Tool Joins Black Sabbath Farewell Tribute Thanks to Tom Morello’s Nudge
Tool has officially joined the star-studded lineup for Back To The Beginning, the farewell tribute to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne happening July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK. But according to guitarist Adam Jones, the band’s involvement almost didn’t happen—until a friendly push from Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello.
In a recent interview, Jones revealed Tool initially declined the offer to perform. “It was a huge honor, but we all had our doubts,” Jones admitted. It wasn’t until Morello, curating the event’s all-star jam, mentioned that Tool’s drummer Danny Carey and frontman Maynard James Keenan were already participating that Jones had a change of heart.
“If the three of us were already going to be there, it made sense,” Jones explained. “And Justin [Chancellor, bass] was on board instantly.”
For Jones, Black Sabbath’s influence runs deep. “Their music terrified me—in the best way—when I first heard it,” he said, adding that Tony Iommi’s iconic riffs inspired Tool’s signature drop D sound.
Tool’s performance marks a fitting tribute to the metal legends who helped shape their sound—and Jones promises it’s a moment he’ll never forget.
