The star-studded Black Sabbath farewell concert, dubbed Back to the Beginning, has just added more star power to the bill. According to Blabbermouth.net, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, and Rival Sons have joined the lineup for the show, which will take place July 5 at Villa Park in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, U.K.
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Previously, Guns N’ Roses members Slash and Duff McKagan had been announced as part of the lineup, but now the whole band has been confirmed to perform. GN’R will be on tour in Europe this summer, and the Back to the Beginning concert will be held between the band’s previously announced shows in Stockholm, Sweden (July 4), and Tampere, Finland (July 7).
Interestingly, Rival Sons will be serving as Guns N’ Roses’ support act during the early part of their European tour. Rival Sons since as GN’R’s opener runs from May 30 through June 26.
Several individual singers and musicians also have been added to the lineup of Black Sabbath’s farewell celebration. They include Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, ex-Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson, producer/musician Andrew Watt, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, and Ugly Kid Joe frontman Whitfield Crane.
GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL And RIVAL SONS Added To BLACK SABBATH's Final Show In Birmingham https://t.co/NOoeGs8T89 pic.twitter.com/7pwbYcmP1n
— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) February 17, 2025
More About the Back to the Beginning Concert
As previously reported, the Back to the Beginning concert will feature a brief reunion of the original Black Sabbath lineup—frontman Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward—playing together for what’s expected to be the very last time. Osbourne, who’s suffered from a variety of health issues in recent years, announced recently that he won’t be doing a full set with his bandmates at the event.
“I am doing little bits and pieces with them,” the 76-year-old hard-rock legend said during a recent episode of his SiriusXM radio show Ozzy Speaks. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable.
The concert also will feature performances by an impressive roster of bands and individual musicians who have been influenced and inspired by Black Sabbath. Among the bands are Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Gojira, Halestorm, Lamb of God, and Mastodon.
The musicians include The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Sammy Hagar, Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Disturbed’s David Draiman, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, ex-Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing, Tom Morello, and Wolfgang Van Halen. Morello will serve as the event’s musical director.
Game of Thrones and Aquaman star Jason Momoa will host the concert.
Proceeds raised by the show will benefit the following charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Osbourne has battled Parkinson’s disease and other health complications in recent years. During a February 5 episode of his SiriusXM radio show, Ozzy revealed that he was no longer able to walk.
According to LiveNation.co.uk, the Back to the Beginning concert is sold out.
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