British heavy metal icons, Black Sabbath reunited for one last time on July 5, 2025 in Birmingham, where it all started. The emotional farewell concert took place at Villa Park stadium. It was the first time the original members (Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward) were on stage together in 20 years.
This was not just a concert. It was already a really important, historic event for everyone involved – both the dedicated fans and the band members themselves. The concert took place one mile from where Osbourne grew up in Aston, Birmingham. The concert brought to a close a musical journey of over 50 years that helped define an entire genre of music, heavy metal.
Even with the threat of serious health complications, including Parkinson’s disease and previous surgeries of the spine, Osbourne was adamant he would perform one last time, at the age of 76. In the interviews leading up to the concert, Osbourne declared this would be his final show, "This is my farewell. I'm not going to die on the road. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family."
Fans traveled from all over the globe to attend, and many stated it was an emotional experience. Some have waited their whole lives to see Black Sabbath live, and some saw the band perform in their younger years to be able to say goodbye.
Black Sabbath & Ozzy Osbourne's FINAL show has been CRAZY, and it hasn't even happened yet
— HawKNLoaD (@HawKNLoaD) July 3, 2025
Here's a collection of stories and headlines leading up to the show this weekend and my thoughts on everything Back to the Beginning. pic.twitter.com/Zqp1X3voh6
A Star-Studded Event with an International Audience
The show was more than just a reunion of the original Black Sabbath line up. It was a culture defining salute to the legacy and impact that Black Sabbath has had on the world of rock and metal. A plethora of artists attended in support of the historic show, including Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, and Guns N' Roses. A long list of famous musicians, including Slash, Tom Morello, Steven Tyler, and Billy Corgan, even formed a special supergroup.
The event ran for 10 hours and is being compared to Live Aid and other similar events. The show was organized with the help of guitarist Tom Morello, who called the event "a tribute to the pioneers of heavy metal."
For people who couldn't attend in person, the concert was live streamed around the world and tickets for the live event, and online stream sold out in a few minutes, showing just how timeless and far reaching the band is.
The concert's earnings benefited Cure Parkinson's, along with Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorns Children's Hospice. All ticket proceeds and online view earnings were donated to help these worthy causes, [making] the event both musically historic and a fundraiser for important work.
As the night wrapped up Black Sabbath played some of their most well-known hits, including "Iron Man" and "Paranoid." People in the audience, many of whom were sporting vintage Sabbath T-shirts, sang along with tears in their eyes.
This final show was not simply the conclusion of a band’s touring life—it was a closure moment for generations of fans who had followed Black Sabbath over the decades. Black Sabbath's impact on rock and heavy metal is inarguable, and this farewell brought a full cycle to their story—all the way 'round to where it began.
Source(Image / Thumbnail): loudwire.com
