[Archive 2025-02-10] UK heavy metal band Black Sabbath announces final performance with original lineup

Historical archive — originally published 2025-02-10. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

On Wednesday, it was announced that the UK heavy metal music act Black Sabbath was scheduled to play a final show with the band's original lineup, which consisted of lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. The performance, dubbed “The Back to the Beginning” show, was slated for July 5, 2025 at Villa Park in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England. Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello was slated to serve as the event's musical director.

It will be the band's first performance with the original lineup in 20 years. Original drummer Bill Ward departed the group in 2012 due to disputes regarding contracts. The band's final studio album 13 was recorded without him, and he was absent from the band's 81-date farewell tour in 2017 as well. Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk and Osbourne's backing band drummer Tommy Clufetos substituted Ward's percussion duties on the album and on the tour, respectively. Although the band's final show in 2017 was played to a sold-out crowd, the band had expressed their desire to do a "proper" farewell show that would include Ward.

The event's full lineup includes heavy metal acts such as Metallica, Slayer, Pantera and others. According to BBC News Online, the performance was also said to feature a "supergroup" comprised of Morello, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, and Wolfgang Van Halen. Sharon Osbourne said they would be performing covers of songs from Black Sabbath and Osbourne's back catalogue. Tom Morello, the event's musical director, called it the "greatest heavy metal show ever."

All proceeds from the show were said to be donated to the charities Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorns Children's Hospice.

Black Sabbath formed in 1968 in Birmingham, and released their self-titled debut album in 1970. Their worldwide album sales exceeded 75 million copies.

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