Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert raises huge sum for local charities
The exact figure is yet to be revealed
Last updated 9th Jul 2025
Not only was Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s Back to the Beginning concert the biggest show in heavy metal history, but the star-studded event on Saturday 5th July will also hugely benefit three local charities.
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who performed as part of Supergroup B and was musical director for the Villa Park extravaganza, took to social media last night (8th July) to post a series of photos from the special day.
Morello revealed a huge total charity donation amount of £140 million, however, Kerrang! Radio has received confirmation that Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne will reveal the true figure in due course.
When the final sum is revealed, the proceeds will be donated to Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's, the three chosen charities for the day.
"Thank you, Ozzy Osbourne, for trusting me to be the musical director of the Back To The Beginning show," Morello added to his post. "It was over a year of hard work, but heavy metal was the music that made me love music, and it was a labour of love.
"We raised a ton of money for a great cause, and so many great musicians and bands fans all over the world paid tribute to the all time greats."
Following performances from the likes of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, Tool, Anthrax and two supergroups, Ozzy Osbourne took to the stage on his bat throne to sing his solo classics ‘I Don’t Know’, ‘Mr Crowley’, ‘Suicide Solution’, ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’ and ‘Crazy Train’.
Ozzy was then joined by his Black Sabbath band mates Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler for thunderous versions of ‘War Pigs’, ‘N.I.B’, ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Paranoid’.
Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning concert in photos:
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
A giant inflatable Ozzy greeted fans arriving at Holte End of Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning host Jason Momoa and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler pose in an empty Villa Park as gates open.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Atlanta, Georgia metal monoliths Mastodon were the first band to take to the Back to the Beginning stage.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Thrash legends Anthrax pose in front of the Villa Park crowd after their performance at Back to the Beginning. Wearing matching 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirts, Anthrax played their own song 'Indians' and a fiery cover of Black Sabbath's 'Into the Void'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, wearing a 'Sabbath Bloody Anthrax' T-shirt with 'Iommi 666' on the back, at the Back to the Beginning concert.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Yungblud belts out Black Sabbath's 'Changes' at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park. Performing as part of Supergroup A, Yungblud dedicated the track to late Liverpool player Diogo Jota.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performed as part of 'Supergroup B', singing on 'The Train Kept A-Rollin'' and 'Walk This Way / Whole Lotta Love'
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Back to the Beginning musical director Tom Morello with Steven Tyler at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
An inflatable Ozzy Osbourne ball in Aston Villa colours bounces in the crowd at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Although he didn't appear at Villa Park, Tenacious D's Jack Black performed Ozzy Osbourne's 'Mr. Crowley' on the screens with a young band that included Scott Ian's son, Revel.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Tom Morello wore a Randy Rhoads T-shirt with 'Sabbath Rules' taped to the back of his guitar.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
In character as Papa V Perpetua, Ghost leader Tobias Forge sang 'Bark at the Moon ' with Vernon Reid, Nuno Bettencourt, Adam Wakeman, Rudy Sarzo and Travis Barker.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
One of the surprise performers, The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood played on The Train Kept A-Rollin' as part of Supergroup B.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo in front of the glorious Villa Park crowd at Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning concert on Saturday 5th July.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Metallica's Lars Ulrich at Back to the Beginning. The metal titans' six-song set included covers of Black Sabbath's 'Hole in the Sky' and 'Johnny Blade', plus their own Metallica classics 'Creeping Death', 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', 'Battery' and 'Master of Puppets'.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
As he took to the stage on his bat throne, Ozzy Osbourne told the adoring Villa Park crowd: "It's so good to be on this stage... You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy Osbourne flips the bird at photographer Ross Halfin.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Prince of Darkness on his bat throne.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Ozzy sang five solo tracks - 'I Don't Know', 'Mr. Crowley', 'Suicide Solution', 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' and 'Crazy Train' - before he was joined on stage by his Black Sabbath band mates Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi one last time.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The concert at Villa Park was Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's last-ever live performance.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
The Hand of Doom himself Tony Iommi at Black Sabbath's final concert at Villa Park.
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward at Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi at Back to the Beginning