The Big Day Is Here! Black Sabbath’s Farewell Gig at Villa Park Starts This Afternoon, With Metallica and Alice in Chains Joining the Monumental Line-Up — Follow This Huge Day for Brum on Our Live Page…
The wait is over — the day heavy metal fans across the globe have anticipated for months has finally arrived. Black Sabbath’s epic farewell gig, Back to the Beginning, kicks off this afternoon at Villa Park in Birmingham, marking the final performance of the band that gave birth to heavy metal. It’s not just a concert — it’s a homecoming, a historical moment, and a powerful goodbye from four local lads who changed music forever.
As thousands of fans pour into Villa Park from across the UK and beyond, excitement is in the air. Birmingham, the birthplace of Black Sabbath, is buzzing with pride, nostalgia, and celebration. Streets are filled with fans in vintage tour shirts, pubs are blasting Sabbath hits, and banners line the city welcoming back its musical heroes. Today, Brum becomes the capital of rock.
Taking the stage later today are not only Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, but a heavyweight lineup of legendary bands paying tribute to Sabbath’s legacy. Metallica, Alice in Chains, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden are just some of the major names on the bill — a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of rock and metal’s most iconic forces.
The live page is tracking it all — from behind-the-scenes updates, setlists, crowd reactions, and exclusive backstage interviews to real-time coverage of every song and surprise. Fans unable to attend in person are glued to the feed, sharing their own tributes and memories. The energy is electric — whether you’re in the stands or following from your phone.
Gates opened at noon, with the first wave of performances starting early in the afternoon. Local acts with ties to Birmingham’s vibrant music scene are also on the lineup, showcasing the city’s continuing influence on the genre. A massive outdoor stage has transformed Villa Park into a temple of rock, with state-of-the-art lighting, pyrotechnics, and towering visuals setting the tone for an unforgettable evening.
Ozzy Osbourne, who announced his retirement from live music earlier this year at age 76, is expected to join Black Sabbath for their final performance tonight. The band’s setlist is being kept under wraps, but fans are hoping for powerful renditions of classics like War Pigs, Children of the Grave, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and Paranoid. Rumors of special guest collaborations have also sent excitement levels through the roof.
Security is tight, anticipation is high, and the emotional weight of the event is undeniable. Fans — some of whom have followed the band for five decades — are openly weeping, singing together in the streets, and sharing stories about how Black Sabbath’s music shaped their lives. For Birmingham, this isn’t just a concert. It’s a civic celebration of four sons who put the city on the global musical map.
The event is also being livestreamed worldwide, ensuring that millions of fans across the globe can witness the end of a legacy. The BBC and various international rock media are offering rolling coverage, but the live page remains the central hub for the most detailed, real-time updates straight from Villa Park.
Merch stands are stocked with exclusive farewell memorabilia — from limited-edition vinyl to commemorative t-shirts and signed posters. Food trucks, Sabbath-themed ale, and photo booths designed to recreate iconic album covers are scattered throughout the venue grounds, making it more of a festival than just a concert.
As the sun begins to set over Birmingham, all eyes turn to the stage. The birthplace of heavy metal is ready to say farewell in the loudest, proudest, and most unforgettable way imaginable.
Follow every moment of this historic day on our live page — updated minute-by-minute with everything happening at Villa Park. It’s more than music. It’s history.
