Metallica and Guns N’ Roses Honor Black Sabbath at Epic ‘Back to the Beginning’ Farewell Concert

  • byJ.L.
  • July 6, 2025
  • 3 minute read
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On July 5, 2025, Villa Park in Birmingham, England, became the epicenter of heavy metal history as Black Sabbath performed their final show, dubbed “Back to the Beginning.” The all-day charity concert, marking Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell and the reunion of Black Sabbath’s original lineup—Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—was a celebration of the band’s monumental legacy. Among the star-studded lineup, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses delivered electrifying tributes to the metal pioneers, leaving fans breathless and cementing the event as a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

A Night of Tributes and Heavy Metal Royalty

The “Back to the Beginning” concert was more than a farewell—it was a love letter to Black Sabbath’s influence on rock and metal. The event featured performances from Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Tool, Halestorm, Anthrax, Mastodon, and all-star supergroups, with Tom Morello as musical director. The night culminated in Black Sabbath’s final performance, but not before Metallica and Guns N’ Roses paid homage with powerful covers of Sabbath classics.

Metallica’s Raw Power: Reviving Sabbath Deep Cuts

Metallica, one of the final acts before Black Sabbath’s set, kicked off with a blistering cover of “Hole in the Sky” from 1975’s Sabotage, a track they hadn’t played since 2009. They followed with “Johnny Blade” from 1978’s Never Say Die!, a deep cut that thrilled fans, as captured in fan footage shared by Duke TV. These covers, paired with Metallica staples like “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Battery,” and “Master of Puppets,” showcased their reverence for Sabbath’s pioneering sound while reinforcing their own metal dominance.

Guns N’ Roses Steal the Show with Four Sabbath Covers

Guns N’ Roses, known for their hard rock swagger, leaned into their metal roots with a stunning four-song Black Sabbath tribute. Axl Rose led the band through “It’s Alright” from 1976’s Technical Ecstasy—a song they hadn’t performed since 1993—followed by “Never Say Die” and “Junior’s Eyes” from 1978’s Never Say Die! album. They closed their tribute with an epic rendition of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,” the title track from the 1973 album, delivering a heavy, psychedelic edge that stayed true to the original while carrying GN’R’s signature grit. The set wrapped with their own classics, “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City,” sending the crowd into a frenzy.

A Star-Studded Celebration

The concert wasn’t just about Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. Other highlights included Tool covering “Hand of Doom,” Slayer tackling “Wicked World,” and supergroup performances featuring artists like Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar, Billy Corgan, and Travis Barker. A standout moment was an all-star rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” with Tyler, Morello, and others. Jason Momoa even jumped into the pit during Pantera’s set, adding to the night’s chaotic energy.

Black Sabbath’s Final Bow

The emotional peak came when Black Sabbath took the stage for their last-ever performance. Despite Osbourne’s health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease and spinal surgeries, the band delivered a thunderous set, closing with “Paranoid” amid fireworks and confetti. The crowd’s football-style chants for Iommi’s riffs and Osbourne’s off-mic outburst—“turn the fucking stage!”—added a raw, human touch to the historic moment.

Why It Mattered

“Back to the Beginning” wasn’t just a concert; it was a pilgrimage to the birthplace of heavy metal. Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, alongside other rock titans, honored Black Sabbath’s legacy with performances that blended reverence and raw power. For fans, it was a chance to witness history—a final farewell to the band that shaped a genre, amplified by tributes from those they inspired.

Watch the Moment

Fan footage of Guns N’ Roses performing “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” can be viewed here, as shared by Guns N’ Roses News on X. Metallica’s “Hole in the Sky” performance is available here, posted by Duke TV. For those who missed the live event, a video-on-demand replay of the livestream is available for purchase through July 7, 2025.

This night of music, emotion, and legacy will echo in the hearts of metal fans forever.

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J.L. writes with authenticity and depth.

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