Back to the Beginning: 17 Rock Legends Unite for Historic Black Sabbath Concert at Villa Park
Birmingham, Saturday July 5th — In a thunderous celebration of heavy metal’s roots and its enduring legacy, Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park was nothing short of legendary. Seventeen icons of rock and metal took the stage in what many are calling the most star-studded gathering in heavy music history. From the godfathers of metal to genre-defining trailblazers, the night was a powerful, emotional, and electrifying tribute to the sound that changed the world.
“It’s taken us 57 years to get to the Villa,” Ozzy Osbourne declared from his gothic-style throne at center stage. “We made it. Back to the Beginning.”
And with that, the night erupted into an epic journey through the ages of metal — not just a concert, but a ceremony honoring decades of music, mayhem, and brotherhood.
The Lineup of Legends
Top Row Titans:
Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo of Pantera represented the Southern metal thunder, with Anselmo’s roar shaking the stands. Tobias Forge of Ghost added a modern flare of the occult, while David Draiman of Disturbed brought an industrial rage that felt right at home among giants. Then came the Metallica trio: James Hetfield, Robert Trujillo, and Kirk Hammett — true torchbearers of the Sabbath legacy. Tony Iommi, the riff-lord himself, stood proudly among his peers, guitar in hand like a weapon of war. Rock ‘n’ roll royalty Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) howled like a banshee possessed, and Sammy Hagar — the Red Rocker — added his trademark fire and soul. And of course, Geezer Butler anchored the Sabbath sound with his thunderous basslines.
The Middle Throne:
Seated at the center like a heavy metal pope was Ozzy Osbourne — frail in body but fierce in spirit. Dressed in black robes embroidered with silver crosses, Ozzy didn’t need to move to command attention. Every eye, every ear, every heart belonged to him. “This is where it all began,” he said to the roaring crowd. “And this is where we bring it all back.”
Bottom Row Heroes:
Mike Inez of Alice in Chains brought the Seattle sludge and emotional depth that only a grunge survivor could. Zakk Wylde, longtime Ozzy guitarist and current Pantera axe-man, lit up the fretboard with pinch harmonics and lightning-fast solos. And there, with a gentle grin, sat Bill Ward — Sabbath’s original drummer — reunited in spirit and sound with his brothers. Lars Ulrich brought Metallica’s signature thrash thump, while Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins gave the night a poetic, alternative edge.
A Concert for the Ages
The setlist was a tapestry of rock’s most hallowed anthems. “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid” echoed through the stadium with all the force of their original release. James Hetfield and Ozzy traded vocals on “Children of the Grave,” while Tobias Forge offered a haunting rendition of “N.I.B.” alongside Geezer’s immortal bass intro. The show even featured a massive collaborative performance of “Electric Funeral,” where every guitarist on stage layered in their distinct tones like a ritual in distortion.
A moment of silence was held for fallen legends: Dimebag Darrell, Ronnie James Dio, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, and Taylor Hawkins. As the screens above showed their faces, the crowd lifted their horns and voices to the heavens.
Back Home in Birmingham
For Black Sabbath, this concert wasn’t just another gig. It was a return to sacred ground.
Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa F.C., had never hosted anything quite like this. “I used to walk past here as a kid,” said Tony Iommi backstage. “We never thought we’d fill it with something like this.” For the band that was born in Birmingham’s factories and pubs, performing in the heart of their hometown, surrounded by peers and protégés, was deeply symbolic.
This wasn’t a farewell. It was a reaffirmation. A statement that even as the years pass, the flame of Sabbath — and heavy metal itself — still burns bright.
A Night That Will Echo Forever
As the final notes of “Paranoid” rang out, the crowd of 60,000 stood in stunned awe. Fireworks filled the sky as Ozzy raised his arms — not in farewell, but in triumph.
“Thank you,” he whispered, “for taking this ride with us. Long live rock. Long live Sabbath.”
And with that, the 17 icons exited the stage — not as individuals, but as a united force, leaving behind an unforgettable echo that will ripple through the history of rock forever.
Back to the Beginning was more than a concert.
It was a reckoning.
A resurrection.
A reminder.
Heavy metal is eternal.
