Ozzy Osbourne is set to bring an end to his performing career with a one-off reunion of the original Black Sabbath lineup at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5th. The charity gig, titled Back to the Beginning, will feature the iconic heavy metal band reunited together for the first time in 20 years.
The supporting lineup boasts a who’s who of metal greats, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and many more. Tom Morello, musical director of Rage Against the Machine, promises that this will be the greatest heavy metal show ever. The concert will also feature special appearances from Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, Disturbed frontman David Draiman, Duff McKagan, Slash of Guns ‘N Roses, and numerous others.
Profits from the concert will benefit three local charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children’s Hospice. This marks a fantasy-fulfilling moment for rock fans who had long wondered if the original Black Sabbath lineup would ever perform together again.
The reunion comes after Osbourne spent nine years away from the band due to personal and professional issues. In 2017, he expressed his desire to reunite with his former bandmates but ultimately decided to continue without Bill Ward, citing bad vibes. However, it appears that this time around, the original lineup will be reuniting for a final performance.
The concert is scheduled to take place at Villa Park on July 5th, and tickets go on sale from February 14th.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/05/black-sabbath-reunite-ozzy-osbourne-final-concert-birmingham-villa-park