Judas Priest have unveiled a powerful new rendition of Black Sabbath’s iconic track “War Pigs” as a tribute to their longtime friends and fellow metal pioneers.
“We are honored to show our love for Ozzy and Black Sabbath with our homage to ‘War Pigs,’” the band shared in a statement. “It’s a song we play at every show around the world that fans sing along to—reinforcing their love as well for the legendary Prince of Darkness….!!”
The cover isn’t just a random pick—Judas Priest have been using “War Pigs” as their walk-on music for over ten years. Frontman Rob Halford also performed the song live with Black Sabbath in 2004, stepping in for Ozzy Osbourne when he was too ill to take the stage.
An Anthem Reimagined Ahead of Sabbath’s Farewell
The original “War Pigs”, an intense eight-minute anti-war anthem, opened Black Sabbath’s landmark 1970 album Paranoid. Judas Priest’s new take on the song sets a high standard for the upcoming Back to the Beginning concert on July 5, where various artists will pay tribute to both Ozzy and the Sabbath legacy.
The concert, set to take place in Birmingham, England, is being billed as Ozzy Osbourne’s final live performance. The lineup features a who’s who of heavy music—including Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and a much-anticipated reunion of Black Sabbath’s original members.
Halford Regrets Missing the Big Night
Despite their strong connection to Sabbath, Judas Priest won’t be performing at the tribute show. Halford admitted he was “gutted” to miss the event, as the band is already committed to helping the Scorpions celebrate their 60th anniversary with a special concert in Hannover, Germany.
Fans around the world can still be part of the Back to the Beginning experience—the full show will be available to stream live. More information, including access passes, can be found on the official event website.
