Black Sabbath's epic "Back to the Beginning" concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park on 5 July wasn’t just a legendary metal send-off—it made history.
The one-day event, led by Ozzy Osbourne and featuring Rock Hall names like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Pantera and Slayer, raised an astonishing $190 million (£140 million) for charity, becoming the highest‑grossing charity concert ever.
Musical director Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine reflected on Instagram: “We set out to not just create the greatest day in the history of heavy metal... We raised a ton of money for a great cause”. The funds will be split equally among Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
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The show drew over 40,000 fans in person and a livestream audience of 5.8 million. None of the artists were paid, ensuring every penny went to the causes close to the band’s heart—especially poignant given Ozzy’s own Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Ozzy performed seated on his iconic bat‑throne due to health issues, releasing both solo hits (Crazy Train, Mr. Crowley) and Sabbath’s classics (War Pigs, Iron Man, N.I.B., Paranoid) alongside original members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. The emotional finale closed with fireworks and a poignant message—truly a night to remember.
In short: metal history was made, charity got a huge boost—and Birmingham’s homegrown heroes ended their career with a bang worthy of the Prince of Darkness.
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