In a poignant tribute that’s resonating throughout the heavy metal community and beyond, Judas Priest has released a charity single featuring the late Ozzy Osbourne, marking his first posthumous musical appearance since his death at age 76 in July 2025. The track, a powerful rendition of Black Sabbath’s iconic “War Pigs,” brings together two of the genre’s most legendary voices—Judas Priest’s Rob Halford and Osbourne himself—trading lyrics about power, exploitation, and the ever-relevant specter of war. The release is not only a celebration of musical legacy but also a rallying cry for Parkinson’s disease awareness, with all proceeds benefiting the Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s.
According to Rolling Stone US, the collaboration was the first time Halford and Osbourne ever recorded a duet, a fact Halford described with palpable emotion. “It’s the first ever time in my entire life that I’ve been able to do a duet with Ozzy, and I’m so eternally grateful and blessed that I was able to do that,” Halford said during a recent appearance on the Full Metal Jackie podcast. He described the recording process: “Ozzy’s singing a line and then I’m singing a line, and Ozzy’s singing a line and I’m singing a line.”
The union of these two titans was made possible by Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s widow, whose fandom of Judas Priest’s version of “War Pigs” sparked the idea. Halford recalled her enthusiasm: “Is there a way we can get Ozzy?” she asked, to which Halford responded, “You’re asking me? This is gonna happen!”
The release of “War Pigs” comes mere weeks after Osbourne’s farewell concert at Aston Villa’s Villa Park in Birmingham—a stone’s throw from where he grew up. The concert, dubbed “Back To The Beginning,” was a star-studded affair, with original Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler, and Bill Ward joining Osbourne for a final bow. The event drew performances from other metal heavyweights like Anthrax, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roses, and featured messages of thanks from celebrities such as Jack Black, Ricky Gervais, and Dolly Parton, according to the BBC and Breaking News.
Judas Priest, themselves Birmingham natives who formed in the 1960s, were unable to join the farewell concert due to prior commitments. Instead, they conceived the “War Pigs” track initially as a tribute video for Osbourne and Black Sabbath. The idea quickly evolved into something more impactful—a charity single to raise money for Parkinson’s disease charities. Glenn Tipton, Judas Priest’s guitarist who has also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, features on the track alongside Halford and Osbourne, lending an added layer of personal resonance to the project.
Parkinson’s disease has been a significant part of both Osbourne’s and Tipton’s recent lives. Osbourne was diagnosed with the degenerative neurological condition in 2019 (some reports say 2020), and publicly disclosed his struggles with the disease. As he told Rolling Stone US, “I got a numbness down this arm from the surgery; my legs keep going cold. I don’t know if that’s the Parkinson’s or what, you know, but that’s — see, that’s the problem. Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. I’d never heard of nerve pain, and it’s a weird feeling.” Sharon Osbourne helped clarify the condition’s unpredictable nature: “There’s so many different types of Parkinson’s. It’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. It’s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.”
Osbourne himself found relief in being open about his diagnosis, telling fans, “I feel better now that I’ve owned up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson’s. And I just hope [my fans] hang on and they’re there for me because I need them.”
His final concert in July 2025, which turned out to be a true farewell, was followed by an outpouring of tributes. Sharon Osbourne and their children—Aimee, Jack, and Kelly—visited floral tributes laid at Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, their cortege weaving through the streets of Osbourne’s home city. The scene was captured in images published by the BBC, showing the deep affection fans held for the man who helped define heavy metal.
Judas Priest’s version of “War Pigs,” released on September 26, 2025, is more than a musical homage—it’s a gesture of solidarity. The song’s proceeds are directed entirely to the Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s, supporting research and care for those living with the disease. For Tipton, whose own diagnosis has not stopped him from performing, the cause is deeply personal.
The single also represents a coming together of the heavy metal community in the face of loss and adversity. The track’s origins as a tribute video, its transformation into a charity single, and the involvement of two musicians directly affected by Parkinson’s disease, all underscore the genre’s capacity for empathy and collective action. Fans have responded with enthusiasm, not just for the music, but for the message and mission behind it.
Osbourne’s influence extends far beyond his work with Black Sabbath. In addition to a storied solo career, he reached a new generation of fans through the 2000s reality television series The Osbournes, which starred Sharon and their two youngest children. His legacy is one of reinvention, resilience, and a willingness to share both triumphs and struggles with the world.
The charity single’s release was met with widespread acclaim, with many noting the significance of Halford and Osbourne finally joining forces. The alternating vocal lines, Tipton’s guitar work, and the song’s enduring message make it a fitting tribute to Osbourne’s life and career. As Halford reflected, the project was “bittersweet,” arriving as it did after Osbourne’s passing, but it allowed the band and fans alike to honor his memory in a meaningful way.
For the city of Birmingham, the single is a reminder of its outsized role in the history of heavy metal, producing both Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. The streets that once shaped a young Osbourne now bear witness to his enduring impact, as fans and family continue to pay their respects.
In the end, “War Pigs” stands as both a farewell and a call to action—a song that channels the raw energy of heavy metal into hope for those battling Parkinson’s disease, and a testament to the bonds that unite musicians, fans, and communities in the face of loss.
