The original members of Black Sabbath—Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Tony Iommi—will reunite for a special one-day metal festival this summer, as shown in this 2011 photo. (David McNew/Reuters)
Ozzy Osbourne has revealed that his final performance will feature a historic reunion of Black Sabbath's original lineup, including guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. This much-anticipated Black Sabbath reunion 2025 show will take place on July 5 at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham, the birthplace of Sabbath in 1968.
The one-day festival, titled "Back to the Beginning," will also feature an impressive lineup of heavy metal bands like Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Gojira, and Halestorm. Osbourne, who has faced health challenges since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2020, will begin the show with a solo performance before joining the legendary band for their reunion.
"It's time for me to go Back to the Beginning... and give back to the place where I was born," Osbourne shared in his announcement. He expressed his gratitude for being able to reunite with the people he loves in the city that he feels is the true home of metal.
Black Sabbath takes the stage in Copenhagen, in October 1975. (Photo by Jorgen Angel/Redferns/Getty Images)
Black Sabbath's influence on the heavy metal genre is undeniable, with classics like War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man shaping the genre in the 1970s. Their success has been remarkable, selling over 75 million albums worldwide. Many of the artists performing at the festival, including Metallica, have credited Black Sabbath as a major inspiration.
"I can't wait to join Black Sabbath in Birmingham," Metallica wrote on Instagram, sharing their excitement. Music director Tom Morello, known for his work with Rage Against the Machine, promised that the show would be "the greatest heavy metal show ever."
Black Sabbath's journey has not been without its challenges. Although the band reunited in 2016 for a farewell tour, drummer Bill Ward was absent due to a dispute with Osbourne. Over the years, the band has had several lineup changes and tensions, including Osbourne’s firing in 1979 due to his drug issues and behavior. Despite these difficulties, the original members reunited in 1997, releasing a live album, Reunion, in 1998.
The members of Black Sabbath—Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—express their emotions after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the ceremony held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on March 13, 2006. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
Osbourne's solo career has been just as impressive, with 13 albums, the most recent being Patient Number 9 in 2022. However, the announcement of this reunion concert is a significant milestone, especially since the band’s tumultuous history included a legal battle between Osbourne and Iommi over royalties in 2009.
The reunion show will also serve a charitable cause, with funds raised for Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham's Children's Hospital, and Acorns Children's Hospice. Iommi reflected on the band's journey, saying that while it’s bittersweet, the final show should take place in the city where it all began.
