Geezer Butler Joins Jack Black for Epic Sabbath Jam at Power To The People Festival
In a colossal fusion of rock legends and comedic genius, BLACK SABBATH's revered bassist Geezer Butler graced the stage with JACK SABBATH, a tribute act led by none other than Jack Black, during the Power To The People festival on October 3rd at Columbia, Maryland's iconic Merriweather Post Pavilion. The highlight of the night? An electrifying performance of the SABBATH classic "War Pigs" that sent shockwaves through the audience.
Jack Black and his crew, which included the prodigious talents of Tom Morello's son Roman on guitar, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian's son Revel on bass, teenage drumming sensation Yoyoka Soma, and keyboardist Hugo Weiss, kicked off their three-song set with a powerful rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s "Mr. Crowley" followed by the haunting riffs of SABBATH’s "The Wizard." The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Butler joined the ranks, transforming the stage into a battlefield of sound for the legendary "War Pigs."
This isn't the first time Black and Roman Morello have joined forces; they delivered a moving version of "Mr. Crowley" during celebrations for Tom Morello's mother’s centennial in October 2023. With a lineup that included Yoyoka, Roya Feiz on bass, and Hugo Weiss on keyboards, the performance served as a tribute to the enduring legacy of heavy metal.
Reflecting on his roots, Jack Black once recounted a pivotal moment in his life when he first encountered Ozzy’s music. “I went to this record store looking for the new JOURNEY album at ten years old. A kid told me, 'No, man. You want this,' and handed me Ozzy Osbourne's 'Blizzard Of Ozz.' That changed everything,” he reminisced during an interview, emphasizing the profound impact that the dark and passionate sounds of heavy metal have had on his life.
In a beautiful homage to the metal gods, TENACIOUS D's debut album features the track “Dio,” celebrating the legendary Ronnie James Dio, who replaced Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH. The duo also paid tribute to Dio in the music video for “Push,” intertwining their comedic rock narrative with the saga of heavy metal’s most revered figures.
Most recently, during Ozzy Osbourne’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist in 2024, Black passionately declared, “This motherfucker invented heavy metal, along with Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and the immortal Tony Iommi. They created the darkest, heaviest shit the world had ever heard. They not only invented a genre; they orchestrated the greatest comeback in rock history.” In a world where the spirit of heavy metal thrives, it's moments like these that remind us of its unbreakable legacy.