Black Sabbath bid goodbye with farewell shows

Ozzy Osbourne's groundbreaking band Black Sabbath have announced a farewell tour.

The heavy metal group has been active since 1986 and are responsible for classics like Paranoid and Never Say Die!
However, Black Sabbath is putting touring to rest, as they are planning to bid the road goodbye forever with one final concert series.

"It started nearly five decades ago with a crack of thunder, a distant bell ringing and then that monstrous riff that shook the earth. The heaviest rock sound ever heard," a statement on the band's website reads. "In that moment Heavy Metal was born, created by a young band from Birmingham, England barely out of their teens. Now it ENDS, the final tour by the greatest Metal Band of all time, BLACK SABBATH."

The release also assured fans the upcoming shows will "surpass all previous tours with their most mesmerising production ever".

Lead singer Ozzy, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler will be hitting the road together for the farewell concert series, entitled The End.

It's unclear who will tour in original drummer Bill Ward's place, as he is not involved in The End. The drummer had a falling out with Black Sabbath and revealed in an interview with the Rolling Stone earlier this year he wasn't even sure if he is still a member of the band.

"I wish them well, and I have no further comment," Bill told the Rolling Stone when asked about the forthcoming concerts.
The End tour kicks off in Omaha, Nebraska on January 20, 2016. So far there are shows lined up across North and South America, New Zealand and Australia. More concert dates will be announced next month.