Ozzy Osbourne gave a monumental farewell performance with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on Saturday.
Ozzy and Sabbath delight adoring fans in emotional farewell gig – https://t.co/9KQ0dI7jjr 🤘🤘
— Sachin Ravikumar (@sachinr27) July 6, 2025
The sold-out concert, dubbed “Back to the Beginning,” featured a lineup of legendary metal bands paying tribute to Osbourne’s life and work. The atmosphere in Birmingham was electric, with fans flooding the streets in Ozzy outfits and visiting iconic sites associated with the band.
Upon arrival at Villa Park, fans were greeted by a giant inflatable Ozzy watching over the venue.
@OzzyOsbourne was a little tough to watch. It was great but Heartbreaking on so many levels. Mama I'm Coming Home was tough to get through. For us (the audience) AND Ozzy.
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) July 5, 2025
The day was packed with unforgettable moments, including performances by heavy metal royalty such as Mastodon, Anthrax, and Lamb of God. A drum-off ensued featuring Travis Barker, Chad Smith, and Danny Carey, fronted by Tom Morello.
Ozzy’s final bow with Sabbath
Billy Corgan and KK Downing also made appearances. As the sun set, Slayer produced the day’s biggest mosh pit, thrashing through genre-defining epics.
Watching Back to the Beginning live. As an OG head banger, Day One @BlackSabbath fan it fills my heart with joy to see these four guys be honored in this way. Believe me, it wasn't always like this. BLACK SABBATH FOREVER, FOREVER BLACK SABBATH!
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) July 5, 2025
James Hetfield of Metallica paid a profound tribute, saying, “Without Sabbath, there would be no Metallica. Thank you, boys, for giving us a purpose in life.”
HAPPY #BACKTOTHEBEGINNINGDAY, SABBATH CITY! WE OUT HERE.
See you on the live blog today? I'll clock in when I get to Villa Park 🥹🖤🤘💜🦇https://t.co/1TO6pzT6dt pic.twitter.com/fzSA1qqRyr
— Kirsty Bosley (@Bozzers) July 5, 2025
Osbourne took to the stage, trembling with emotion as he sang “Mama I’m Coming Home” back where it all began. He then joined Black Sabbath for a condensed set, arriving to the rain and church bell tolls of “War Pigs.”
The night concluded with an emotionally charged performance of “Iron Man” and “Paranoid.” Though confined to his chair, Osbourne writhed and wriggled with the hell-raising spirit that has always defined him.
While Osbourne has faced many farewells in his career, this one felt final, adding a crushing poignancy to the night. Yet, unlike many legends who pass before such celebrations, Ozzy Osbourne was here to take his final bow with his own tribe.
