Black Sabbath has given fans a glimpse behind the scenes as they gear up for their final performance. Check out the details below.
Their monumental farewell show, titled Back To The Beginning, is set to take place at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5. For the first time in two decades, frontman Ozzy Osbourne will share the stage with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Ahead of this momentous occasion, the band has shared a rehearsal photo.
In this snapshot, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne are seen cheerfully waving at the camera from a sofa, though Tony Iommi is noticeably absent. The band reassured fans that “rehearsals are underway,” implying his participation.
Tweet from Black Sabbath:
“Rehearsals are underway for Back To The Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow” pic.twitter.com/8y5bdv8HIr
— BlackSabbath (@BlackSabbath) June 24, 2025
The image also shows Ozzy using a walking cane. The iconic singer hasn’t performed a full concert since 2018 and has faced numerous health challenges in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease.
Despite these hurdles, Osbourne has expressed his determination to give “120 percent” for this final performance. “I’ve got this trainer who helps people recover,” he stated. “It’s tough, but he believes I can do it. I’m all in; if my God wants me to perform, I will.”
He previously mentioned being deeply involved in his preparation for the farewell concert and has been returning to the gym. However, he’s also indicated that his role may be limited: “I’ll be doing what I can, where I feel comfortable.”
Earlier in the year, Ozzy revealed that he was struggling to walk due to Parkinson’s, but his wife and manager, Sharon, assured fans that his singing ability remains unaffected. “He wants to thank everyone,” she said. “He didn’t have that chance before, but now he does.”
Sharon noted that Ozzy was in good spirits and feeling very emotional about the upcoming performance, describing it as “what he wants.”
The farewell concert will feature an impressive lineup of rock and metal legends, including Tool, Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Anthrax, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Guns N’ Roses, KoRn, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, among others.
The livestream of the concert is set to begin at 3 PM BST on July 5, and those who purchase tickets will have access to the full concert footage for 48 hours afterward.
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