Alex Lifeson says he and fellow Rush bandmate Geddy Lee had been requested to play on the Black Sabbath reunion present this summer time, however they needed to cancel.

Although Lifeson affirms that the pair would have cherished to play on the occasion, which is because of happen at Villa Park in Birmingham (UK) on 5 July, sadly, “different issues got here up”. The mighty present will mark the primary time that the unique Sabbath lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Invoice Ward, have performed collectively in 20 years.

Chatting with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights, Lifeson says [via Blabbermouth], “That entire factor that they’re doing this summer time, [Geddy and I] had been requested to be part of it, and we had agreed to do it, however different issues got here up, and sadly we needed to again out of it, ‘trigger it could have been plenty of enjoyable. And we get pleasure from taking part in with different individuals, and it will get Geddy and me collectively to do stuff, and all of that.”

Additionally within the interview, Lifeson recollects how he felt about Sabbath and their music through the early days of their respective music careers: “We had been taking part in excessive faculties and ultimately golf equipment and issues like that. I don’t know if I used to be a extremely a fan of Black Sabbath, however I did get a pair data again then and I loved listening to them. I revered Tony’s guitar taking part in.” He later added, “There was an fascinating parallel for his or her beginnings and our beginnings.”

Tickets for the Again To The Starting Black Sabbath present are fully bought out. Additionally set to look are bands reminiscent of Metallica, Slayer, Lamb Of God, and an entire lot extra. There will even be a efficiency by a “supergroup” together with the likes of Duff McKagan and Slash, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, and Wolfgang Van Halen – simply to call a couple of. Tom Morello is serving as Music Director for the occasion.

You’ll find out extra concerning the Again To The Starting occasion by way of the official Black Sabbath web site.