Black Sabbath have performed their last ever present collectively – see footage beneath.
The historic gig, dubbed ‘Again To The Starting’, occurred at Villa Park of their hometown on Saturday night time (July 5), and it was the ultimate farewell for the enduring heavy steel band, with founding members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Invoice Ward taking part in alongside one another for the primary time since 2005.
On the finish of an epic day of music, Sabbath have been welcomed to the stage shortly after 10pm, with air raid sirens and purple strobe lights signalling their arrival. Inside moments, the opening strains of ‘Struggle Pigs’ stuffed Villa Park.
Sabbath performed a streamlined four-song set comprised of songs from their first two albums, together with ‘Iron Man’ and ‘N.I.B.’, with the large crowd throwing up satan horns and shouting each phrase.
As they launched ‘Paranoid’ to convey the present to an finish, Osbourne instructed the group: “It’s the final music ever. Your help has enabled us to stay an incredible way of life, thanks from the underside of our hearts”.
Watch footage from the ultimate Sabbath present right here:
BLACK SABBATH#BackToTheBeginning #BlackSabbath pic.twitter.com/WfkVUyVGRQ
— Duke TV (@OfficialDukeTV) July 5, 2025
Watch Black Sabbath reunite and Ozzy Osbourne carry out for the final time to shut out tonight’s huge Again To The Starting occasion in Birminghamhttps://t.co/CghAKTD8E5 pic.twitter.com/QxWrA3n9ni
— Stereogum (@stereogum) July 5, 2025
#BackToTheBeginning pic.twitter.com/3Q4EdIS4h5
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) June 28, 2025
✟ ✟ Prepared for at this time ✟ ✟
Photograph: @RossHalfin #BackToTheBeginning pic.twitter.com/IBxvWDpF24
— Tony Iommi (@tonyiommi) July 5, 2025
Black Sabbath performed:
‘Struggle Pigs’
‘N.I.B.’
‘Iron Man’
‘Paranoid’
A who’s who of exhausting rock music historical past performed units at ‘Again To The Starting’, together with members of The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Rage Towards The Machine, Crimson Scorching Chili Peppers and Blink-182 becoming a member of forces for a Led Zeppelin cowl and Yungblud main one other supergroup in a model of ‘Adjustments’, which they devoted to the late footballer Diogo Jota.
The Prince Of Darkness has not performed a full gig since 2018, and has undergone a number of surgical procedures and skilled quite a few well being issues, together with Parkinson’s illness lately.
In an interview with The Guardian earlier this yr, Osbourne appeared forward to taking part in the final Black Sabbath present in good well being, saying: “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the most effective I can. All I can do is flip up.” From there, there have been additionally ideas that he “could also be sitting down” on stage, and rumours that he’d be acting from a “throne that flies over the stadium”.
Earlier than then, he instructed followers that he was “in heavy coaching” for the forthcoming farewell live performance, and was again within the fitness center. Osbourne additionally mentioned he would solely be “doing little bits and items” with Sabbath at Villa Park amid his well being issues: “I’m doing what I can, the place I really feel snug.”
His spouse and supervisor, Sharon, additionally mentioned to NME that, though he now “can’t stroll” because of Parkinson’s, his sickness “doesn’t have an effect on his voice”. “He needs to say thanks to all people,” she defined to us at Villa Park. “He didn’t have that likelihood due to his sickness, however now he does have the prospect.”