Black Sabbath 2013: Australia & Japan

The 2013 Australian Black Sabbath dates that Sharon Osbourne promised would be coming have officially been announced, along with confirmation of the band’s headline gig at Ozzfest Japan. The group’s website says fans should “prepare to be blown away by these living rock legends.”

In October Ozzy’s wife and manager told music website Triple M that Black Sabbath would be touring Australia in the spring. And now the dates are here. An announcement on BlackSabbath.com points out that the gigs are a big deal, marking the band’s first Australian gigs in nearly 40 years.

Photo: Steve C. Mitchell / Invision / AP

Lollapalooza, Grant Park, Chicago, Ill.

Along with Ozzy, bassist Geezer Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi will be there. Missing from the original band lineup is Bill Ward, who backed out of this year’s reunion shows after he said he wasn’t provided a “signable contract.” After Iommi announced he was diagnosed with lymphoma, the 2012 reunion dates, which were originally going to make up a full tour, were reduced to a U.K. show and appearances at U.K.’s Download Festival and Chicago’s Lollapalooza.

For now, the next chance to see Ozzy, Geezer and Tony is in April. The Australian dates are April 25 in Boondall at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, April 27 at Sydney’s Allphone Arena, May 1 at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, and May 4 at Perth Arena.

April is also the month for the release of Black Sabbath’s first new studio album with Ozzy at the helm in more than 33 years. A specific release date has not yet been announced.

The debut Ozzfest Japan is set for May 11-12 at Chiba’s Makuhari Messe with Slipknot headlining Day 1 and Black Sabbath taking over the second night.

A pre-sale for the Australian shows begins Friday, Nov. 2 and runs through Monday, Nov. 5 for My Live Nation members. A MyTicketek pre-sale is scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 6 through Wednesday, Nov. 7. Pre-sale tickets are available while supplies last.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday, Nov. 8.

For more information visit BlackSabbath.com.