METALLICA's ROBERT TRUJILLO On Watching BLACK SABBATH Soundcheck For 'Back To The Beginning': 'It Was So Beautiful'

In episode 112 of "The Metallica Report", the podcast offering weekly insider updates on all things METALLICA, METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo spoke about his participation in the "Back To The Beginning" event, which marked Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH's final performance. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was definitely a true celebration. And it's safe to say that with SABBATH's music, they were the seed. And we've all became the creators of the music that we've created because of them, and they paved the way for us. Because that music, what they created, was so unique."

He continued: "I remember Sharon [Ozzy's wife and manager] saying it was alternative — it was an alternative form of music style [when SABBATH first came out in the late 1960s]. It was so different from anything that was happening back then. And there's a lot of reasons for that. Take [SABBATH drummer] Bill Ward, for instance, as a drummer. He's so unique in his style of playing and that swing that he has, it reminds me of big band music or in a big band style. There was a lot of that in him. Ozzy, with his very bluesy, soulful style of singing. Tony [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist], his chords were — [METALLICA guitarist] Kirk [Hammett] calls 'em smart chords, which are basically jazz chords, and incorporating that into the riffs. Even just the fact that his fingers are different. He has that, which, believe it or not, will create a certain sound, will create a certain riff. So a lot of the stuff that was coming out of that band, it's just very unique, very soulful."

Trujillo also reflected on watching BLACK SABBATH soundcheck for "Back To The Beginning" on Thursday, July 3, two days before the big event. He said: "They were soundchecking, and Ozzy wasn't on stage yet. And even just hearing them warm up on their instruments, this is a whole another level. This is like [watching] Muhammad Ali shadow box or hit the speed bag — it's that intense. It's crazy, because SABBATH warming up to play, obviously, loud music in a stadium and they're just warming up, man — drum fills, some tribal beats Bill was doing, and you hear Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] kind of noodling a bit. And then Tony — I even remember him playing some kind of sort of little bit of jazz, some jazz chords here and there, and then they went into, yeah, 'Into The Void'. And it was really slow and super heavy, but they just went into it. And everybody that was watching — there was a few of us — just started headbanging, and we were all smiling. And some people were crying, some people were crying. It was so beautiful, and it was a powerful moment that anybody that witnessed it, that was something that they'll probably remember for the rest of their lives. But it was a special day. And to see the command that [those] songs and just the feel of that music has on all of us is really something special."

Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate also reportedly said the 76-year-old musician suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and Sharon bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer's friends and family members attended the service, including his SABBATH bandmates, Trujillo, Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT).

Trujillo reflected on the service during an August 7 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was a small group of people, but it was very, very beautiful. And in the end, the speeches were actually… I mean, it was very sad, but at the same time some of the speeches were — as you could imagine — pretty funny. And there were a lot of tears. [The members of] SABBATH kind of ended with their speech, especially with [bassist] Geezer [Butler]. Geezer broke down into tears. He had a hard time, obviously, speaking, and then he came back up and he delivered an amazing eulogy."

Trujillo continued: "It had been raining at the beginning of the service, about an hour — I don't know — longer than an hour before. And then as it sort of progressed through the service, the weather would change and different things would happen. When Kelly [Osbourne, Ozzy and Sharon's daughter] was singing, her lyrics flew — the wind blew her lyrics away. It was almost like Ozzy was having fun with her. And then when Geezer spoke, actually spoke, the sun came out. I'm not kidding. The sun actually came out, and then it was beautiful from that moment on — a very magical moment.

"And again, it's sad, but at the same time, people [were] sharing stories," Robert added. "And all of a sudden, there was laughter, and 'I remember this', 'I remember that'. There were so many stories. I mean, we'd be on the phone forever on this interview. So, it felt like there was a closure from this. And I'm glad that we went — my wife Chloe and I went — and shared that and were able to have that moment with the family and everything. So it was very beautiful. And again, heartfelt words from so many people and kind of reconnecting with different musicians and bandmates, crew members, all that."

The day before the private funeral, thousands of fans gathered in the streets of Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy. His wife and manager Sharon, along with their children Aimée, Kelly and Jack, joined mourners for the emotional tribute.

Ozzy's final concert saw him and his fellow original SABBATH bandmates Tony, Geezer and Bill perform four songs for more than 40,000 people in the stadium and 5.8 million more on a livestream. "Back To The Beginning" served as a tribute to the legendary heavy metal act, including additional performances from such other groups as METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, SLAYER, TOOL, PANTERA and ALICE IN CHAINS. Ozzy also played a five-song solo set while seated in a bat-adorned throne.