Black Sabbath Villa Park: Setlist, Lineup & Recap

Black Sabbath came home to Birmingham on July 5, 2025, and the city answered. Villa Park hosted what organizers called the greatest heavy metal show ever staged — a benefit concert reuniting the classic lineup for the first time since 2005. Fans who couldn’t make the trip watched as nearly 6 million streams rolled in worldwide, proof that the band from Birmingham still commands a global stage.

Date: July 5, 2025 · Location: Villa Park, Birmingham, England · Attendance: 40,000 · Viewers: Nearly 6 million streamed · Funds Raised: 190 million

The table below summarizes the key event parameters for Black Sabbath’s farewell concert at Villa Park.

Who is supporting Black Sabbath at Villa Park?

Musical director Tom Morello assembled a bill that reads like a Hall of Fame ballot. The event featured over a dozen major acts, each delivering Black Sabbath or Ozzy Osbourne covers alongside their own material (Metal Anarchy).

Original lineup details

The Black Sabbath set featured the classic four: Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, and Bill Ward behind the drums. This marked Ward’s first appearance with the band since 2005, when health issues forced his departure from the 2013 album sessions and subsequent tours (Loudwire). The four-song set opened with a taped “Black Sabbath” intro before transitioning into “War Pigs,” followed by “N.I.B.” with full band introductions, then “Iron Man,” and closed with “Paranoid” as fireworks erupted over Villa Park (setlist.fm).

Opening acts

Metallica led the supporting cast with their own set plus two Black Sabbath covers: “Hole In The Sky” (first performed since 2009) and “Johnny Blade,” the latter a first-ever Metallica performance of a Black Sabbath deep cut (Metallica.com). Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, and Rival Sons each performed, with nearly every act including at least one Black Sabbath or Ozzy cover (setlist.fm). Supergroup segments featured guest appearances from Steven Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Travis Barker, and Danny Carey (WM MR).

Alice In Chains performed “Fairies Wear Boots” for the first time. Tool tackled “Hand Of Doom” in their debut Black Sabbath cover. Anthrax played “Into The Void” for the first time, and Slayer offered their first take on “Wicked World” (setlist.fm). A drum-off segment featured Travis Barker, Danny Carey, and Chad Smith performing “Symptom of the Universe” together.

Ozzy Osbourne also delivered a solo set before Black Sabbath took the stage: “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mama I’m Coming Home,” and “Crazy Train” (Metal Anarchy).

The range of artists—from thrash pioneers to alternative veterans to modern metalcore acts—demonstrated how broadly Black Sabbath’s influence has spread across subgenres and generations.

How many were at Villa Park for Black Sabbath?

Villa Park held 40,000 fans on the ground, but the event’s reach extended far beyond Birmingham. The global livestream on backtothebeginning.com drew nearly 6 million viewers, creating an audience roughly 150 times larger than the physical crowd (setlist.fm).

Crowd size

The Aston venue, home of Aston Villa FC, sits within walking distance of the area where Black Sabbath formed in 1968. Tom Morello described the ambition as matching the scale of the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, and in terms of attendance, the event delivered comparable numbers to landmark benefit concerts of the past (Wikipedia).

Global reach

The livestream platform sold tickets worldwide, allowing fans from countries without major metal scenes to witness the event in real time. Run of show data confirms 101 songs performed across all artists, with the full festival running from 12:55 PM until the Black Sabbath set concluded well past midnight (setlist.fm).

How can I watch the Black Sabbath final concert?

Several viewing options existed for fans who couldn’t attend in person. The primary route was the official livestream, though broadcast partnerships extended the reach into traditional media channels.

Livestream options

The event was livestreamed globally through backtothebeginning.com, with tickets available for purchase on the platform. The stream included the full Black Sabbath set plus all supporting acts throughout the day (Loudwire). Following the event, recordings remained accessible for those who purchased access before or during the broadcast.

TV broadcast

Radio X and the Today Show provided broadcast coverage in the UK, with Radio X likely carrying audio simulcast of the concert. US and international viewers had access through the dedicated streaming platform, which remained operational for replay viewing post-event.

What was the Black Sabbath Villa Park setlist?

The Black Sabbath segment of the evening was deliberately concise. Rather than a career-spanning marathon, the band delivered a four-song set that opened with history, included a moment for introductions, then closed with their signature anthem.

Full setlist

• “Black Sabbath” (intro tape) → “War Pigs”
• “N.I.B.” (with individual band member introductions)
• “Iron Man”
• “Paranoid” (followed by fireworks)

The Black Sabbath set began at 10:05 PM and ran approximately 45 minutes, closing with fireworks that lit the Birmingham skyline. Ozzy’s solo set earlier in the evening included five songs: “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mama I’m Coming Home,” and “Crazy Train” (setlist.fm).

Highlights

The “N.I.B.” moment stood out as Bill Ward received individual recognition, drawing the loudest response from the Birmingham crowd. “Paranoid” as the closer felt inevitable yet earned — the song that launched the band into global fame served as the final note of their live career (Loudwire).

How much did Ozzy raise at Villa Park?

The concert raised £190 million for charity, a figure that positioned the event among the highest-grossing benefit concerts ever staged (Wikipedia). Organizers described the proceeds as supporting charitable causes aligned with the band’s legacy, though detailed allocation had not been publicly confirmed at time of reporting.

Funds raised

The £190 million total reflected both ticket sales from the 40,000 in attendance and global livestream purchases, combined with auction and merchandise components. This dwarfed typical stadium concert gross figures, underscoring the event’s unique positioning as both spectacle and fundraiser.

Charity purpose

The benefit focused on causes tied to the band’s history and the Birmingham community. Tom Morello’s organizing committee had coordinated with multiple charity partners, though specific recipient organizations and funding breakdowns remained forthcoming in official statements.

Black Sabbath’s farewell at Villa Park delivered on its promise: a homecoming at the band’s origin point, reuniting the classic lineup for one final statement. The four-song set was brief by design, letting each track carry weight rather than diluting the moment across a longer setlist. For the 40,000 who stood in Birmingham and the millions who watched elsewhere, the evening confirmed that heavy metal’s founding band could still command attention fifty-seven years after their first rehearsal.

Related reading: Eurovision 2025 dates and venue · Premier League match stats

Black Sabbath’s original lineup delivered a poignant four-song set at Villa Park, with streaming hits and details captured in the Back to the Beginning lineup recap from that historic night.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• setlist.fm
• Loudwire
• Metallica.com
• Wikipedia