In a powerful final collaboration, Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne have released a new charity version of the Black Sabbath classic “War Pigs,” with all proceeds directed to The Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s. The single, released today through Sony Music, is already being hailed as one last salute from one of heavy metal’s most storied eras.
The project had its roots in friendship, shared respect, and a mutual mission to fight Parkinson’s disease, a struggle that has deeply touched the metal community, including Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton himself. Despite his own long battle with Parkinson’s, Tipton contributed guitar work to the track, while vocalist Rob Halford and Osbourne trade alternate vocal lines in what has become a raw, soaring, and emotional performance. The result is now available worldwide, with profits from streams, downloads, and physical sales to be donated in full to the two Parkinson’s charities.
In many ways, the release carries more weight now than ever. Ozzy Osbourne, of course, died on July 22, 2025, at age 76. He is deeply missed in the metal world.
A Statement in Song and Purpose
In today’s announcement, Sony Music UK and Epic Records declared that every penny from the recording, audio, physical, digital, will benefit The Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation and Cure Parkinson’s. The move aligns closely with the personal stakes for both parties, Tipton’s enduring fight against the disease, and Osbourne’s own longtime health struggles. Meanwhile Osbourne’s voice gives weight to the cause, a final chapter added to his decades-long relationship with Black Sabbath and the metal world.
Fans and commentators have already pointed out the emotional resonance of hearing Halford and Osbourne exchange lines on a song originally made famous by Ozzy’s own band.
Remembering Ozzy Osbourne
Osbourne’s death has been mourned across the music world. Just weeks before his passing, Ozzy had actually gotten together with his original Black Sabbath bandmates for a final concert in Birmingham on July 5, 2025, billed “Back to the Beginning.” The event was supposed to be a goodbye to fans and a benefit concert, raising funds for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Children’s Hospice. Ozzy performed from a throne onstage, reportedly unable to stand due to illness, but grippingly present for one last time.
In the aftermath of his death, tributes poured in from rock legends and peers. Elton John called him “a dear friend and a huge trailblazer,” while Alice Cooper described him as “a cross between the prince of darkness … and the court jester,” according to The-Independent.com. Black Sabbath, in a simple statement, posted “Ozzy Forever.” The public funeral procession on July 30 made stops across Birmingham, including Villa Park, Black Sabbath Bridge, and sites laden with Sabbath lore, drawing thousands of fans.
In interviews and broadcasts, many reflected on Ozzy’s tenacity, his sense of humor, and his connection to fans.
A Personal Note from the Author of This Story
I’m a huge fan of both Ozzy and Judas Priest, because who isn’t, right? For fans, this song is a gift. I love seeing Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne meet again, and this time, it’s for something deeper, for healing, for tribute, for continuity. In that sense, it’s not just “War Pigs” reimagined. It’s a final chapter, one in which legacies interlock, grief finds expression through sound, and the fight against a devastating disease carries forward.
As the world listens to this version, and as sales bring help to Parkinson’s research, this release may do something few musical collaborations do, it offers both remembrance and purpose, a last song with meaning beyond the stage.
- Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne Unite on Haunting Version of ‘War Pigs’ - September 26, 2025