at the event included Iommi’s bandmate, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler; Sharon Osbourne, wife of BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne; LED ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant; and ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA’s Bev Bevan, who served as the touring drummer for BLACK SABBATH from 1983 to 1984 and played percussion on the album “The Eternal Idol“ in 1987. The bal