According to Tom Morello, the musical director of the event and guitarist for Rage Against The Machine, Black Sabbath's final concert raised an astonishing £140 million for charity. Morello disclosed this figure in an Instagram post, stating, "We amassed a fortune for a noble cause, with countless brilliant musicians, bands, and fans worldwide paying homage to the legends of all time." The profits generated will be evenly distributed among Birmingham Children's Hospital, Cure Parkinson's, and Acorns Children's Hospice, which is based in the Midlands.
On Saturday, Villa Park in Birmingham was flooded with thousands of attendees, who were joined by an illustrious lineup of metal heavyweights, including Metallica and Slayer. Morello's post emphasized that organizing the event was "over a year of relentless effort, but heavy metal is the music that ignited my passion for music, making it a labor driven by love."
Trevor Johnson, CEO of Acorns Hospice, previously expressed that the funds received would empower the charity "to support more children and families." The charity has been transparent about the financial strains it has encountered, as the demand for its services has more than doubled in the past two years.
Birmingham Children's Hospital expressed their delight at being one of the beneficiaries of the concert. The funds will be utilized to enhance the experiences of patients and their families within the hospital, including ongoing renovations at the front entrance, which will feature a grand aquarium. Additional plans encompass improvements to the emergency department, entertainment activities for the children, a new cinema, and essential equipment.
Cure Parkinson's holds a personal connection for Ozzy Osbourne, who revealed his diagnosis with the disease in January 2020. Andy Simons, the charity's director of fundraising and marketing, previously told the BBC that they were "absolutely thrilled" and "incredibly grateful" to be selected as one of the beneficiary organizations.
