Black Sabbath share first look at preparations for ‘Back To The Beginning’ farewell show

Black Sabbath have shared their first behind-the-scenes look at preparations for their upcoming final show – check it out below.

• READ MORE: Sharon Osbourne and Tony Iommi tell us about Black Sabbath’s finale: “Usually this thing is done when you’re dead”

Sabbath’s huge farewell concert, dubbed ‘Back To The Beginning’, will be held at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5. It’ll see frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward perform onstage together for the first time in two decades – ahead of their finale the forefathers of heavy metal have shared a picture from their rehearsals.

In the picture, which they’ve shared across various social media platforms, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne are seen sitting on a sofa, waving at the camera with huge smiles on their faces. Guitarist Tony Iommi is notably missing from the pictures, but the band have assured fans that “rehearsals are underway”, suggesting his presence.

Rehearsals are underway for Back To The Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow pic.twitter.com/8y5bdv8HIr

— BlackSabbath (@BlackSabbath) June 24, 2025

The picture also sees Ozzy with a walking cane – the Prince Of Darkness has not played a full gig since 2018, and has undergone multiple surgeries and experiencing numerous health problems in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease.

Despite his health, Osbourne has said he is “giving 120 per cent” as he prepares for his last performance. “I’ve got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal,” the singer said. “It’s hard going, but he’s convinced that he can pull it off for me. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. All I can say is I’m giving 120 per cent. If my God wants me to do the show, I’ll do it.”

He had previously told fans that he was “in heavy training” for the Black Sabbath farewell concert, and was back in the gym. Osbourne also said he would only be “doing little bits and pieces” with Sabbath at Villa Park amid his health problems: “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable.”

Earlier this year, he said he now “can’t walk” as a result of Parkinson’s – but his wife and manager, Sharon, has told NME that his illness “doesn’t affect his voice”. “He wants to say thank you to everybody,” she explained to us at Villa Park. “He didn’t have that chance because of his illness, but now he does have the chance.”

Sharon said her husband was doing “really great” at the time. She told us that Ozzy was feeling “very emotional” about the final Sabbath set, and that it was “what he wants”.

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“He wants to say thank you to everybody,” she explained at Villa Park. “He didn’t have that chance because of his illness, but now he does have the chance.” Sharon added that her husband was doing “really great” at the time and was feeling “very emotional” about the final Sabbath set, and that it was “what he wants”.

Black Sabbath’s stacked, star-studded bill boasts an array of heavyweights from the worlds of metal and rock. These include Tool, Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Anthrax, Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan, Guns N’ Roses, KoRn, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and the surviving members of Soundgarden.

A livestream will begin at 3pm BST on July 5, and those who have bought livestream tickets will continue to have access to the concert footage in its entirety for another 48 hours afterwards.

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