Black Sabbath and Ozzy & Co. head home to shred one last time

By Chuck Muth  

Nevada News and Views

On July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne and the original lineup of Black Sabbath — Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward — delivered a ten-hour farewell, fittingly titled “Back to the Beginning.”

It was a full-circle moment in the very city where their story began back in 1968. Forty thousand fans packed the stadium, while millions more tuned in from around the world. What unfolded was the culmination of an epic band’s history, and one man’s sheer determination to finish well.

Ozzy’s health struggles are no secret. Parkinson’s disease, spinal issues, and years of punishing performances have taken a toll.

Still, Ozzy, rising from beneath the stage on a throne that looked equal parts gothic and gladiator, delivered an incredible performance. He didn’t stand, but he sure didn’t sit still either.

The guest list read like a who’s who of rock royalty: Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Jack Black, and more. There were surprises too: Yungblud’s emotional cover of “Changes,” and a drum showdown between Travis Barker, Chad Smith, and Danny Carey that nearly stole the show.

The choice to return home (physically and musically) mattered a great deal to fans.

In an age of disposable culture, the original Black Sabbath lineup reminded us what it looks like to build something that lasts.

Ozzy didn’t have to be there. He chose to be.

If you’re going to leave, leave right. His willingness to confront his past and still show up, flaws and all, is a lesson in both humility and resilience.

This concert brought in £140 million for causes like Cure Parkinson’s and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Every pound came from people who chose to give.

That’s the kind of voluntary, local support conservatives champion; communities looking after their own, because they care.

Heavy metal has always been edgy. Some of the themes, the imagery — it’s not for everyone.

Still, there’s a difference between endorsing behavior and recognizing influence. Ozzy didn’t sugarcoat who he was. He never has.

That kind of unfiltered honesty can be uncomfortable, but it also reinforces the idea that freedom includes the right to make mistakes and still grow.

Nostalgia was the undercurrent of the entire night. Fans made pilgrimages to Ozzy’s childhood neighborhood. Some took photos outside his old house.

For many, this wasn’t just a concert. It was a marker in their own personal timelines.

The music spanned generations. Metallica and Slayer represented the ’80s; Alice in Chains carried the ’90s torch; Gojira showed metal’s still evolving. Through it all, Sabbath remained the root.

Ozzy Osbourne’s “Back to the Beginning” was a fitting goodbye. It was a reminder that legacies are built over time, with loyalty, conviction, and a whole lot of perseverance.

The night offered a window into deeper values: respect for the past, perseverance in the face of hardship, and charity that comes from the heart.

In his final moment on stage, Ozzy told the crowd, “I couldn’t have done my final show anywhere else.”

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Chuck Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, founder of CampaignDoctor.com, and publisher of Nevada News & Views. His views are his own. He can be reached at chuck@chuckmuth.com.