Hometown spectacle as Black Sabbath, fronted by Ozzy Osbourne, concludes its performances in a frenzy of wild enthusiasm.
In a poignant and electrifying event, legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath performed their final ever show together at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham on July 5, 2025. The concert, aptly named "Back To The Beginning," marked a historic closure to the band's illustrious career and paid homage to their roots in their hometown.
The concert brought together the original members—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—for the first time in 20 years, and their first show since their farewell tour ended in 2017. The reunion was a moving moment for fans and musicians alike, as the band paid tribute to their monumental influence on heavy metal.
Over 40,000 fans gathered to honour Black Sabbath's legacy, with the atmosphere electric as dramatic effects like air raid sirens and red strobe lights set an iconic tone. The setlist included signature anthems such as "War Pigs," "Iron Man," "N.I.B.," and closed with the legendary "Paranoid," amidst fireworks and confetti.
The concert was part of a larger all-day festival featuring metal and rock luminaries like Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and Lamb of God, creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans and musicians alike. Ozzy Osbourne, despite his Parkinson’s disease, delivered an emotional and heartfelt farewell to the crowd, performing his last solo set moments before joining the band on stage.
Proceeds from this monumental event were dedicated to charitable causes, specifically Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, underscoring the concert’s broader impact beyond music.
The stadium was transformed into a pagan cathedral, with fans wearing dark metal T-shirts, long hair, thick beards, and large tattoos. Highlights included Guns N'Roses sending the crowd wild with "Welcome to the Jungle," and a collaboration of Led Zeppelin’s "Whole Lotta Love" by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood.
The concert is expected to provide a multi-million-pound boost to the area, with hotel occupancy in Birmingham city centre expected to reach close to 90%. This was the first time Black Sabbath performed together in 20 years, and the last time they performed, marking the formation of the band 57 years ago, pioneers of the hard-rock style that gave rise to heavy metal.
Ozzy Osbourne's live performances have become legendary, including a 1982 gig in Des Moines, Iowa, where he infamously bit the head off a bat on stage. However, during the Villa Park concert, there was no bat-biting incident. After the concert, Ozzy Osbourne thanked the crowd for enabling them to live an amazing lifestyle.
Despite tickets selling out in 16 minutes, the concert was followed by thousands online. Derya, who traveled from Cologne with her partner, came to the concert without tickets, hoping to hear it even if they couldn't see the bands. Metallica's singer James Hetfield thanked Black Sabbath for giving them a purpose in life, while Billy Corgan, The Smashing Pumpkins frontman, called the concert potentially the greatest one-day lineup in the history of rock 'n' roll.
In a bittersweet moment, Rich Newlove, 34, described the concert as the end of an era, as it was Ozzy's last show. Black Sabbath sold over 75 million albums worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry. Sharon Osbourne announced that this concert would be Ozzy's last, making the event a poignant and emotional farewell shared with an international community of fans and fellow musicians.
The once-in-a-lifetime experience continued beyond Black Sabbath's historical performance, with the Champions League final scheduled to take place at Villa Park stadium the following day. Fans and musicians alike could appreciate the seamless blend of health-boosting exercises, provided by the high-energy football match, and entertainment offered by the concert's heavy metal lineup. After the heartfelt farewell from Black Sabbath, the adrenaline-fueled music continued into the night with performances by other renowned artists.
