Rock icon Sammy Hagar has confirmed that he will take part in Ozzy Osbourne’s much-anticipated farewell concert, set for July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The show, titled Back To The Beginning, sold out in under 10 minutes when tickets went on sale back in February.
What makes this show historic is that it will feature the original Black Sabbath lineup — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward — playing together for the first time in two decades.
In a recent conversation with Loudwire Nights host Chuck Armstrong, Hagar opened up about his invitation to perform at the event:
“Well, the fact that I got asked to do it almost the first day… When the word started leaking out — inside word — [the event’s musical director] Tom Morello calls me and says, ‘Hey, man, would you be interested?’ I went, ‘Yes.’ He didn’t even have to say what. ‘Would you be interested?’ ‘Yes, Tom. I’m in — all in.'”
Hagar went on to say that he was “so flattered” to be one of the earliest artists approached for the show.
“But I had just done the [Rock And Roll] Hall Of Fame for inducting FOREIGNER, and I sang some FOREIGNER songs, and Ozzy, his induction followed my [performance at the FOREIGNER] induction. And they sat there and watched me do my thing, and I think I was just fresh on their mind. ‘Cause other than that, I don’t sing like Ozzy — I’m a different kind of singer.”
The Red Rocker admitted he’s been immersing himself in Osbourne’s catalog to prepare:
“And so I’ve been studying. Everybody’s asking, ‘What do you listen to?’ I’m saying, ‘I’m listening to f*cking Ozzy until the fifth [of July].’ I gotta learn his phrasing. And his melodic structures are so unique; he’s such a unique singer.”
Initially, Hagar planned to perform “No More Tears”, but plans shifted after Osbourne expressed interest in singing it himself.
“And Tom goes, ‘Oh, that would be great. Oh, that’d be great.’ And I’ll do another one. And then he comes back and says, ‘Guess what. Ozzy’s gonna try and sing five songs, and he wants to sing ‘No More Tears’. I said, ‘Okay. ‘Flying High Again’.’ He goes, ‘You got it.’ So right now I’m singing ‘Flying High Again’. If Ozzy changes his mind, I’ll sing ‘Flying High Again’ and ‘No More Tears’.”
Hagar also mentioned he might bring his own classic track to the stage:
“And I offered to sing one of my songs, and I thought I would sing [MONTROSE’s] ‘Rock Candy’ because it’s from the same era as BLACK SABBATH — MONTROSE and SABBATH were from the same kind of era. So, I’m excited.”
This event isn’t just a concert — it’s a piece of rock history. With legends reuniting and a once-in-a-lifetime guest lineup, Back to the Beginning could very well be the ultimate send-off for Ozzy Osbourne.
