Rock’n’roll farewells often don’t last, but Black Sabbath and its frontman Ozzy Osbourne tonight (July 5) gave what they’ve insisted will be their final live performances ever as part of a day-long blowout bash dubbed Back to the Beginning at Vila Park in Black Sabbath’s Birmingham, England, hometown.
The event was loaded with appearances by admirers and peers, from Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello leading a house band with members of Megadeth, Judas Priest, Extreme and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Metallica, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Alice in Chains, Smashing Punpkins’ Billy Corgan and Gojira. Actor Jason Momoa hosted.
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But Osbourne, 76, and his Sabbath colleagues Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward were able to turn back the clock one last time in what was Osbourne’s first proper concert since 2018 following a series of significant health issues. It was also the original quartet’s first time onstage together in 20 years.
First backed for a solo set by drummer Tommy Clufetos, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and longtime guitarist Zakk Wyldem the Prince of Darkness managed to belt out “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “Crazy Train” while seated on an elaborate throne with black wings.
Black Sabbath themselves closed the show with “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “an extended “Iron Man” and “Paranoid,” after which Osbourne was presented with a cake and fireworks reverberated throughout the venue. “It’s so good to be on this fucking stage,” he proclaimed.
Earlier in the show, Sabbath and Osbourne’s profound influence over the history of heavy metal and hard rock was apparent. Guns N’ Roses played three Sabbath covers for the first time in their nearly 40-year career (“Never Say Die,” “Junior’s Eyes” and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”), while Metallica rattled off their maiden version of “Johnny Blade” from Sabbath’s 1978 album Never Say Die! Even Pantera got into the act by covering Sabbath’s “Electric Funeral” for the first time in their career.
“With merging and collaborating metal acts swapping over on a revolving stage, it’s a fast-spinning Lazy Susan of metal history,” wrote The Independent. “Yet there’s precious little ego and plenty of heartfelt humility amongst the huge names on display. Everyone handles their Sabbath covers like sacred texts, to be splattered with their own brands of vivifying savagery but never completely chewed up and spat in the fire.”
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