Robert Plant has revealed why he turned down an invitation to attend Ozzy Osbourne’s final live performance, Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning show, in Birmingham on July 5.
The concert, held at Villa Park and attended by 40,000 fans and rock legends, marked Osbourne’s last-ever show before his death last month at age 76.
While Tony Iommi invited Plant to the event, the former Led Zeppelin frontman declined, though he did not clarify if he was asked to perform or just attend.
Speaking to Mojo about his upcoming album and tour with his band Saving Grace, Plant hinted at a preference for more intimate performances.
“I’ve been from a very questionable Live Aid to the O2, to Obama and the White House… I was beatified,” he said. “We’ve got to be very careful now that we make sure it stays closer to Bert Jansch than Axl Rose.”
Plant said he now feels “free” playing smaller venues, and his desire to avoid massive stadium gigs may have influenced his decision. He appeared to refer to Back to the Beginning as “doing the football stadium with some old mates.”