Black Sabbath – Back To The Beginning – Review from PPV
July 5, 2025
Review By: George Andritsakis
What does one even say about a show that has been covered almost ad nauseum since the day it went on? I won’t go into a blow by blow breakdown like most do, instead, I’m going by how it felt to witness each band that I sat through, from my own point of view.
Like most metalheads, rockers and various other interested, the instant the show was announced and tickets went on sale, I hopped on to try and get myself a pair. Nothing doing, the closest I got to being inside that magical 45,000 limit of tickets was somewhere in the 81,000’s. Ah well, I tried. I did end up on the waitlist, but, nothing doing. So I went and purchased myself the PPV option, which was decently priced for a 9 ½ hour long show (the true run time was something around 10 hours, but quite a bit was cut from the PPV feed).
Anyways, July 5 finally rolled around and I parked myself in front of my surround sound enabled TV and cranked the volume up to 11. Mastodon was up first, did a pair of their songs and then, after introductions of Tool’s Danny Carey, Slipknot’s Eloy Casagrande, and Gojira’s Mario Duplantier, launched into their HEAVY version of Supernaut, one of Sabbath’s deeper cuts on their Vol. 4 album from 1972.
Next up was American blues-rock band Rival Sons. They did a very good cover of Electric Funeral, off of Sabbath’s greatest album, Paranoid. I’ve never gotten into Rival Sons, but the two other songs they played, “Do Your Worst” and “Secret” sounded really good, so I might check them out.
Thrash Metal giants Anthrax were up next, and only played their massive song “Indians” before firing up their version of Into The Void, off of Sabbath’s Master of Reality album from 1971. Later on through the show we’d end up seeing the rest of the band in either of the supergroups that were designed and put together for the show.
Halestorm took the stage next, and oh my God, it was one of my favorite sets of the night. Lzzy got right into it with their big hit Love Bites (So Do I), and their new single, Rain Your Blood On Me, both of which I absolutely love. Then came one of the greatest covers of the night to this headbanger when Lzzy and Co. did their version of Ozzy’s solo hit, Perry Mason, off his Ozzmosis album. I was singing (and bawling my eyes out) right along with them and the crowd, it was beautifully done. Perry Mason is one of my top 5 favorite solo Ozzy tunes of all time.
In between sets they had ads for the various charities the event was supporting, and next up was Lamb of God. I’m not a fan of them by any stretch of the imagination, so I took a break.
Coming back from the break, Tom Morello (who was the musical director for the show to begin with), had the first Supergroup of the night hit the stage, starting off with Ozzy’s huge solo hit, The Ultimate Sin, with Lzzy Hale, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Ozzy’s 3rd solo guitarist Jake E. Lee (who looked and played absolutely amazingly considering he was shot several times a few months back outside his home in Las Vegas), David Ellefson of Megadeth fame, Mike Bordin from Faith No More, and finally Ozzy’s Adam Wakeman on the keyboards. Anyone reading who hasn’t seen this part of the should really check it out, it was phenomenal, and brought more than a few tears. Lzzy and Nuno hopped to the side of the stage for the next track, to allow David Draiman of Disturbed to take the reigns for a blazing supercover of Ozzy’s solo smash Shot In The Dark, also off The Ultimate Sin album with Jake E Lee.
It was here that Jake E Lee stepped offstage to a massive thunder of applause not just from the luck ones in the stadium, but from rockers and metalheads worldwide. He was definitely missed. Nuno Bettencourt came back onstage with Scott Ian of Anthrax and with David Draiman launched into Sweet Leaf, off of Sabbath’s juggernaut album Master Of Reality. I have to interject here, I’ve seen several clips of Dave Draiman taking the stage and it sounded like he was getting booed (he is Jewish, and fervently supports the IDF, as he should), but on the live PPV, those boo’s weren’t that clear or loud, just a few here and there, but nothing like the hair dryer sounds you hear from snippets and clips on online. It’s amazing how something can be manipulated by AI to change a narrative, isn’t it? Welcome to Skynet.
Back to the show. Whitfield Crane of Ugly Kid Joe took over, and Frank Bello of Anthrax as well as II from Sleep Token did a killer version of Believer, off of Ozzy’s solo album Diary of a Madman, the final with guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads before his tragic passing. Next up had to have been on of the bigger surprises of the night, YungBlud (I never heard of him until I saw this concert) took the stage and led the crowd in an insanely emotional version of Changes, off of Sabbath’s Vol. 4 album, and later re-recorded by Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne for Kelly’s album Shut Up (which is probably where most of the youngins know the tune from).
On the titan trons came up the visage of Jack Black, replete in a stitch by stitch cosplay of Ozzy’s wardrobe from his Mr. Crowley music video, with several kids of some of the stars there, such as Scott Ian’s son, Revel, Tom Morello’s son, Roman, and Japanese wonderkid Yoyoka Soma) taking on a very School of Rock vibey, but scene for scene perfect rendition of Mr. Crowley. Even Jack himself surprised the hell out of me, for the life of me, he came the closest to even sounding like Ozzy, he really put his everything into this piece and literally knocked it out of the park.
At various parts of the show though, during the set changes, video tributes from artists who couldn’t be there were shown. Everyone from AC/DC, Def Leppard, Billy Idol, Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, Marilyn Manson, Jonathan Davis, and even good old Dolly Parton sent their well-wishes. I got all sorts of emotional with Def Leppard and Rob Halford’s tributes, but my question was, where was Lita Ford and Gus G?! Well, Gus G I can forgive, his wife was having a baby I think that very same day, or at least that week, so he’s forgiven.
Next up on stage was Alice in Chains, playing their huge hits Man In The Box and Would? Then doing a very admirable cover of Sabbath’s Fairies Wear Boots off of the Paranoid album. Next up was a drum off with Chad Smith, Travis Barker, and Danny Carey, with Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt, and bass legend Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot and Ozzy tossing their hats in for a neat rendition of Symptom of The Universe, off their 1975 release, Sabotage.
More reminders of the charities’ work came on for us watching the PPV, then it was time for the second, and final Supergroup. Up first came Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, Tom Morello, KK Downing of the mighty Judas Priest and KK’s Priest, Adam Jones of Tool, Rudy Sarzo, and Danny Carey to cover the ethereal Judas Priest classic Breaking The Law and Sabbath’s Snowblind, again off their Vol.4 album.
Billy Corgan and KK came off stage, and on went the Red Rocker himself, Sammy Hagar, Nuno Bettencourt, and Chad Smith covering Ozzy’s Flying High Again (another one of my most favorite Ozzy solo tunes) and the Montrose hit Rock Candy. As much as I love Sammy, and I’m a huge fan, don’t get me wrong, it just didn’t feel like a great showing. Maybe it was jetlag. I don’t know. But I just wasn’t impressed, which is a shame, because usually Sammy is on his A game when it comes to mega events like this. Sammy waddled off stage and on came Vernon Reid from Living Color and Papa V Perpetua from Ghost to go through a very dark and killer cover of Bark at The Moon. It would’ve been cool as hell to bring Jake E Lee back up for this though, just saying.
Papa V, Vernon, and Adam, made way for none other than Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, and the immortal Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones to go through The Train Kept a Rollin’ and a killer medley of Walk This Way and the Led Zeppelin classic Whole Lotta Love. Steven Tyler was in fine form tonight, and a lot of outlets are saying this was the absolute best he’s performed in a very long time.
Back from another commercial break, Pantera was taking the stage, and lit things off with their songs Cowboys From Hell and Walk, along with the huge Sabbath hits Planet Caravan and Electric Funeral. Since Zakk Wylde is in Pantera taking over the legacy left behind by the late, great Dimebag Darrell, he could pretty much do this set blindfolded, and Charlie Benante does Vinnie Paul’s legacy to the band credit as well with his immense power behind the kit. Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown were like kids in a candy store and were just stoked to be there. As they should be.
I skipped the Tool set, as I am just not a fan of them in the least, and never have been, but from everything I’ve heard, they were pretty decent. But now we were into the home stretch, and the almighty Slayer takes the stage for their set, covering my favorites of theirs, Disciple, War Ensemble, South of Heaven, Raining Blood, and Angel of Death, as well as the Black Sabbath tune Wicked World, a deep cut off the very first eponymous album released in 1970. I was rocking out so hard I found myself sweating.
Guns N’ Roses hit the stage, and I was stoked. I love GnR. Ever since I was a kid listening to Appetite for Destruction or either of the Use Your Illusion albums, I loved GnR. Tonight however, Axl…oh man, where do I even start. Not even Vince Neil sounds this bad. It was horrible. I’m glad they were there to pay homage, but Axl voice isn’t what it was. Not anywhere near where it should be for his age even. It was a huge letdown. Nevertheless I sung along to It’s Alright, Welcome to the Jungle, and Paradise City, and watched them plow through Never Say Die and Junior’s Eyes off the 1978 release of Sabbath’s Never Say Die album, as well as the always apocryphal and gloomy Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
After my frustration wore off, it was time for Metallica. I’ve never been a HUGE Metallica fan; I was burnt out on them in the 1990’s when my local radio station played a Mandatory Metallica slot every night for about 3 hours straight. But over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate and respect their contributions to Heavy Metal. Seeing them chug through Creeping Death, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Battery, and Master of Puppets was fun, and their covers of Sabbath’s Hole In The Sky and Johnny Blade were fantastic covers worthy of a rewatch.
Once Metallica came off stage, it was time for the Main Event. The biggest reason 45,000 people were in that stadium, and millions more watching around the globe had their eyeballs glued to screens…the intro began…and from the center of the stage you saw a black leather throne coming up from underneath…and there was the man himself, Ozzy Osbourne. He had just one question for us watching…are we fucking ready? Why yes, Ozzy, yes, we are.
Seeing him in his throne, bolted in as he was, actually seeing what has happened to him because of his ATV accident and the loss of the use of his legs thanks to that awful Parkinson’s disease, he still commanded the crowd, as the reigning KING of Darkness. Ozzy’s band filled in behind him, with Zakk Wylde coming out next to Ozzy, and always, and faithfully keeping an eye on him (as Sharon was off to the side of the stage, too far to be of any use if anything happened), as well as Tommy Cluefetos, Mike Inez, and Adam Wakeman came out and launched into the classic hit I Don’t Know, with the crowd chanting along every line, every word, every chorus.
Massive chants of Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy! Were heard all over the crowd, and Ozzy cranked into Mr. Crowley, doing his absolute best and most menacing and maniacal Mr. Crowley glares to all sides of the crowd. He’s not just a showman, he is THE showman, right up there with Freddie Mercury, Rob Halford, and Bruce Dickinson. Zakk, for his credit, didn’t add any of his signature flair to the solo and faithfully played it as Randy played it back in the day, which I thought was a very sweet touch, as it was Randy that brought Ozzy out of his post-Sabbath firing funk and breathed new life into him, something Ozzy has never forgotten, and will take with him to the grave.
Suicide Solution was next, and it was blistering. This may have been the only time I’ve made it through the song all energetic and totally into it, as it was never really a favorite of mine, but tonight it was played stunningly. You just couldn’t help but get swept away by the emotions and performance. I imagine this is something akin to Queen’s performance at Live Aid back in 1985 (of which Black Sabbath featuring Ozzy Osbourne were there as well). Between Ozzy’s singing and Zakk’s intense and perfect guitarwork, I could see everyone that was within the camera’s view was so into it as I was.
Before heading into the next tune, his biggest hit for sure, Mama I’m Coming Home, Ozzy took a minute to thank the crowds and everyone that’s helped him out, not just during the show, the planning of it, but throughout his career. But watching Ozzy sing this song, with Zakk doing the backing vocals when Ozzy’s faltered with emotion, and he was starting to tear up, we ALL knew this was Ozzy’s goodbye to us, the fans, the crowds, everyone. You could hear it in the crowd too, when we were all singing the chorus, every last one of us, from those in attendance, to those of us watching remotely, we were all choked up.
Sadly, then next tune was the last solo tune we’ll ever hear Ozzy sing again, and rightfully, it was his very first song, Crazy Train. Despite being seated, and fighting the diseases he has, he performed Crazy Train stunningly. Interwoven with live images on the titan trons were old video clips from the music video, specifically showing Randy Rhoads iconic images of his being in the studio recording the song with his polka-dotted prototype Grover Jackson Flying V. With the end of Crazy Train closed the chapter on Ozzy’s solo career. It was absolutely intense.
Last, but definitely NOT least, the band that brought Ozzy, Bill, Geezer, and Tony together, and forever changed the rock n roll landscape with a new kind of music known as Heavy Metal, the one and only Black Sabbath. Amidst the bell tolls and air raid sirens came out the doomy riffage of the classic War Pigs. Ozzy still sitting on his throne, presiding over the festivities, Tony Iommi looking resplendent in his trademark black leather and cross, Geezer Butler, the bass playing madman, and dear sweet, Bill Ward, forever pounding the skins for metalheads the world over, holding court like the reigning monarchs of Metal.
Up next was a helluva bass solo by Geezer Butler. Showing the world how no one could ever top him or ever will. His epic bass solo launches Sabbath into N.I.B. and the crowd swayed along with the band, singing it word for word. I’m not much of a bass fan myself, but I got to admit, I love watching Geezer play, and this isn’t the first time I’ve said this. Every time he’s on stage whether with Sabbath or the times he was with Ozzy, he was a pure madman of entertaining energy, totally getting into each tune and rocking out as if his life depended on it. Another true showman and then listening to the crowd chanting each member’s name as Ozzy cues in Iron Man by getting the crowd going with fists pumping, and Tony coming in with the intro riff…that’s how you put on a show, kids. Ozzy was pure fire on Iron Man, knowing the show is almost over, and not wanting it to be over, but having no choice. As someone once penned “All good things must come to an end”.
Ozzy’s heartfelt thank you for the crowd making these Birmingham boys’ dreams come true was a tearjerker, but not for long, as Ozzy called out the last song of the night, and of both his and Sabbath’s careers, Paranoid. The hit that really launched them into the stratosphere, and my personal favorite Ozzy-era Sabbath song. By this point my voice was hoarse, my head was spinning from almost 9 hours of headbanging, and my family was wondering if I had gone mental. Paranoid finished, the band came out front and did their bows, and there was not as dry eye anywhere in Birmingham that night, for sure. There was quite a bit of the show chopped out for the PPV, including a very sweet gesture of the guys in Sabbath bringing Ozzy out a cake. Sharon caught crap for that, but she wasn’t the one editing the PPV. All in all, it was a beautiful sendoff not just for the band that started Heavy Metal, but for Ozzy, who’s been left for dead and reborn several times throughout his life. One of the best live shows I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching.