Judas Priest Team Up With Ozzy Osbourne For Monumental ‘War Pigs’ Charity Single
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Two of Birmingham’s heaviest exports have collided in a way no one thought possible. Judas Priest have dropped their official cover of Black Sabbath’s classic ‘War Pigs’, this time featuring the unmistakable voice of Ozzy Osbourne. The track has been released as a charity single to raise money for Parkinson’s disease organisations, a cause close to both camps.
Osbourne was diagnosed with the condition back in 2019, and his battle with it became a central theme of his forthcoming biography Last Rites. Tragically, he passed away in July, just weeks after Sabbath’s final hometown show in Birmingham. Judas Priest, who share those same Midlands roots, chose to release their version of ‘War Pigs’ after being unable to appear at the Back To The Beginning tribute concert due to prior commitments.
The single also marks a powerful return for Glenn Tipton, Priest’s long time guitarist who revealed his own Parkinson’s diagnosis to the public in 2018, a decade after first being diagnosed. His playing is featured on the track, making the release even more poignant.
Speaking with Full Metal Jackie, frontman Rob Halford revealed how Ozzy ended up on the recording thanks to Sharon Osbourne:
“She approached me with this idea, she said, ‘I love your version of ‘War Pigs.’ Is there a way we can get Ozzy?’ I was [like], ‘You’re asking me? This is gonna happen.’”
For Halford, the collaboration was a career defining moment:
“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 described the result as “just colossal”, adding:
“When you hear Priest’s ‘War Pigs’ with Ozzy singing on that track, it’s just going to a really special place.”
The track is now streaming, with all proceeds going toward Parkinson’s charities, a fitting tribute to two icons who carried metal’s torch even as their own health battles intensified.
