Heavy metal legends Judas Priest have released a new rendition of Black Sabbath's iconic song "War Pigs," featuring the distinctive, posthumous vocals of Ozzy Osbourne. This significant collaboration was spearheaded by Sharon Osbourne and brings together the legendary vocal talents of Rob Halford and Osbourne, creating a powerful fusion of their unique styles. The single was released on September 26, 2025, with all U.K. profits directed to The Glenn Tipton Parkinson's Foundation and Cure Parkinson's. This initiative serves as a heartfelt tribute to guitarist Glenn Tipton, who is navigating his ongoing health challenges, and as a profound homage to Osbourne's indelible legacy.
The release marks a remarkable moment in metal history, as it is the first time Rob Halford has officially duetted with Ozzy Osbourne. Halford expressed his deep gratitude for the opportunity, describing the final collaboration as "colossal." Judas Priest's initial cover of "War Pigs" was released on July 2, 2025, preceding Osbourne's farewell concert, "Back to the Beginning." The band was unable to perform at that event due to a prior commitment with the Scorpions' 60th-anniversary celebration.
Following the release of their initial cover, Sharon Osbourne reached out to Judas Priest, expressing her admiration and proposing the inclusion of Ozzy's vocals. This led to the creation of the charity single. Glenn Tipton, the guitarist for Judas Priest, disclosed his Parkinson's diagnosis in February 2018 and established his foundation four months later in June 2018. His foundation has reportedly raised over $150,000, with funds directed towards pioneering treatments for Parkinson's disease, such as MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy.
Judas Priest is currently on a North American tour with Alice Cooper, which commenced on September 16, 2025, in Biloxi, Mississippi, and is scheduled to conclude on October 26, 2025, in Houston, Texas. This tour marks the first joint venture between the two bands since their "Operation Rock & Roll" tour in 1991.