It's been three weeks since that Back to the Beginning concert was live-streamed. This post was originally going to be a much larger take on it, with as many videos attached to it as possible to fully contextualize my thoughts on each set performed there. I actually had a draft saved here, only for it to be deleted. I created another one and placed it in a Google Doc so I could easily copy paste it should this scenario happen again — and it did. I thought about pasting the content back on here, but I noticed the videos I posted for the first three sets were taken down. I suddenly realized that this ambitious project was just too much for me. I could just look for other videos to post, but they could easily be removed, too. I decided this much simpler write-up would have to do.
I’m so glad that this concert happened. It needed to happen. It needed to have all four members of the initial Black Sabbath lineup. Getting to this point was a challenge, and I have nothing but gratitude for every single person who played a part in one of the most historic metal concerts in history. Thank you so much, Tom Morello, for directing this emotionally-resonant and powerful event.
To summarize this nearly 10-hour marathon of a concert, that featured 19 full sets, as well as some repeats of certain performances… and the intermissions placed between said sets, as concisely as I can… Here's the gist of it:
For something as important of a show as this, it made sense to have star-studded, recognizable bands like Slayer, Anthrax, etc. to perform. Each band that was featured played a handful of songs, mostly hovering between two (Still can't believe Anthrax only did two songs) to six, with most of them doing at least a cover of a Black Sabbath song. I think Mastodon, Anthrax, Lamb of God, Pantera, and Tool were among my favorites, largely because of the Black Sabbath songs they covered. I loved Scott Ian’s speech about this whole thing being a “thank you”, rather than a goodbye. Simple, but profound. Even more profound is what Randy Blythe says right before Lamb of God plays Children of the Grave. It’s simply beautiful. He tells everyone to look around — to take in the atmosphere that was created by thousands of metalheads congregating together to celebrate the godfathers of metal. The world isn’t any less divisive now than it was in 1971, when Butler wrote the lyrics to the song Blythe and his band are about to cover. That song was anti-war, but it could’ve also been interpreted as a rallying point. To look past differences, and unite as one. It’s why Blythe refers to the audience as brothers and sisters throughout the entire performance. It’s family. Easily one of the top performances in the entire show. Goddamn, is it fantastic.
Okay, I got sidetracked a little bit, but I’m not sure how I could ever fully do this justice. Mastodon was a great way to cap off the concert. Pantera’s take on Electric Funeral still hasn’t been topped in my eyes, and I’m glad they did Planet Caravan, too. Slayer were able to transition from Wicked World to South of Heaven, and loop back to Wicked World, seamlessly. It worked. It really worked.
Jack Black’s prerecorded cover of Mr. Crowley shocked me, but I’m still happy Jack Black contributed all the same. Black and Osbourne had this really deep connection with each other — a mutual friendship that transcends generations. At one point in this thread, I mentioned that affectionate heavy metal parody video game, Brütal Legend. Both of these men lent their likeness and voices to their respective characters: Eddie Riggs, and the aptly-named Guardian of Metal. They did other projects together both before and after that game, but I think the most touching was that Jack honored Ozzy’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction last year. I’m so glad he was able to see himself be inducted in such a prestigious ceremony.
I could keep going on, and while I did enjoy most of it, I do have to admit I was getting a little anxious as to when Ozzy’s solo or Black Sabbath would arrive. It was well-worth it in hindsight; the only reason I was getting impatient is because I had to leave soon. I was staying at another house at the time. I must’ve missed the last two songs and part of N.I.B. Before I talk about the Sabbath performance, I need to point out that seeing Ozzy not being able to walk stings when you have a relative who is also elderly and impaired mobile-wise. The bat throne is admittedly pretty cool to look at, though. It’s somewhere around Mama, I’m Coming Home that tears streamed down my face. It was common amongst the audience, as well. The song is about Sharon Arden Osbourne, but when I first heard it, I thought it was related to his mother, but no — it was just a funny nickname he gave to his wife. Considering his death, though… it could imply a different, more somber meaning. The lyrics were written by the late, great Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead fame. More about him later (should also post some Motörhead songs on this thread at some point).
I did eventually get around to watch Iron Man and Paranoid, though. They ended that concert in the best way they could. The only way they could. Although I wish each song was from a different album, rather three of them being from Paranoid, I can at least understand the decision, due to how popular and iconic those songs are. Iommi stated that Black Sabbath had as many as seven songs ready for the performance, but had to stick with just four because of curfew. Understandable, really. Also, Ozzy Osbourne did a total of nine songs, totaling to just over an hour onstage. It took quite a bit out of him just to be there, and I’m amazed he had the stamina for that much.
It’s also ironic that out of all the Sabs, the one constant member of the band was the one who was initially against the idea of this farewell concert, because they already did a farewell tour years prior. Iommi caved in when it was revealed that it was for charity, and the money would go directly to Acorns Children’s Hospice and Cure Parkinson’s charities and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. During the intermissions, the stream would play these ads (ad nauseam) to drive home the point that this was a benefit concert. Should also note that there were touching 15-second video tributes to Ozzy and Sabbath. Oh, there were these Sounds of Sabbath videos about the cultural impact the band has had on its native Birmingham.
I’ll be remiss to mention that it’s become one of the highest-grossing benefit concerts of all time, with over £140 million (can be rounded to $190 million USD). So, not only is this the largest heavy metal show to ever be held, but the money that people paid to watch it is going directly to making the world a better place, which gives me a fuzzy feeling.
This summary ended up being longer than I thought it would be. There are still things I haven’t covered yet. Maybe the upcoming film will touch on the things I didn’t, though I doubt 100 minutes is sufficient. We’ll just see in 2026, won’t we?
www.themirror.com
Coming to terms with Ozzy's departure is going to be a long process. It's hard to believe that just three weeks ago, I saw this aged, Parkinson's diseased man defy all odds and play his last show — on my own birthday, no less. It feels so unreal.
I think back to the time Ozzy and Lemmy spoke for the last time on the phone. Ozzy couldn’t make out much of what he was saying because he was in a poor state, but Ozzy relayed something that stuck with. Lemmy lived the life he wanted; he didn’t care if his life choices truncated his time on Earth. I like to imagine Ozzy took those words to heart, if that’s actually what Lemmy told him.
I don’t know how to end this post. I’m still reeling over the fact that one of the progenitors of heavy metal is no longer with us. The world is worse off because of this loss, and it’s hard to come to terms with that fact when it’s someone you looked up to so much.
Changes is a soft, piano piece relating to the broken relationship Bill Ward had, but it’s a song that can transcend its original message into something even more relatable. Yungblud did an amazing cover of it at the concert, and he even streamed it a week ago. With a band with a reputation such as Black Sabbath, they can still surprise you with a number like this.
I’ll add some more material later when I get the time. These long-form essays aren’t easy to type out.
I’m so glad that this concert happened. It needed to happen. It needed to have all four members of the initial Black Sabbath lineup. Getting to this point was a challenge, and I have nothing but gratitude for every single person who played a part in one of the most historic metal concerts in history. Thank you so much, Tom Morello, for directing this emotionally-resonant and powerful event.
To summarize this nearly 10-hour marathon of a concert, that featured 19 full sets, as well as some repeats of certain performances… and the intermissions placed between said sets, as concisely as I can… Here's the gist of it:
For something as important of a show as this, it made sense to have star-studded, recognizable bands like Slayer, Anthrax, etc. to perform. Each band that was featured played a handful of songs, mostly hovering between two (Still can't believe Anthrax only did two songs) to six, with most of them doing at least a cover of a Black Sabbath song. I think Mastodon, Anthrax, Lamb of God, Pantera, and Tool were among my favorites, largely because of the Black Sabbath songs they covered. I loved Scott Ian’s speech about this whole thing being a “thank you”, rather than a goodbye. Simple, but profound. Even more profound is what Randy Blythe says right before Lamb of God plays Children of the Grave. It’s simply beautiful. He tells everyone to look around — to take in the atmosphere that was created by thousands of metalheads congregating together to celebrate the godfathers of metal. The world isn’t any less divisive now than it was in 1971, when Butler wrote the lyrics to the song Blythe and his band are about to cover. That song was anti-war, but it could’ve also been interpreted as a rallying point. To look past differences, and unite as one. It’s why Blythe refers to the audience as brothers and sisters throughout the entire performance. It’s family. Easily one of the top performances in the entire show. Goddamn, is it fantastic.
Okay, I got sidetracked a little bit, but I’m not sure how I could ever fully do this justice. Mastodon was a great way to cap off the concert. Pantera’s take on Electric Funeral still hasn’t been topped in my eyes, and I’m glad they did Planet Caravan, too. Slayer were able to transition from Wicked World to South of Heaven, and loop back to Wicked World, seamlessly. It worked. It really worked.
Jack Black’s prerecorded cover of Mr. Crowley shocked me, but I’m still happy Jack Black contributed all the same. Black and Osbourne had this really deep connection with each other — a mutual friendship that transcends generations. At one point in this thread, I mentioned that affectionate heavy metal parody video game, Brütal Legend. Both of these men lent their likeness and voices to their respective characters: Eddie Riggs, and the aptly-named Guardian of Metal. They did other projects together both before and after that game, but I think the most touching was that Jack honored Ozzy’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction last year. I’m so glad he was able to see himself be inducted in such a prestigious ceremony.
I could keep going on, and while I did enjoy most of it, I do have to admit I was getting a little anxious as to when Ozzy’s solo or Black Sabbath would arrive. It was well-worth it in hindsight; the only reason I was getting impatient is because I had to leave soon. I was staying at another house at the time. I must’ve missed the last two songs and part of N.I.B. Before I talk about the Sabbath performance, I need to point out that seeing Ozzy not being able to walk stings when you have a relative who is also elderly and impaired mobile-wise. The bat throne is admittedly pretty cool to look at, though. It’s somewhere around Mama, I’m Coming Home that tears streamed down my face. It was common amongst the audience, as well. The song is about Sharon Arden Osbourne, but when I first heard it, I thought it was related to his mother, but no — it was just a funny nickname he gave to his wife. Considering his death, though… it could imply a different, more somber meaning. The lyrics were written by the late, great Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead fame. More about him later (should also post some Motörhead songs on this thread at some point).
I did eventually get around to watch Iron Man and Paranoid, though. They ended that concert in the best way they could. The only way they could. Although I wish each song was from a different album, rather three of them being from Paranoid, I can at least understand the decision, due to how popular and iconic those songs are. Iommi stated that Black Sabbath had as many as seven songs ready for the performance, but had to stick with just four because of curfew. Understandable, really. Also, Ozzy Osbourne did a total of nine songs, totaling to just over an hour onstage. It took quite a bit out of him just to be there, and I’m amazed he had the stamina for that much.
It’s also ironic that out of all the Sabs, the one constant member of the band was the one who was initially against the idea of this farewell concert, because they already did a farewell tour years prior. Iommi caved in when it was revealed that it was for charity, and the money would go directly to Acorns Children’s Hospice and Cure Parkinson’s charities and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. During the intermissions, the stream would play these ads (ad nauseam) to drive home the point that this was a benefit concert. Should also note that there were touching 15-second video tributes to Ozzy and Sabbath. Oh, there were these Sounds of Sabbath videos about the cultural impact the band has had on its native Birmingham.
I’ll be remiss to mention that it’s become one of the highest-grossing benefit concerts of all time, with over £140 million (can be rounded to $190 million USD). So, not only is this the largest heavy metal show to ever be held, but the money that people paid to watch it is going directly to making the world a better place, which gives me a fuzzy feeling.
This summary ended up being longer than I thought it would be. There are still things I haven’t covered yet. Maybe the upcoming film will touch on the things I didn’t, though I doubt 100 minutes is sufficient. We’ll just see in 2026, won’t we?
Jack Osbourne's ex-wife pays touching tribute to Ozzy with unseen snaps
Lisa Stelly, who was married to Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack and shares three children with him, shared some unseen snaps of the Black Sabbath frontman with his grandchildren
Coming to terms with Ozzy's departure is going to be a long process. It's hard to believe that just three weeks ago, I saw this aged, Parkinson's diseased man defy all odds and play his last show — on my own birthday, no less. It feels so unreal.
I think back to the time Ozzy and Lemmy spoke for the last time on the phone. Ozzy couldn’t make out much of what he was saying because he was in a poor state, but Ozzy relayed something that stuck with. Lemmy lived the life he wanted; he didn’t care if his life choices truncated his time on Earth. I like to imagine Ozzy took those words to heart, if that’s actually what Lemmy told him.
I don’t know how to end this post. I’m still reeling over the fact that one of the progenitors of heavy metal is no longer with us. The world is worse off because of this loss, and it’s hard to come to terms with that fact when it’s someone you looked up to so much.
Changes is a soft, piano piece relating to the broken relationship Bill Ward had, but it’s a song that can transcend its original message into something even more relatable. Yungblud did an amazing cover of it at the concert, and he even streamed it a week ago. With a band with a reputation such as Black Sabbath, they can still surprise you with a number like this.
I’ll add some more material later when I get the time. These long-form essays aren’t easy to type out.
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