On Saturday, July 5, 2025, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne will take the stage for what is being billed as his final live performance, reuniting with his original Black Sabbath bandmates—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham. This historic event, called "Back to the Beginning," marks the first time the iconic lineup has played together in 20 years and promises to be the biggest metal event of all time.
Black Sabbath, formed in Birmingham in 1968, is widely regarded as one of the founding bands of heavy metal. Their influence on the genre is immeasurable, having sold over 75 million albums worldwide. The band’s name was inspired by a 1963 Boris Karloff horror film, and their early sound was shaped in part by guitarist Tony Iommi’s industrial accident, which led him to forge prosthetic fingertips and detune his guitar, creating the signature heavy, sludgy tone that defined Sabbath’s music.
Ozzy Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne, has been battling Parkinson’s disease and other health challenges, which sadly prevent him from performing a full live concert. Yet, he expressed deep gratitude and emotion about the farewell show. "It’s my final encore; it’s my chance to say thank you to my fans for always supporting me and being there for me," he said. "I couldn’t have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning. I hope they feel appreciated for how much they mean to me." This sentiment underscores the significance of the event, held at the very place where Black Sabbath’s journey began.
The all-day concert at Villa Park will not only feature Black Sabbath but also a stellar lineup of metal legends and supergroups. Curated by Tom Morello, the roster includes Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, David Draiman from Disturbed, Guns N’ Roses members Duff McKagan and Slash, Anthrax’s Frank Bello and Scott Ian, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, Faith No More’s Mike Bordin, Sammy Hagar, Sleep Token, Ghost’s Papa V Perpetua, Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, Wolfgang Van Halen, and Zakk Wylde, among others. Fans of heavy metal will be treated to a rare gathering of influential artists spanning multiple generations and styles.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed by Mercury Studios and Kiswe as a pay-per-view program titled "Back To The Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow." The livestream will begin at 3pm BST on July 5 and will be available for rewatch for 48 hours after the show concludes. This accessibility ensures that millions of fans worldwide can witness this monumental occasion.
Jason Momoa, who recently spoke with Kerrang!, expressed his excitement about the event: "This show is going to be amazing and I’m so happy they’ve done it on pay-per-view for all to see. Ozzy is everything to me. Sabbath is every-fucking-thing, man. I remember the first song, I remember playing Sabbath to my kids the first time. I love everything about that band. They’re real man, and I’m just going to be around everyone that I grew up loving. Slash and Tool are there, Alice In Chains, Pantera, Metallica… It’s surreal, bro." His words capture the profound impact Black Sabbath has had on fans and fellow musicians alike.
In addition to the concert, Ozzy Osbourne will be appearing at Comic Con Midlands on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Birmingham’s NEC, just 12 miles from Villa Park. Fans eager to meet the Prince of Darkness and his family—wife Sharon Osbourne, daughter Kelly Osbourne, and son Jack Osbourne—will have the chance to do so, albeit at premium prices. The top-tier "Ultimate Sin VIP Package" costs £666, a nod to the "number of the beast" beloved in heavy metal culture. This package includes a group professional photo opportunity with the Osbourne family, limited to two people per photo (under-5s are exempt from this limit), plus 8x10 signed photos of the foursome. However, for a solo photo with Ozzy and his autograph, fans must pay an additional £300, and to get an autograph on a microphone or guitar, the cost rises by another £750, bringing the potential total to a staggering £1,416 just for the VIP package, with extras pushing the total even higher.
Other autograph options include signatures on albums, toys, or posters for £375, and books for £225, but these are only available to VIP package holders. Prices for photos with other family members are comparatively lower—£80 for Sharon, £60 for Kelly or Jack—and autographs from Sharon, Kelly, and Jack are priced at £60 and £40 respectively. The high cost has sparked humorous backlash online, with some fans joking about the steep prices. Comic Con Midlands has made it clear that meeting Ozzy without VIP status is not an option.
In stark contrast, punk icon John Lydon, known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, is offering a much more affordable pre-show meet and greet for £90, which includes a photo, signature, and goody bag. Similarly, at Comic Con Midlands, fans can pay £110 for a photo with Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Frank Bello, or £60 for a snap with Slipknot’s Sid Wilson, demonstrating a wide range of pricing strategies among rock legends.
Adding to the excitement surrounding the farewell concert, Aston Villa Football Club has partnered with Ozzy Osbourne to launch an exclusive "Back Home" merchandise collection. This collaboration celebrates the deep connection between Osbourne and his hometown club ahead of the Villa Park event. The collection, available at the Villa Park store, AVFC Sport and Leisure in the Bullring Shopping Centre, and through the club’s official website, includes a retro football shirt, full zip jacket, and scarf. Each item features a custom-designed crest and elements inspired by Osbourne’s storied career.
On July 3, 2025, the Bullring location will unveil a dedicated Ozzy Osbourne memorabilia display featuring rare artifacts and video content, alongside official "Back to the Beginning" concert merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies, caps, lithographs, and tote bags. Osbourne expressed his enthusiasm about this unique experience: "I'm thrilled to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to my hometown fans… It also means a lot to me that we're giving back to Birmingham charities through this event." This charitable aspect adds a meaningful dimension to the festivities, with all profits from the concert being donated equally to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
For attendees planning to attend the concert at Villa Park, logistical advice is crucial. The stadium is located in a residential area with no available parking at the venue itself. Aston Villa has urged fans to plan their journeys carefully, recommending the use of public transport, taxis, or official shuttle bus services running from Dudley Street near New Street Station to Aston Hall, across from Villa Park. A Traffic Exclusion Zone will be in place around the stadium throughout the day to ease congestion.
Shuttle buses will run every 10 minutes before and after the concert, with the last post-concert service departing at midnight. Tickets for the shuttle service cost £7.50 one way or £15 return and can be purchased on the day. The club strongly advises against drop-offs or pick-ups near the stadium due to expected heavy traffic, especially after the show concludes.
For those driving, the club has provided detailed directions to avoid congestion. For example, travelers from the northwest or southwest are advised to exit the M6 at junction 7 and park north of the stadium, while those coming from the northeast or southeast should follow specific routes to designated car parks. Pre-booked parking is available at select locations, but capacity is limited.
As the final curtain draws near for Ozzy Osbourne’s live performances, "Back to the Beginning" stands as a monumental celebration of a career that shaped heavy metal music. From humble beginnings as "Earth" to becoming global icons, Black Sabbath’s legacy is immortalized not only in their music but also in Birmingham’s cultural landmarks, including a heavy metal bench with statues of the original lineup and the Black Sabbath Bridge near Broad Street, both unveiled in 2019.
With a lineup of legendary musicians, a global livestream, exclusive merchandise, and a heartfelt farewell from Osbourne himself, this event promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans old and new. As Osbourne said, "It’s a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out."
