Ozzy Osbourne ended his final UK performance with an unforgettable firework display in Villa Park. This performance would prove to be his last, as one of the surprise “Back to the Beginning” event. The show sparkled with special guests and energetic performances. It included some earnest, genuine tributes to Osbourne’s oeuvre and the deep, lasting power and influence of rock music on generations.
The event attracted a veritable who’s-who of stardom, starting with actor and activist Jason Momoa, who helped launch the legendary convergence with trademark vivacity. His lyrics made the crowd erupt as he announced, “Let me get through, I’m going to get through!” This mood foreshadowed a night that would be at once cathartic and electric.
The surprise highlight of the show was the late-in-the-run appearance by Ronnie Wood. He joined Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler as a surprise special guest! Their joint performance brought extra surprise and flair to the night, dazzling the crowd with their unmistakable vocal prowess.
With new vocalist Phil Anselmo, Pantera ripped through a pretty powerful set, closing with a very heartfelt cover of Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan.” Phil Anselmo, Pantera’s lead vocalist, paused at the installation to pay tribute to the band’s fallen guitarists. He memorialized the band’s past legendary guitarists Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott. “Black Sabbath: we’d all be different people without them, that’s the truth,” Anselmo remarked, emphasizing the profound influence Black Sabbath had on many artists.
The audience was treated to a truly amazing drum-off. Travis Barker of Blink-182, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Danny Carey of Tool proved their virtuosity. Their metered wrist tape brawl highlighted their amazing standout skills. It further showcased the amazing brotherhood between musicians in the rock world.
Adding to the evening’s theatrical flair, Tobias Forge of Ghost delivered a visually stunning version of Ozzy’s “Bark at the Moon,” enthralling fans with his elaborate performance. KK Downing of Judas Priest fronts a supergroup that absolutely slays. They joined Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and Adam Jones of Tool to make for an epic power-trio supergroup showcase.
Our next performers, the French metal band Gojira gave a powerful performance. Their performance fit smoothly into the night’s proceedings, further demonstrating their sheer talent and dedication to their craft.
As the night continued, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi alluded to lengthy rehearsals leading up to the event. In fact, he confessed they were a daunting slog. All of the performers demonstrated such a passion as they took the stage. To mark the occasion, they paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and celebrated his incredible career with intensity. The surviving members of Black Sabbath are 305 years old. This extraordinary milestone speaks to their indelible imprint on the history of rock music.