Sabbath’s Birmingham Homecoming: Metallica, Ozzy Cap Historic Metal Pilgrimage

Could heavy metal’s birthplace handle 60,000 voices screaming “Iron Man”? Birmingham’s Villa Park transformed into a metal Mecca on July 5th as Black Sabbath’s farewell concert drew 14 legendary acts—from Metallica to Slayer—for an 11-hour ode to the band that birthed the genre. Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor captured the sentiment early: “Thank you to the mighty Black Sabbath for inventing this genre we call home.”

The Sacred Ground: Birmingham’s Heavy Metal Baptism

The hallowed turf of Aston Villa FC witnessed unprecedented sonic devastation as doors opened at 11:30 am. Local fans embraced the homecoming:

• Mastodon ignited the pyre with “Black Tongue” before a thunderous “Supernaut” cover featuring Slipknot’s Eloy Casagrande and Tool’s Danny Carey on auxiliary percussion
• Rival Sons electrified skeptics with “Electric Funeral,” sparking viral tweets like “Just 15 minutes and I’m hooked!”
• Anthrax bridged generations with “Indians” into Sabbath’s “Into the Void,” while Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale shredded Ozzy’s “Perry Mason”

“This isn’t just a concert—it’s a pilgrimage to heavy metal’s birthplace,” declared Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe before their crushing “Children of the Grave” finale.

The Titans Collide: Metallica, Tool, and Supergroup Alchemy

As dusk fell, metal’s modern architects ascended:

The Midday Onslaught

| Band | Highlight | Sabbath Tribute |
|——-|————-|——————|
| Gojira | “Amazonian” visuals | “Under the Sun” snippet |
| Alice in Chains | Jerry Cantrell’s sludge riffs | “N.I.B.” intro tease |
| Pantera | Zakk Wylde on lead | “Planet Caravan” dedication |

Supernova Collaborations

The much-hyped “Back to the Roots” supergroup detonated at 7:30 PM:

• Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) on vocals for “Sweet Leaf”
• Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) warping “Paranoid” with siren-like solos
• Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) and David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth) anchoring rhythm
• Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) joining for a volcanic “War Pigs” finale

Corgan later mused: “Sabbath’s DNA runs through every riff here tonight. We’re all just cells in their monstrous creation.”

The Crown Jewels: Ozzy and Sabbath’s Last Stand

As midnight approached, the gods emerged:

Guns N’ Roses’ Setlist Surprise

• “Welcome to the Jungle” (with Slash riffing on “Fairies Wear Boots” mid-solo)
• Axl Rose duetting with Ozzy on “Iron Man” – their first shared stage since 1992

Black Sabbath’s Final Bow

The original lineup (minus Bill Ward) delivered a career-spanning 90 minutes:

1. “Black Sabbath” under blood-red stage lights
2. Rare performance of “A National Acrobat”
3. Tony Iommi’s iconic “Iron Man” riff triggering seismic crowd roars
4. Encore: “Changes” with Ozzy’s daughter Kelly on vocals

Ozzy’s parting words choked with emotion: “Birmingham… you gave us everything. Keep the faith. Keep it heavy.”

Legacy Cemented: The Ripple Effect

• Tool’s progressive rendition of “Solitude” featured Maynard James Keenan in shadowed silhouette
• Slayer’s surprise reunion saw Dave Lombardo back on drums for “Raining Blood”
• Metallica closed their set with “Enter Sandman” woven with Sabbath’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” bridge

Industry analysts note VOD purchases shattered records, with streams available until July 7th. The event’s success hints at future heritage acts replicating the “pilgrimage” model.

Key Takeaways

• Black Sabbath’s farewell at Birmingham’s Villa Park united Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and 14 iconic acts in metal’s most historic gathering.
• Supergroup moments reigned: Billy Corgan and Tom Morello led Sabbath covers, while Slayer reunited for “Raining Blood.”
• Ozzy Osbourne defied health struggles for emotional final performance, duetting with Axl Rose on “Iron Man.”
• Early acts (Rival Sons, Lamb of God) paid tribute with Sabbath covers, validating Birmingham as metal’s birthplace.
• Record VOD sales signal strong demand for legacy act “homecoming” events, potentially reshaping live entertainment economics.

As Villa Park’s last feedback faded, one truth echoed: Birmingham didn’t just host metal history—it was the history.