05-07-2025
Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath play final set in Back to the Beginning show
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath have played their final set together for the Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park.
Sitting on a leather throne, the Prince of Darkness became the King of the city as he performed in front of his hometown crowd.
Dressed in black with a gold armband, his tunes boomed out across the stadium, in what was an emotional performance.
The full concert began at around 1pm today and was dubbed the "greatest heavy metal show ever", with performances from some of the world's best rock and heavy metal bands including Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Pantera and a whole host of heavy metal artists.
The main event though got underway just after 9pm, when Ozzy completed his own solo set, before Black Sabbath took to the stage shortly after.
It's the first time icons Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward will have played together in 20 years and now they've been back on the stage for the final time together.
Following Metallica, Ozzy took the stage playing an array of songs, including Mr Crowley, Mama I'm coming home and Crazy Train.
There was a slight break before he was joined by the rest of the band, just after 10pm.
The four of them then belted out a four-song set, including the classics War Pigs, N.I.B, Iron Man and ending with Paranoid.
The show then finished with a fireworks display.
Thousands of people descended on the city and the stadium in preparation for the event. Some had come from around the corner, others from across the world.
They've been all over Birmingham today ahead of the gig. A huge queue was building up next to the bench on the Black Sabbath Bridge in the city centre. Others have been scooping up the merchandise.
Artists who played during the concert included:
Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns 'n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde.
Speaking ahead of the show, Ozzy Osbourne said: "It's my final encore; it's my chance to say thank you to my fans for always supporting me and being there for me.
"I couldn't have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning. I hope they feel appreciated for how much they mean to me.
"We never meant to have a livestream; it wasn't in our plan.
"I was just surprised how many people we were contacted by to do one, and so it seemed a great chance for people who didn't have the opportunity to get a ticket to be able to see the show.
"My memories of Villa Park when I was growing up were: Every Saturday when there was a match, I would go out with my friends and stand outside the Villa asking people for a shilling to watch their car.
"It means everything, I am forever in their debt for showing up for me and the fans. I can't quite put it into words, but I feel very emotional and blessed.
"It's a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out."
DID YOU KNOW?
1. They Were Originally Called "Earth"
Before adopting the name Black Sabbath, the band went by the name Earth and played blues-influenced rock. They changed it to avoid confusion with another band of the same name.
2. Their Name Was Inspired by a Horror Movie
The band got the name "Black Sabbath" from a 1963 Boris Karloff horror film. Geezer Butler noted how people pay to be scared, so they decided to create music that evoked fear and darkness.
3. Tony Iommi Lost Fingertips Before Sabbath Took Off
Guitarist Tony Iommi lost the tips of two fingers in an industrial accident on his last day at a sheet metal factory. He forged his own prosthetic tips and detuned his guitar, helping to shape Sabbath's heavy, sludgy sound.
4. Ozzy Osbourne's Real Name Isn't Ozzy
Ozzy's birth name is John Michael Osbourne. "Ozzy" was a nickname given to him in school that just stuck.
5. Bill Ward Sang Lead on a Few Tracks
Though primarily the drummer, Bill Ward actually sang lead vocals on songs like "It's Alright" (from Technical Ecstasy) and "Swinging the Chain" (from Never Say Die!).
6. "Paranoid" Was a Last-Minute Filler Track
The band wrote the iconic song "Paranoid" in about 25 minutes to fill space on the album of the same name. It went on to become their biggest hit.
7. Their First Album Was Recorded in a Single Day The band recorded their self-titled debut album, Black Sabbath (1970), in just one 12-hour session, with virtually no overdubs.
8. They Created Heavy Metal Without Knowing How to Read Music None of the original members were classically trained musicians. Tony Iommi especially relied on improvisation and feeling, which contributed to their raw, unpolished, and revolutionary sound.
9. They Have a Blue Plaque in Birmingham In 2019, the city of Birmingham unveiled a Black Sabbath "heavy metal bench" with statues of the original lineup and a blue heritage plaque, officially recognizing the band's role in the city's cultural legacy — just likethe Beatles in Liverpool.
10. They Have a Bridge Named After Them In 2019, Birmingham officially renamed a bridge 'Black Sabbath Bridge' near Broad Street. It's part of a walk of fame route where fans can visit a bench with statues of the original lineup. It's a full-on metal pilgrimage site.
