Birmingham: Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, took the stage for what was billed as the band’s final live performance on Saturday at Villa Park in Birmingham — the city where the group was born over five decades ago.
Seated on a black, bat-adorned throne, 76-year-old Osbourne—who has been battling Parkinson’s disease and other health complications—performed in front of a sold-out crowd of 40,000 fans. The historic event, titled “Back to the Beginning,” saw the reunion of Black Sabbath’s original lineup—Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward—playing together live for the first time in two decades.
The concert was streamed globally and featured a mammoth lineup of rock and metal royalty, with performances from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Pantera, Slayer, Anthrax, Halestorm, and more. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Ozzy Osbourne headlined Black Sabbath’s final performance at the star-studded “Back to the Beginning” show in Birmingham.
The 10-hour live event featured legends like Metallica, Steven Tyler, and Axl Rose, with many performing Sabbath tributes.
Osbourne performed seated due to health issues, but ended the night with an emotional rendition of “Paranoid” alongside his original bandmates.
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Black Sabbath’s Final Show Was a Thunderous Goodbye
The day-long spectacle opened with powerhouse performances from Mastodon, Rival Sons, and Anthrax before building to a crescendo with Osbourne’s solo set and Sabbath’s reunion. Osbourne launched into hits like Crazy Train and Mama I’m Coming Home, before the Sabbath set kicked off with War Pigs and ended with a roaring Paranoid.
The event doubled as a tribute to the band’s immense influence on rock and heavy metal. From Metallica’s James Hetfield declaring “without Sabbath there would be no Metallica,” to Axl Rose shouting out “Birmingham! Ozzy! Sabbath!” after Guns N’ Roses’ cover of Never Say Die, the show was as much about legacy as it was about celebration.
Ozzy Osbourne performs “Crazy Train” for the last time in front of the audience at Villa Park in Birmingham pic.twitter.com/NRWtNCIwYG
— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) July 5, 2025
A Supergroup-Filled Setlist and Heavy Metal’s Finest
Curated by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, the lineup included multiple one-time-only supergroups. Steven Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Billy Corgan, KK Downing, and Lzzy Hale were among those who joined forces to perform classic Sabbath and Osbourne tracks. Hale stood out as the only female performer on the lineup, delivering a blistering version of Perry Mason.
A dramatic three-way “drum-off” between Blink-182’s Travis Barker, Tool’s Danny Carey, and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith captivated the crowd with a shared cover of Symptom of the Universe. British pop-punk artist Yungblud brought emotional depth with a rendition of Changes, the Sabbath ballad Ozzy once re-released with his daughter Kelly.
A 76 year-old man with severe Parkinson’s who can’t stand anymore and can still command the stage and captivate every single person in the audience…
Ozzy Osbourne your legacy will be forever untouched. pic.twitter.com/v4ID7N02xi
— 🦦Sabrina🦦 (@Europe4CYJ) July 5, 2025
Jason Momoa Brings the Fire (and Joins the Pit)
Actor Jason Momoa served as the concert’s host, hyping up the crowd and at one point jumping into the mosh pit himself. “Make some space for me, I’m coming in,” he shouted, moments before introducing Pantera. Fellow celebrities like Jack Black, Dolly Parton, Elton John, and Marilyn Manson sent in video messages honouring Osbourne and the band.
Osbourne’s performance, though seated, retained all the theatrics fans expected. Dressed in a black overcoat and gold armband, he rose onto the stage to thunderous applause. “Let the madness begin,” he roared, before leading the crowd through fan favourites with familiar intensity and heartfelt gratitude.
An Emotional End for the Prince of Darkness
“This is a goodbye as far as my live performances go,” Osbourne had said before the show. Despite his health, the Prince of Darkness commanded the stage with power and grace. “You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the crowd, his voice breaking at times.
The reunion with Iommi, Butler, and Ward brought the concert to a poignant close, as they tore through four Sabbath classics. It was a moment fans had waited decades for—one that may never happen again.
In the end, Back to the Beginning didn’t just celebrate a band. It honoured the roots of a genre, the journey of a man, and the love of millions. Osbourne didn’t just return to where it all began—he made sure it would be remembered forever.
