‘This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever’

Ozzy Osbourne is reuniting with Black Sabbath to headline an all-star UK stadium concert Back to the Beginning, celebrating the creators of heavy metal.

Billed as “the greatest heavy metal show ever”, the charity event will take place at Villa Park in the band’s native Birmingham on Saturday 5 July. It will also feature sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon.

Black Sabbath’s original lineup – Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – will top the bill, marking Osbourne’s final performance and the first time the quartet have played together in 20 years.

Formed in Birmingham in 1968, the metal legends have sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. The group called it a day following their 2016/17 The End Tour, which featured Osbourne, Iommi and Butler and grossed $US85 million at the box office from 81 concerts across North America, Europe, Oceania and Latin America.

“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning….time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” says Osbourne, who announced his retirement from touring in 2023. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”

“This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever”

The all-day Back to the Beginning will also feature a supergroup of musicians, with acts so far including Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns ‘n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing and Lzzy Hale (Halestorm).

Also confirmed are Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde, with more names to be announced shortly.

“This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever,” says music director Tom Morello.

Tickets go on sale on Friday 14 February. All profits will go to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

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