Heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath took their final bow earlier this month, performing their last ever concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park, joined by a star-studded line up of rock gods paying tribute to the band who started it all.

But this wasn’t the first time Black Sabbath billed a gig as their very last performance. Back in 2016, the band embarked on an 81-show string of concerts entitled, “The End Tour,” crossing three continents and culminating in the concert film, “The End: Live In Birmingham.” 

Rock bands seem to have a bad habit of resurrecting for multiple farewell tours (not looking at you, Mötley Crüe 'The End: Live In Los Angeles'). But what’s the deal with Black Sabbath’s not-quite-the-end “The End” show? Read on to find out!

“The End” Tour

After officially reuniting in 2013 for their final studio album, “13” and heading out on a two-year reunion tour for the record, three of Black Sabbath’s four original bandmates - Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler (excluding Bill Ward) - joined forces once again for a brand new tour set for 2016-17, publicised as being “the Beginning of The End.” 

The band’s original tour announcement promised: “When this tour concludes, it will truly be THE END. The end of one of the most legendary bands in Rock ‘n’ Roll history… Black Sabbath.” Other sources envisioned the band closing “the final chapter in the final volume of the incredible Black Sabbath story.”

No wonder fans were jumping to grab tickets for this final string of shows, selling out the initial set of North American tour dates so fast that the band added a second US leg to their already extensive farewell tour. 

The final concert of “The End Tour”, held in Black Sabbath’s home city of Birmingham, soon made its way to DVD and, more recently, onto On Air’s encyclopedic music listings.

But clearly, it wasn’t really The End for Black Sabbath.

Why The End Wasn’t The End

“The End” certainly seemed like it at the time. But Black Sabbath’s bandmates just weren’t happy with how they’d left things at the closure of their 2016-17 tour, most notably, the absence of original drummer Bill Ward from their “farewell” shows.

It couldn’t be a true reunion and bow-out without all four members present. As Ozzy Osbourne told LouderSound earlier this year, “It’s very important. The original Sabbath will never be on stage together again. From the late sixties, we’re probably one of the only bands where the original members are still alive and speaking with one another.” They needed Bill back to make it official. And thankfully, Black Sabbath’s original members put their differences aside to treat fans to a final, live set.

Black Sabbath’s Health Battles

Black Sabbath had more in mind than a mere four-piece farewell. With 76-year-old Ozzy’s health declining beneath the brunt of Parkinson’s Disease, Tony Iommi diagnosed with early-stage lymphoma, Geezer Butler recently conquering pneumonia and Bill Ward struggling with his own host of heart-related health issues, it does (rather morbidly) seem like the end days are catching up to the immortal rock legends. What better way to celebrate their legacy and lifetime of achievements than with one final, all-out show, and for real this time.

Black Sabbath’s Final Concert: “Back to the Beginning”

Black Sabbath took fans “Back to the Beginning” on 5 July 2025, closing their ten-hour, festival-like live event at Villa Park with a nine-song set featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s greatest hits. With Ozzy performing from a black-clad, bat-ornamented throne, Black Sabbath rolled through anthem after anthem, including “Mr. Crowley,” “Iron Man” and “Paranoid.”

They were the last band to hit the stage, following an entire day of stellar performances from rock and heavy metal greats including Slayer, Metallica, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Lamb of God, Tool, Pantera, Gojira and Anthrax. Yungblud also took to the stage for a surprise cover of “Changes,” fronting a supergroup which included members of Sleep Token, Extreme and Ozzy Osbourne’s own band.

And through the most tight-knit metal mayhem imaginable, the wholesome side of the genre reared its phoenix head: an eye-watering total of $190 million being raised through the non-profit, day-long concert event, split between the charities Cure Parkinson's, Acorns Children's Hospice and Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Black Sabbath didn’t just say their long-awaited thank you and final farewell to fans, but cemented their legacy as undeniable heroes, rising from Birmingham’s back-streets to globe-trotting ground-breakers, and back again.

Back to The End

With Black Sabbath wrapping up their career for good, there’s no better time to sink into the heavy metal nostalgia. Click here to stream “The End: Live in Birmingham,” here on On Air and re-live one of Black Sabbath’s greatest ever UK concerts in full.

It’s the ultimate insight into why the band regrouped for one last hurrah this summer; an essential watch for those with a love for rock history and legendary performances from bands who paved the way for the world we know today. 

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