The original lineup of Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—is set to take the stage one last time in a farewell concert on July 5 at Villa Park in their hometown of Birmingham, England.
The event, which has a charitable purpose, will feature a solo performance by Ozzy as well as appearances from iconic heavy metal and rock bands, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and many more.
The announcement of this historic concert has sparked excitement among music fans, as it marks the long-awaited reunion of Black Sabbath’s original lineup after years apart. Proceeds from the event will be donated to three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Back to the Beginning: A Historic Return
Titled “Back to the Beginning,” this concert will be Black Sabbath’s first performance since concluding their farewell tour in February 2017—although Bill Ward was absent at the time. The last time the band performed with its original lineup was nearly 20 years ago at Ozzfest 2005.
Ozzy Osbourne, who has not performed live since 2018 due to health issues, expressed his excitement about returning to the stage: “It’s time to go back to my roots… It’s time to return to the place where I was born. I feel blessed to do this with people I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham forever.”
The show’s musical director, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, described the event as “the biggest heavy metal show ever staged.”
Alongside Black Sabbath and the previously announced bands, other major names will also perform, including Gojira, Halestorm, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon. The event will also feature legendary artists such as Billy Corgan, David Draiman, Duff McKagan, Slash, Fred Durst, Jonathan Davis, Jake E. Lee, K.K. Downing, Mike Bordin, Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Sleep Token’s II, Ghost’s Papa V Perpetua, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Zakk Wylde, with more names yet to be announced.
Tickets will go on pre-sale starting Friday, February 14.
The Legacy of Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath is more than just a band—they are a cornerstone of the music industry. Regarded as the pioneers of heavy metal, they helped shape the genre and influenced countless artists who followed in their footsteps. Recently, the British Phonographic Industry recognized them as the most important British band of all time, with 45% of voters in a poll considering them the most influential musical force to emerge from Britain.
Their impact on metal music is undeniable. With legendary albums like Paranoid (1970), Black Sabbath redefined rock. Rolling Stone described the album as “a seismic shift in music” and called the band “the Beatles of heavy metal.” Meanwhile, Time magazine declared Paranoid “the birthplace of heavy metal,” and MTV hailed Black Sabbath as “the greatest heavy metal band of all time.”
Music historian William Ruhlmann noted, “Black Sabbath took the sound of blues-rock and transformed it into something darker and heavier, shaping an entire musical movement.” Though initially met with criticism and rejection, the band ultimately conquered the world, selling over 70 million records and inspiring generations of musicians.
As Rolling Stone journalist Holly George-Warren once put it: “Black Sabbath never apologized for their existence—they simply destroyed everything in their path.”
