Ozzy Osbourne is poised to reunite with his Black Sabbath bandmates for what is being billed as his final performance, dubbed “the greatest heavy metal show ever.” The announcement was made by his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and bandmate Tony Iommi at Villa Park in Birmingham, where the concert is scheduled for July 5. This event, titled Back To The Beginning, marks the first time in 20 years that the original members—Osbourne, Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—will perform together.
The lineup will also include performances from renowned acts such as Metallica, Slayer, Alice In Chains, and a “supergroup” featuring musicians like Duff McKagan and Slash from Guns N’ Roses, Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins, Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit, and Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine. At 76, Osbourne, who has battled health issues including Parkinson’s disease, will deliver a brief solo set before joining his bandmates for a final farewell.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn’s Children’s Hospice. Osbourne expressed his sentiments, stating, “It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning, time for me to give back to the place where I was born. How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham forever.”
In 2023, Osbourne revealed that he was no longer “physically capable” of performing the shows he had planned in Europe and the UK, admitting he “never imagined” his touring career would conclude in this manner. He underwent extensive spinal surgery following a fall at home in 2019, which exacerbated injuries from a near-fatal quad bike accident in 2003. Despite his health challenges, he has made appearances at select events, including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and during halftime at an NFL game in California that same year.
Black Sabbath, formed in Birmingham in 1968, has become one of the most successful metal bands in history, selling over 75 million albums worldwide. Morello, who is also serving as the music director for the reunion show, stated, “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.” Additional acts confirmed for the concert include Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon. More names will be announced soon, and tickets will go on sale at 10 AM on February 14.
