Geezer Butler’s ‘War Pigs’ Tribute Finds a Powerful Voice in Corey Taylor

There is a particular appeal to hearing a celebrated song performed with one of its original musicians still at its centre. Corey Taylor’s appearance alongside Geezer Butler for “War Pigs” offered that connection, bringing a familiar Black Sabbath landmark into an all-star celebration with a purpose beyond the stage.

The performance took place at the Palm Springs Sound & Vision Awards on March 2, 2026. Held at the historic Plaza Theatre, the evening honoured Butler and Paul Rodgers and raised support for Adopt the Arts and its work in public-school music education.

Taylor handled the lead vocal, with Butler on bass, Nuno Bettencourt and Steve Stevens on guitars, and Matt Sorum behind the drums. Those credits describe a special gathering of musicians. Taylor’s association with Slipknot is part of his background, but Slipknot itself was not the performing band.

The choice of “War Pigs” made the tribute’s connection to Butler immediately clear. First released on Black Sabbath’s Paranoid album in 1970, the song remains closely tied to the band’s identity. Bringing Butler into its performance turns a cover into a meeting with that history.

The composition also gives the players room to establish a collective identity. Its length allows the musicians to move between vocal passages and instrumental development, with the familiar melody holding the larger performance together. It is a song that rewards attention to the ensemble as well as the singer.

Taylor’s forceful vocal personality makes him a compelling choice for that setting. There is room for his own character within the recognisable song, while Butler’s presence keeps the tribute connected to its source. Bettencourt, Stevens and Sorum add the experience needed for that shared interpretation.

The complete performance is presented in professionally filmed footage associated with Sound & Vision Live. Watching it as a full piece allows the song’s progression to remain intact, rather than reducing the occasion to one high-impact vocal moment or an isolated instrumental flourish.

The wider concert moved between the musical worlds of its two honourees. Rodgers’ catalogue was celebrated in the first half, followed by a Black Sabbath-focused programme that also featured Lzzy Hale, Glenn Hughes and Charlie Starr. “War Pigs” provided the Sabbath set’s finale.

Adopt the Arts reported more than $350,000 raised through the evening, with additional contributions still arriving at the time of its announcement. The musicians donated their participation to a cause centred on giving children access to instruments, instruction and the experience of making music.

That purpose adds another dimension to the recording. The performance celebrates the artists who helped shape rock, while the benefit looks toward the children who may eventually make their own contribution. Taylor and Butler’s “War Pigs” becomes a vivid point of contact between those generations.