Black Sabbath are set to headline this year's Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, marking their only North American gig of 2012.
The festival's founder, Perry Farrell (and also frontman of Jane's Addiction), was doubtful that Sabbath would be able to play the event:
"Every festival in the world wanted Black Sabbath to perform, but at the time of the announcement they had to back off and cancel all their shows. It broke my heart, but I just kind of kept a little fire building, a little kindling going to see if possibly we could get Black Sabbath. I didn't have much faith."
However, with Tony Iommi recently completing his chemotherapy treatment, Sharon Osbourne, the band's manager, spoke to the Lollapalooza organisers to accept the offer to play.
"They mean so much to me, and they mean so much to music in general, that I kind of feel like I'm dreaming to know that Black Sabbath is actually gonna perform at Lollapalooza."
Joining Black Sabbath on the headline bill are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White and The Black Keys. The event will also see performances from the reunited At The Drive In, Florence And The Machine, Miike Snow, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, The Shins, Avicii and many more. Farrell says that booking Sabbath, who have been around for more than four decades, and 22-year-old Avicii to headline Lollapalooza is indicative of how all-encompassing the festival that was once the standard bearer for the alternative nation has become.
"What you have is three to four generations – maybe five generations of people, counting Kidsapalooza –that are all going to a place in peace, to experience music and learn to like and understand and love each other. And this is one place where I can say the generation gap doesn't exist."