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Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning was a benefit concert by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, with a number of supporting artists. It took place on 5 July 2025 at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England, near to where the band was formed in 1968.
The event concluded with the final live performances of both Black Sabbath and lead singer Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist; it also marked the first time since 2005 that the original line-up of the band (Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward) had performed together live. Osbourne, who was no longer able to walk due to his advanced Parkinson's disease, sang while seated on a throne. Seventeen days after the show, Osbourne died at the age of 76.
The concert was streamed worldwide via pay per view with a broadcast delay, with supporting acts including two supergroups of musicians serving as the house band. Proceeds from the event totalled £140 million, and were donated to Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's.
Black Sabbath were formed in Aston, Birmingham, England, in 1968 by Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward, who grew up within a short distance of each other, and of Villa Park, in the district. The band developed a style that came to be known as heavy metal and achieved worldwide success, selling over 75 million albums. Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979 for substance abuse and pursued a fruitful solo career, but occasionally reunited with the group. The original line-up had last performed together at Ozzfest 2005. The band's previous last concert was at Genting Arena in 2017 as part of The End Tour, but with Tommy Clufetos replacing Bill Ward as drummer.
Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in February 2019, and suffered spinal damage from a fall that same year. He rarely performed in the years after, but in August 2022 made a surprise appearance with Iommi to close the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium. By early 2025, he had lost his ability to walk due to Parkinson's. Black Sabbath and Osbourne's farewell charity concert was announced by Osbourne's wife Sharon Osbourne on 5 February 2025. The name "Back to the Beginning" refers to the band's formation in Aston, as Osbourne insisted on staging one final performance to "give back to the place where I was born".
One week before the concert, the four original band members were made Freemen of the City of Birmingham. To coincide with the event, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery launched its "Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero" exhibition, displaying his awards, memorabilia and photographs. A mural depicting the band was painted by artist Mr Murals outside Birmingham New Street railway station on Navigation Street, and completed in the days before the show. It was visited and signed by the four band members on 29 June 2025. Jack Osbourne hosted the premiere cinema screening of The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne at Millennium Point on the eve of the concert.
Tom Morello served as musical director for the concert, which took place on 5 July 2025 at Villa Park in Aston. Morello's stated intention was to make it the "greatest heavy metal show ever". He compared it to the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in scope, and was grateful that all members of Black Sabbath were alive to enjoy the production.
The stadium event was produced by Live Nation, with the accompanying broadcast co-produced by Kiswe and Mercury Studios. A revolving stage was utilized to quickly transition between musical acts, borrowing a concept famously used for the London portion of Live Aid. Promoter Andy Copping of Live Nation spent two years working to put the show together. He had wanted to present the concert in 2024, but it was delayed after Ozzy Osbourne experienced health setbacks.
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Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning was a benefit concert by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, with a number of supporting artists. It took place on 5 July 2025 at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, England, near to where the band was formed in 1968.
The event concluded with the final live performances of both Black Sabbath and lead singer Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist; it also marked the first time since 2005 that the original line-up of the band (Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward) had performed together live. Osbourne, who was no longer able to walk due to his advanced Parkinson's disease, sang while seated on a throne. Seventeen days after the show, Osbourne died at the age of 76.
The concert was streamed worldwide via pay per view with a broadcast delay, with supporting acts including two supergroups of musicians serving as the house band. Proceeds from the event totalled £140 million, and were donated to Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's.
Black Sabbath were formed in Aston, Birmingham, England, in 1968 by Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward, who grew up within a short distance of each other, and of Villa Park, in the district. The band developed a style that came to be known as heavy metal and achieved worldwide success, selling over 75 million albums. Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979 for substance abuse and pursued a fruitful solo career, but occasionally reunited with the group. The original line-up had last performed together at Ozzfest 2005. The band's previous last concert was at Genting Arena in 2017 as part of The End Tour, but with Tommy Clufetos replacing Bill Ward as drummer.
Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in February 2019, and suffered spinal damage from a fall that same year. He rarely performed in the years after, but in August 2022 made a surprise appearance with Iommi to close the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium. By early 2025, he had lost his ability to walk due to Parkinson's. Black Sabbath and Osbourne's farewell charity concert was announced by Osbourne's wife Sharon Osbourne on 5 February 2025. The name "Back to the Beginning" refers to the band's formation in Aston, as Osbourne insisted on staging one final performance to "give back to the place where I was born".
One week before the concert, the four original band members were made Freemen of the City of Birmingham. To coincide with the event, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery launched its "Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero" exhibition, displaying his awards, memorabilia and photographs. A mural depicting the band was painted by artist Mr Murals outside Birmingham New Street railway station on Navigation Street, and completed in the days before the show. It was visited and signed by the four band members on 29 June 2025. Jack Osbourne hosted the premiere cinema screening of The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne at Millennium Point on the eve of the concert.
Tom Morello served as musical director for the concert, which took place on 5 July 2025 at Villa Park in Aston. Morello's stated intention was to make it the "greatest heavy metal show ever". He compared it to the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in scope, and was grateful that all members of Black Sabbath were alive to enjoy the production.
The stadium event was produced by Live Nation, with the accompanying broadcast co-produced by Kiswe and Mercury Studios. A revolving stage was utilized to quickly transition between musical acts, borrowing a concept famously used for the London portion of Live Aid. Promoter Andy Copping of Live Nation spent two years working to put the show together. He had wanted to present the concert in 2024, but it was delayed after Ozzy Osbourne experienced health setbacks.