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A monumental chapter in heavy metal history will come to a close this summer when Black Sabbath reunites for their final performance at Back to the Beginning, a one-day festival set for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham. This historic event will not only mark the farewell of the band that defined heavy metal, but it will also serve as Ozzy Osbourne’s last-ever live appearance, bringing his legendary career full circle in the city where it all began. The original Black Sabbath lineup—Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—will take the stage together for the first time since 2005, offering fans one last chance to see the founding fathers of metal play side by side.
More than just a Sabbath reunion, Back to the Beginning is a once-in-a-lifetime event featuring an all-star lineup of some of the biggest names in rock and metal. Alongside Sabbath, the festival will showcase performances from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, and Rival Sons. The sheer magnitude of talent assembled for this event makes it one of the most significant rock gatherings in decades, promising an unforgettable experience for fans of all generations.
Black Sabbath’s road to this final performance has been a long and storied one. The band officially retired in 2017 after The End tour, which saw Osbourne, Iommi, and Butler performing together without Ward, whose absence was a point of contention among both fans and the band members themselves. However, Osbourne has long expressed his belief that Black Sabbath’s farewell felt incomplete without its original drummer. After years of speculation, the reunion was finally confirmed in February 2025, when all four members agreed to come together for one last show, making this the first time they will share a stage since Ozzfest 2005.
Adding even more excitement to the event, Back to the Beginning will also feature a special all-star jam session, bringing together some of rock and metal’s most revered musicians. The lineup includes Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing (ex-Judas Priest), Wolfgang Van Halen, and many more. With a lineup curated by Morello, the musical director of the event, fans can expect unique collaborations and once-in-a-lifetime performances that will make this festival truly historic.
For Ozzy Osbourne, this final appearance is especially poignant. The singer has been battling severe health issues in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease and spinal injuries that forced him to retire from touring in 2023. Despite these challenges, he remains determined to deliver a memorable farewell performance. “My singing voice is fine,” Osbourne assured fans, “but my body is still physically weak.” While he has hinted that he will only perform select parts of the Sabbath set, the significance of his final bow cannot be overstated.
Sharon Osbourne has revealed that the event will be more than just a concert—it will be a celebration of Black Sabbath’s legacy, with unique collaborations and special moments throughout the day. “Then you’re going to see one icon playing with another icon, doing a Sabbath song and one or two of their own songs,” she teased, hinting at unexpected pairings that will make Back to the Beginning an unmissable spectacle.
The choice of venue is also deeply symbolic. Villa Park, home to the band members’ beloved Aston Villa football team, is the perfect setting for Sabbath’s farewell. Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler have long been passionate Villa supporters, and the connection between the band and their hometown of Birmingham has always remained strong. This homecoming show ensures that the band’s final performance will take place where their journey first began, making it a truly full-circle moment.
Tickets for the event were in immediate, overwhelming demand. Reports indicate that over 60,000 people were in the queue for tickets when they went on sale, and the entire festival sold out in under ten minutes. With such high demand, resale prices have skyrocketed, with some fans paying thousands to secure their spot at this historic concert.
Adding to the event’s significance, all proceeds from Back to the Beginning will go to charitable causes, including Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospice, and Cure Parkinson’s. This ensures that Black Sabbath’s farewell show will not only be a celebration of their immense legacy but also a way to give back to their community, further cementing their impact beyond music.
As the final notes of Black Sabbath’s performance ring out across Villa Park, Back to the Beginning will stand as more than just a farewell show—it will be a defining moment in rock history. A celebration of the genre, a tribute to a band that revolutionized heavy music, and a last hurrah for one of the most iconic frontmen in rock, this concert will remind the world that the influence of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne will never fade. For those fortunate enough to attend, it will be an unforgettable night, and for those watching from afar, it will be a moment when rock and roll history was made one last time.
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Black Sabbath’s Last Stand: Metal Legends Will Unite For One Night article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2025
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