Black Sabbath & Ozzy Osbourne Close Out Legacy with Historic Final Performances
A day-long celebration of heavy metal culminated in what Black Sabbath and frontman Ozzy Osbourne have declared their final live performances ever on July 5th at Vila Park in Birmingham, England. The event, dubbed “Back to the Beginning,” drew an all-star lineup of musicians and fans to honor the band’s enduring legacy and witness a momentous occasion in rock history.
Ozzy Osbourne, 76, alongside his Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, delivered a performance that resonated with decades of musical influence, particularly poignant given Osbourne’s recent health challenges. This marked Osbourne’s first full concert since 2018 and the original quartet’s first time sharing a stage in 20 years.
The concert wasn’t just a farewell from Black Sabbath; it was a comprehensive tribute to the genre they helped define. The day featured appearances from a staggering roster of artists, including Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine leading a house band comprised of members from Megadeth, Judas Priest, Extreme, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Further adding to the spectacle were performances and appearances by Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Metallica, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, and Gojira, all hosted by actor Jason Momoa.
Osbourne initially took the stage for a solo set, supported by drummer Tommy Clufetos, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman, and guitarist Zakk Wylde. Seated on an elaborate throne adorned with black wings, the “Prince of Darkness” powerfully performed classics such as “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” and “Crazy Train.”
Black Sabbath then closed the show with a setlist featuring iconic tracks like “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” an extended rendition of “Iron Man,” and the definitive anthem, “Paranoid.” Following the performance, Osbourne was presented with a cake as fireworks illuminated the venue. “It’s so good to be on this fucking stage,” he exclaimed, encapsulating the raw emotion of the evening.
The profound impact of Black Sabbath and Osbourne on the landscape of heavy metal and hard rock was abundantly clear throughout the event. Several artists paid homage by covering Sabbath songs, demonstrating the band’s lasting influence. Guns N’ Roses, for instance, performed three Sabbath covers – “Never Say Die,” “Junior’s Eyes,” and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” – for the first time in their nearly 40-year career. Metallica debuted their version of “Johnny Blade” from Sabbath’s 1978 album Never Say Die!, and even Pantera joined in, delivering their first-ever live performance of Sabbath’s “Electric Funeral.”
As one observer noted, the event felt like “a fast-spinning Lazy Susan of metal history,” with acts seamlessly collaborating on a revolving stage. Despite the presence of so many legendary musicians, the atmosphere was characterized by “precious little ego and plenty of heartfelt humility.” Each cover song was treated “like sacred texts, to be splattered with their own brands of vivifying savagery but never completely chewed up and spat in the fire.”
While rock and roll farewells are often temporary, the outpouring of respect and celebration at “Back to the Beginning” suggests this final performance may indeed mark the end of an era for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, solidifying their place as titans of rock history.
