Back To The Beginning marked a bittersweet and historic moment on Saturday, July 5, as Ozzy Osbourne delivered his final solo performance and Black Sabbath played their final show at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. More than 40,000 fans attended the event, with profits shared equally between charities including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
The legends returned one last time, with Black Sabbath ultimately taking their final bow in a monumental celebration. This event was not just a concert, it was a seismic send-off to the band that birthed heavy metal. The night featured career-spanning performances, emotional reunions, special guests, and a powerful salute to the godfathers of the genre.
As Sharon Osbourne confirmed to Louder Sound, this would be Ozzy’s final show:
“One thousand per cent. Everything that Ozzy’s ever wanted to do, he’s done. Every place he’s ever wanted to go. He’s just had an incredible life. He’s done. Literally, after this we’re going to go home and shut the door.”
The event was livestreamed to millions worldwide, with over five million people tuning in. Throughout the show, tributes poured in from artists, family, and fans. Whether attending in person or watching from home, everyone witnessed history in the making.
Here are the Top 16 Highlights from this unforgettable event:
16) Nearly $200 million raised for charity
The event was a monumental success, not only a historic send-off to the godfathers of metal, but also a charitable triumph, raising nearly $200 million for charity. The event’s music director, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, shared the news via Instagram on Tuesday (July 8):
“More than $190 million will be donated to houses and hospitals for children. We raised a ton of money for a great cause and so many great musicians & bands & fans all over the world paid tribute to the ALL TIME greats.”
15) Beyond live performances
In addition to the powerful live sets, the event featured a series of heartfelt pre-recorded performances and tribute messages. Actor and musician Jack Black, who inducted Osbourne into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last fall, surprised fans with a rendition of “Mr. Crowley.” Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst shared a pre-recorded performance of “Changes,” while Marilyn Manson delivered a farewell tribute message. Other tributes came from Dolly Parton, Elton John, Billy Idol, Jonathan Davis, and more, all celebrating Black Sabbath’s legacy.
14) Jason Momoa joins the circle pit
Actor Jason Momoa was spotted climbing over the barricade to join the circle pit during Pantera’s performance of “Cowboys From Hell,” diving into the chaos.
13) Kelly Osbourne gets engaged
Slipknot’s Sid Wilson proposed to Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s daughter, Kelly Osbourne. In an emotional backstage moment during the final event, Sid got down on one knee while Ozzy, Sharon, and Kelly’s brother Jack looked on, embracing and joking during the heartfelt proposal.
12) Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe’s emotional tribute
Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe took a moment on social media to reflect on the historic experience of performing at Back to the Beginning, where the band paid tribute to Sabbath with a rendition of “Children of the Grave.” Blythe shared a heartfelt message, expressing his gratitude and the emotional weight of the evening.
He wrote:
“I do not have the words to explain what merely being at, much less performing at, Black Sabbath’s final show yesterday felt like. I’m still trying to process it- it’s crazy.
I have been in my band for 30 years now, and I have played many, many shows in that time. But the overwhelming energy at this show— in the audience, in the backstage area, and onstage (because I was in all 3 areas at different times)— was something I have never felt before, and I know I never will again. It was something DIFFERENT, something very, very special.
If you play in a heavy metal band, or are a fan of any heavy metal music, then know that your roots lay in Birmingham, starting way back in 1968 with four working class Englishmen named Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, & Bill Ward. They created this. PERIOD. For those of us who make this music, there will never be another chance to play with the original creators again. That was IT… & it was amazing.
If you were there in the audience, you should know that every single band member I talked to- from Mastodon who opened the show up all the way to Metallica who played right before Ozzy- was nervous to go onstage… & I do mean EVERYONE (God knows I was.) It a sign of our respect for the dudes who created this music that we all felt this way. We all wanted to honor them, to show respect, to thank them for this wild-ass life that they have given us, and to do justice to their tunes— all of us get to travel the world & play this music because of what these four guys started. Then to see those four guys give it one last glorious whirl, four songs… it was earth shattering.
So thank you Black Sabbath, thank you Birmingham, & thank you to all the fans who came out yesterday to help us give Sabbath a proper send off. We also raised A LOT of money yesterday for 3 different charities- Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, & Acorn Children’s Hospice. None of the bands took a single penny for this gig- hell, none of us even got a guestlist! I am so happy to have witnessed it & beyond grateful to have been asked to be a part of it. A simply unbelievable day…”
11) Gojira bring Olympic magic to the stage with Marina Viotti’s powerful performance
In 2024, Gojira made history by performing “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)” during the Olympic opening ceremony in France alongside special guest Marina Viotti. At Back to the Beginning, the band brought that same energy to the stage, delivering a powerful live rendition of the track and once again inviting Viotti to join them. The celebrated soprano’s dynamic presence elevated the moment, and she was later spotted enjoying the rest of the event, fully engaged in the night’s historic celebration of metal.
10) Sharon Osbourne teases name of band removed from farewell event
In an interview with Billboard, Sharon Osbourne revealed that one band originally slated to participate in Back to the Beginning was removed from the lineup. According to Sharon, the band attempted to profit from the charity-focused show.
“It’s not the time to make a profit. After the show I’ll let everybody know who it was. I think people will be shocked,” she said.
All proceeds from the event were donated to charity, specifically Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
09) Tool perform impeccable Black Sabbath cover “Hand of Doom”
Given the night’s condensed setlists, it was surprising that Tool managed to squeeze in more than one of their own tracks. In addition to playing fan favorites “Forty Six & 2” and “Ænema,” the band delivered a powerful and haunting rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Hand of Doom.” Their performance stood out as one of the most memorable and arguably one of the best covers of the day.
08) Slayer cover Black Sabbath’s “Wicked World”
Big Four thrash legends Slayer made a rare appearance outside of retirement to honor the godfathers of metal. Their set featured classic tracks including “Disciple,” “War Ensemble,” “South of Heaven,” “Raining Blood,” and “Angel of Death.” Midway through their performance, the band paid tribute to Black Sabbath with a blistering rendition of “Wicked World,” marking one of the evening’s standout homages.
07) Pantera cover two Black Sabbath tracks
While fans and Jason Mamoa raged in the pit, onstage, the reformed Pantera lineup delivered a thunderous tribute. Featuring Philip Anselmo (vocals), Rex Brown (bass), Zakk Wylde (guitar), and Charlie Benante (drums), the group honored Black Sabbath with powerful covers of “Planet Caravan” and “Electric Funeral.”
06) Guns N’ Roses stripped-down performance honoring the metal gods
Guns N’ Roses delivered a heartfelt tribute set, performing two of their own tracks while dedicating the rest to Black Sabbath. Their stripped-down performance added a raw, emotional tone to the evening. Positioned just before Metallica, their set helped build the momentum leading into Ozzy Osbourne and ultimately, Black Sabbath’s final bow.
05) Metallica bows to the gods
Metallica, never shy about acknowledging their roots, paid a powerful tribute to Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. Understanding that neither their band nor the genre of metal would exist without these icons, Metallica delivered a historic set as the direct support before Ozzy took the stage. Their performance included two Black Sabbath covers, “Hole in the Sky” and “Johnny Blade”, alongside their own classics: “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Battery,” and “Master of Puppets.”
04) An ultimate drum salute
Tool’s Danny Carey, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, and Blink-182’s Travis Barker united for a celebrity drum tribute, delivering a thunderous rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Symptom of the Universe.” The collaborative performance was a rhythmic explosion and a standout homage to the band’s percussive legacy.
03) Stream cut-off confused millions of viewers
Nothing is always perfect. While the event itself exceeded all expectations, the livestream abruptly cut out, giving the impression of an awkward and cold ending, as if Ozzy Osbourne had been left alone on stage by his Black Sabbath bandmates. However, fan footage revealed the truth: Geezer Butler had briefly exited the stage to surprise Ozzy with a celebratory cake.
Geezer later clarified the moment via Instagram:
“I keep hearing that people watching the stream thought that our set ended abruptly…with us just walking off. Sorry if it seemed that way. I went off to get this cake for Ozzy. Cheers to the fan that captured the proper ending.”
02) A phenomenal setlist: The complete Back to the Beginning setlist revealed
While there are many more than sixteen highlights, the full scope of the event is best captured through its extensive setlist, just under seventy tracks performed throughout the day. From surprise covers to legacy originals, each act delivered something special in honor of Black Sabbath’s and Ozzy Osbourne’s historic send-off.
Mastodon
01) Black Tongue
02) Blood and Thunder
03) Supernaut (with Mario Duplantier, Danny Carey and Eloy Casagrande)
Rival Sons
04) Do Your Worst
05) Electric Funeral
06) Secret
Anthrax
07) Indians
08) Into the Void
Halestorm
09) Love Bites (So Do I)
10) Rain Your Blood on Me
11) Perry Mason
Lamb of God
12) Laid to Rest
13) Redneck
14) Children of the Grave
Supergroup A
15) The Ultimate Sin (with Lzzy Hale, Nuno Bettencourt, Jake E Lee, David Ellefson, Mike Bordin and Adam Wakeman)
16) Shot in the Dark (with David Draiman, Jake E Lee, David Ellefson, Mike Bordin and Adam Wakeman)
17) Sweet Leaf (with David Draiman, Nuno Bettencourt, Scott Ian, David Ellefson, Mike Bordin and Adam Wakeman)
18) Believer (with Whitfield Crane, Nuno Bettencourt, Scott Ian, Frank Bello, II [Sleep Token] and Adam Wakeman)
19) Changes (with Yungblud, Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, II and Adam Wakeman)
20) Mr. Crowley (with Jack Black, plus Revel Ian, Roman Morello and other young musicians on screen)
Alice In Chains
21) Man in the Box
22) Would?
23) Fairies Wear Boots
Gojira
24) Stranded
25) Silvera
26) Mea culpa (Ah! Ça ira!) (with Marina Viotti)
27) Under the Sun
Drum Off
28) Symptom Of The Universe (with Chad Smith, Travis Barker and Danny Carey, plus Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt and Rudy Sarzo)
Supergroup B
29) Breaking the Law (with Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, K.K. Downing, Adam Jones, Rudy Sarzo and Danny Carey)
30) Snowblind (with Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, K.K. Downing, Adam Jones, Rudy Sarzo and Danny Carey)
31) Flying High Again (with Sammy Hagar, Nuno Bettencourt, Adam Wakeman, Rudy Sarzo, Chad Smith and Vernon Reid)
32) Rock Candy (with Sammy Hagar, Nuno Bettencourt, Adam Wakeman, Rudy Sarzo, Chad Smith and Tom Morello)
33) Bark at the Moon (with Papa V Perpetua, Vernon Reid, Nuno Bettencourt, Adam Wakeman, Rudy Sarzo and Travis Barker)
34) The Train Kept A-Rollin’ (with Steven Tyler, Ron Wood, Nuno Bettencourt, Tom Morello, Andrew Watt, Rudy Sarzo and Travis Barker)
35) Walk This Way / Whole Lotta Love (with Steven Tyler, Nuno Bettencourt, Tom Morello, Andrew Watt, Rudy Sarzo and Chad Smith)
Pantera
36) Cowboys From Hell
37) Walk
38) Planet Caravan
39) Electric Funeral
Tool
40) Forty Six & 2
41) Hand of Doom
42) Ænema
Slayer
43) Disciple
44) War Ensemble
45) Wicked World
46) South of Heaven
47) Raining Blood
48) Angel of Death
Guns N’ Roses
49) Never Say Die
50) Junior’s Eyes
51) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
52) Welcome to the Jungle
53) Paradise City
Metallica
54) Hole in the Sky
55) Creeping Death
56) For Whom the Bell Tolls
57) Johnny Blade
58) Battery
59) Master of Puppets
Ozzy Osbourne
60) I Don’t Know
61) Mr. Crowley
62) Suicide Solution
63) Mama, I’m Coming Home
64) Crazy Train
Black Sabbath
65) War Pigs
66) N.I.B.
67) Iron Man
68) Paranoid
01) All our tears: The ultimate farewell
Seated on a black throne, 76-year-old Ozzy Osbourne, battling Parkinson’s disease, delivered his final performance with heartfelt intensity. Bringing tears of joy, gratitude, and overall “all the feels,” Ozzy was visibly moved by the overwhelming support, expressing: “You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
As Black Sabbath closed their set, Ozzy announced: “It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” A celebratory cake was brought onstage, followed by a stunning fireworks display. A final message beamed across the screen: “Thank you for everything, you guys are fucking amazing. Birmingham Forever,” capping off the historic farewell.
Black Sabbath’s final show was more than just an event, it was a thunderous closing chapter to a story that began over five decades ago. Fans came together, legends performed, and metal was celebrated in its rawest, most powerful form. Thank you to the godfathers of metal.
See more clips and highlights below:
I’m in supergroup A
Somebody pinch me #BackToTheBeginning @OzzyOsbourne @BlackSabbath pic.twitter.com/dS0yb0XMGk
— David Draiman ️✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) July 4, 2025
We are honored to take part in this amazing event celebrating the legacy & music of the legendary Black Sabbath! See you tomorrow at #backtothebeginning
Happy 4th of July to our fans in America
: @rosshalfin pic.twitter.com/aewy16RY9p
— Pantera (@Pantera) July 4, 2025
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my fucking hero. pic.twitter.com/MrxYy3eF3R
— YUNGBLUD (@yungblud) July 8, 2025
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Fred Durst recorded an emotional rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” for the Back To The Beginning celebration. pic.twitter.com/Mi4ECQqCyu
— Limp Bizkit Japan (@limpbizkitjapan) July 7, 2025
