Geezer Butler Rocks Villa Park: Black Sabbath Legend Performs at Beloved Aston Villa’s Home Ground
On Saturday, July 5th, heavy metal history was made as Black Sabbath’s iconic bassist, Geezer Butler, returned to his roots for an emotional and thunderous performance at Villa Park, the home of Aston Villa Football Club—his lifelong team. The “Back to the Beginning” concert, a monumental celebration of Black Sabbath’s legacy, saw fans from across the globe descend on Birmingham for a night of raw, nostalgic energy and a heartfelt farewell from the godfathers of heavy metal.
For Geezer Butler, the performance was more than just a concert. It was a homecoming. Born in Aston, just a stone’s throw away from the stadium, Butler grew up supporting Aston Villa. To now take the stage in that very stadium—bass in hand, surrounded by roaring fans and thundering riffs—was a full-circle moment decades in the making.
Black Sabbath’s reunion show brought all four original members—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler—back together for one final time in the heart of their hometown. The atmosphere at Villa Park was electric from the opening riff to the closing chord, as thousands of fans packed the venue for what has been dubbed the “last Sabbath supper.”
Geezer Butler commanded the stage with his signature low-end growl and unmatched stage presence, powering through classics like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “Children of the Grave,” and “Paranoid.” With each thunderous note, fans were reminded why Butler is regarded as one of the greatest bassists in the history of rock. His tight chemistry with drummer Bill Ward created a rhythm section that was both relentless and emotional—a fitting backdrop to Tony Iommi’s monstrous guitar tone and Ozzy Osbourne’s haunting vocals.
During a brief pause in the set, Butler addressed the crowd with a heartfelt message:
“Playing here at Villa Park… I never thought I’d see the day. Aston’s where we started, Villa’s who I’ve always supported… and Sabbath’s my life. This is for all of you, and for the place we come from.”
As the sun set over the stands of Villa Park, the stage lights bathed the band in crimson and gold—colors not unlike Aston Villa’s own. The crowd, a sea of black t-shirts and devil horns, waved banners, chanted lyrics, and erupted in cheers after every track. It was as much a tribute to Birmingham’s musical heritage as it was to the individuals who shaped an entire genre.
Several guest appearances also turned heads. Metallica’s James Hetfield and Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell joined the band on stage for a blistering rendition of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,” and Slash of Guns N’ Roses made a surprise appearance, dueling with Iommi on “Symptom of the Universe.” Yet it was Geezer Butler, performing in the stadium of his dreams, who anchored the night with quiet power and thunderous resonance.
Photos from the concert show Butler gripping his iconic bass, eyes closed in the moment, with a sea of fans behind him and the Villa Park scoreboard lit up in tribute: “Thank You Geezer – Forever Sabbath.”
This was no ordinary gig. It was a historic, emotional convergence of football, music, memory, and home. As fireworks closed the show and Black Sabbath took their final bow in Birmingham, the message was clear: legends never die, and for Geezer Butler, Villa Park will forever echo with the sound of heavy metal’s heartbeat.
See more photos from the unforgettable “Back to the Beginning” concert—Geezer’s powerful performance, the band’s last stand, and special moments from an iconic night—coming soon.
