Judas Priest have unveiled a new version of Black Sabbath’s legendary track ‘War Pigs’, this time featuring a duet between frontman Rob Halford and Ozzy Osbourne. All proceeds from the single will go to Cure Parkinson’s and the Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation, raising funds and awareness for a cause close to the band’s heart.
For decades, ‘War Pigs’ has been an integral part of Judas Priest’s live shows, often serving as their walk-out song before they hit the stage. Its dark, anti-war message and thunderous riffs set the tone for the band’s high-octane performances, making the song a fitting anthem for their legacy in heavy metal. Now, rather than just using it as their dramatic introduction, Priest have recorded their own definitive version- made even more powerful with the voice of the man who first brought it to the world.
The collaboration carries special weight due to guitarist Glenn Tipton’s ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease. Tipton revealed his diagnosis in 2018, stepping back from touring but continuing to contribute in the studio. His guitar work features on this recording, symbolising his unbreakable bond with the band and his determination to keep creating music despite health challenges.
The project resonated deeply with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, who both supported turning the track into a charity release. A press statement describes the single as a “monumental collaboration honouring the heavy metal icons Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath,” uniting two of the genre’s most influential forces.
Frontman Rob Halford has spoken passionately about the experience of trading lines with Ozzy on the track, calling it a career milestone: “What is cool and what is kind of waiting in the wings is Ozzy singing with me, doing ‘War Pigs’ together. We’ve been able to do that, it’s there – we’re just going through the rigamarole of legal clearance.”
He continued: “Ozzy’s singing a line and then I’m singing a line, and Ozzy’s singing a line and I’m singing a line. It’s the first ever time in my entire life that I’ve been able to do a duet with Ozzy, and I’m so eternally grateful and blessed that I was able to do that.”
The track can now be downloaded on all major streaming platforms and can be accessed via the link here.
In case you missed it, MXDWN’s earlier coverage of the Black Sabbath ‘Back To The Beginning’ charity show for Parkinson’s can be read here.
