Aston Villa sign up Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne for new kit launch

Aston Villa pulled out all the stops for the launch of their new kit, signing up Black Sabbath legends Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler for the big reveal.

The heavy metal legends grew up in Birmingham and are Villa fans, with the Premier League club making their most of their famous supporters to rock the new kit.

The new Aston Villa strip is the first in their new multi-year deal with Adidas and also marks the club’s 150th anniversary, with ‘AV150’ on the back of the shirt.

The Villains have launched the kit with a promotional video which blasts out Black Sabbath’s classic hit Paranoid and starts with Osbourne calling up Butler.

The singer telling the bassist Sabbath should play Villa Park, with Butler responding: ‘As long as I’m left wing.’

There is also a nod to the club’s qualification for the Champions League this season, with Butler switching off Paranoid at one point and replacing it with the competitions’ iconic theme music, Handel’s Zadok The Priest.

Speaking earlier this year, Ozzy’s wife Sharon said the legendary frontman would indeed be playing at Villa Park when he performs two farewell gigs for his home fans, although these dates are yet to be announced.

‘He won’t tour again but we are planning on doing two more shows to say goodbye as he feels like, “I have never said goodbye to my fans and I want to say goodbye”,’ she said.

‘His voice is still absolutely perfect. And all the time he has been off he still does his singing lessons. Even if you don’t like his music, you can’t not like Ozzy.’

‘We will do it in Aston Villa where Ozzy is from.’

Chris Heck, President of Business at Aston Villa, said: ‘We are immensely proud to unveil our new playing kit which marks the start of not only a landmark partnership with one of the world’s most recognisable sports brands but an historic year for our football club.

‘The new jerseys feature the latest adidas technology and have been developed in close collaboration with Aston Villa’s men’s and women’s teams.’

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