Back To The Beginning! The End For Black Sabbath (Again!) July 6, 2025

The Back To The Beginning day-long festival was a full-force reminder of the power, majesty, and sheer bloody force of heavy metal. It shook the ground and lit a fire in my gut that’s been burning since childhood. I’m now closer to 60 (dont let my boyish good looks and immaculate skin and hair fool you!!) and yet… metal still hits me like a sledgehammer to the soul.

It’s always lived on the fringes of society and that’s exactly where it belongs. Loud. Proud. Unapologetic. It’s the outsider’s anthem, and today proved it’s not going anywhere.

Watching that concert, I felt this deep, overwhelming pride. From painting myself up as Ace Frehley in my junior years, to playing sweaty pub gigs in the 80s with an undying dream to make it big, to spending over 15 years photographing the biggest and loudest bands on Earth and now running my own label and store this music has been my compass. My lifeline. My obsession.
It has never left me. Not once. And when it’s my time to go, bury me six feet under with Sabbath’s “Heaven And Hell” rattling the speakers and my devil horns raised one last time.

Let them mock. Let them laugh. We know the truth.

Today, stand tall. Stand proud.

If you’re a METALHEAD you already know.

This is the greatest music and the greatest counterculture the world has ever seen.

We Rock!

John Raptis
RUE MORGUE RECORDS CEO

The “Back to the Beginning” concert, held on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, marked a historic and emotional farewell for Black Sabbath and frontman Ozzy Osbourne. This event was significant for several reasons:

Origins and Significance

Final Performance: This concert was the last live performance for both Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. It was the first time since 2005 that the original lineup—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—performed together, making it a momentous occasion for fans worldwide.
Charitable Cause: All proceeds from the event were donated to local charities, including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Global Livestream: Recognizing the global fanbase, the concert was streamed worldwide via pay-per-view, allowing fans who couldn’t attend in person to witness this historic event.

Event Highlights

Star-Studded Lineup: The concert featured performances by renowned artists such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, and Rival Sons.
Musical Direction: Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine served as the musical director, aiming to make it the “greatest heavy metal show ever.”
Emotional Farewell: Ozzy Osbourne, despite health challenges, delivered a powerful performance, concluding with Black Sabbath classics like “War Pigs” and “Paranoid,” leaving fans with an unforgettable experience.

The “Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham was a monumental event in heavy metal history. Serving as the final live performance for both Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, the concert featured an all-star lineup of rock and metal legends, paying tribute to the pioneers of the genre.

The day began with high-energy sets from bands like Mastodon, Rival Sons, Anthrax, Halestorm, and Lamb of God. Each act performed a mix of their own songs and covers of Black Sabbath or Ozzy Osbourne classics. Notably, Mastodon’s rendition of “Supernaut” featured guest drummers Danny Carey (Tool), Eloy Casagrande (Slipknot), and Mario Duplantier (Gojira). Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale delivered a powerful performance of Ozzy’s “Perry Mason” .

Between main sets, supergroups comprising members from bands like Judas Priest, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and others performed classic tracks. Highlights included:

“The Ultimate Sin” featuring Nuno Bettencourt, Mike Bordin, David Ellefson, Lzzy Hale, Jake E. Lee, and Adam Wakeman.
“Sweet Leaf” with Bettencourt, Bordin, David Draiman, Ellefson, and Scott Ian.
“Changes” performed by Yungblud alongside members of the supergroup.

Main Acts

Alice in Chains: Delivered a mix of their hits like “Man in the Box” and “Would?” along with a cover of “Fairies Wear Boots”.
Gojira: Performed “Stranded,” “Silvera,” and “Under the Sun,” showcasing their technical prowess.
Pantera: Energized the crowd with “Cowboys from Hell,” “Walk,” and a rendition of “Planet Caravan”.
Tool: Mesmerized attendees with “Forty Six & 2,” “Hand of Doom,” and “Ænema”.
Slayer: Brought intensity with “Raining Blood,” “South of Heaven,” and “Angel of Death”.
Guns N’ Roses: Blended their classics like “Welcome to the Jungle” with Sabbath covers such as “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”.
Metallica: Closed the main acts with a powerful set including “Creeping Death,” “Master of Puppets,” and a cover of “Hole in the Sky” .

Ozzy Osbourne’s Solo Set

Despite health challenges, Ozzy Osbourne delivered an emotional solo performance from a throne adorned with skulls and bat wings. His set included:

“I Don’t Know”
“Mr. Crowley”
“Suicide Solution”
“Mama, I’m Coming Home”
“Crazy Train” (featuring Tommy Clufetos, Mike Inez, Adam Wakeman, and Zakk Wylde).

Black Sabbath’s Final Performance

The original lineup—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—reunited for the first time in 20 years to deliver a poignant four-song set:

“War Pigs”
“N.I.B.”
“Iron Man”
“Paranoid”

The performance concluded with a spectacular display of fireworks and confetti, marking the end of an era.

The concert was attended by 40,000 fans in person and streamed by over 5.8 million viewers worldwide. All proceeds were donated to charities including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Children’s Hospice.

During the weekend of July 5, 2025, Birmingham transformed into a vibrant hub of cultural and musical festivities, coinciding with Black Sabbath’s monumental “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert at Villa Park. The city embraced this historic event with a series of complementary activities and celebrations:

Citywide Celebrations

“Summer of Sabbath” Initiatives: Birmingham paid homage to its legendary sons with citywide dedications. This included Sabbath-themed murals adorning various locales and a notable spike in hotel bookings, reflecting the influx of fans from around the globe.
Freedom of the City Honors: In recognition of their profound impact on music and their roots in Birmingham, the original members of Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—were bestowed with the title of Freemen of the City just days before the concert.

During the week leading up to the monumental “Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5, 2025, Birmingham hosted several events celebrating Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s legacy:()

Freedom of the City: The original Black Sabbath members—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—were honored as Freemen of the City of Birmingham, recognizing their contributions to music and the city’s cultural heritage.
“Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero” Exhibition: The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery launched this exhibition, showcasing Ozzy’s awards, memorabilia, and photographs, offering fans an intimate look into his life and career.
Black Sabbath Mural: A mural by artist Mr Murals was unveiled outside Birmingham New Street railway station on Navigation Street. The band members visited and signed the mural on June 29, 2025, creating a lasting tribute in the city center.
LEGO Tribute: The Legoland Discovery Centre at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena created a LEGO replica of the band, celebrating their influence and connection to the city.

These events underscored Birmingham’s deep appreciation for Black Sabbath’s impact on music and their roots in the city.

THE END BEGINS AGAIN

They came home to die like kings.

In the waning golden light of a perfect English summer evening, Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—stood together one final time on sacred Birmingham soil. It was more than just a show. It was a requiem mass set to the sound of doom.

After decades of breakups, makeups, legal battles, and whispered rumors, Back to the Beginning was exactly that: Sabbath reborn in the city of their birth, not to launch a new era, but to bury their legacy with honour. And if you were there, you know—it didn’t feel like a goodbye. It felt like ritual.

THE MOMENT OF RECKONING

The crowd had already been melted by a molten lineup of metal’s elite—Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, and others paid tribute in thunderous fashion. But when the stage went dark and the sinister church bell of “War Pigs” rang out over Villa Park, something changed in the air. History bent.

Out hobbled Ozzy, throned like a decaying monarch in a gothic skull-draped seat, his frame frail but his spirit feral. “I love you all!” he howled, and 40,000 voices answered back. The band kicked in. Iommi’s riffs, eternal and immovable, Butler’s bass, rolling like thunder, and Ward’s swing, loose and raw—everything clicked like it was still 1970.

Ozzy didn’t move much—he couldn’t—but he owned every inch of that stage from his throne. His voice cracked and wavered at times, but the weight of his presence held firm. Watching him lock eyes with Iommi during “Iron Man” was like witnessing gods making peace.

Tony Iommi, ever the architect of darkness, delivered riffs with apocalyptic weight, looking simultaneously stoic and deeply emotional. Geezer’s bass snarled with defiant elegance. Bill Ward, finally welcomed back, didn’t blast—he swung, laid back, breathing humanity into the chaos. It wasn’t perfect. That’s why it was real.

THE FINAL CHAPTER

When the last note of “Paranoid” rang out, and the stage faded to black, there was silence. Then came the fireworks. A slow, thunderous storm of light over the Villa Park skyline. Fans sobbed. Others screamed. Everyone stood still.

This wasn’t a reunion. It was a resurrection. And then—ashes.

No encores. No gimmicks. Just a band returning to the dirt from which they rose, delivering one last sermon before disappearing into the void they helped create.

Black Sabbath didn’t go out with a whimper.

They went out with a warning.