The monumental “Back to the Beginning” concert — a once-in-a-lifetime celebration honoring Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH — took place on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham. With an all-star lineup including METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, TOOL, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, and more, the 10-hour mega-event marked Ozzy’s final live performance and served as a historic farewell to the forefathers of heavy metal. But despite the spectacle, one major absence stood out: SOUNDGARDEN.
Their no-show sparked widespread speculation, especially after Sharon Osbourne had previously told Metal Hammer in May that the surviving members of SOUNDGARDEN were set to appear, prompting a wave of excitement and curiosity over how the band might pay tribute — and who might fill in for the late Chris Cornell.
As the date approached, however, fans noticed SOUNDGARDEN’s name was quietly removed from promotional materials and livestream announcements. When the event came and went with no explanation, fans took to social media demanding answers. Now, SOUNDGARDEN has issued a formal statement addressing their absence while paying tribute to BLACK SABBATH’s legendary career.
They said in a statement: “Congratulations to BLACK SABBATH on the grand and final pealing of their vesper bells!
“Thank you for an astounding career that provided us and your legion of fans with a lifetime of beauty, horror, love, power, happiness, melancholy and a profoundly sublime, yet viscerally rocking transcendence informed by both doom and hope. Your majestic brilliance has inspired greatness in scores of other bands, musicians and songwriters. However, the crown will forever remain yours!
“We are very grateful to Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, as well as Sharon Osbourne and music director, Tom Morello for the honor and invitation to SOUNDGARDEN to perform at the ‘Back to the Beginning‘ festival! We are super bummed and regret that we were unable to coordinate the schedules of our individual and collective projects to attend and contribute to the festival. The warmth, love and support from the BLACK SABBATH team has been a continuing source of encouragement and strength throughout our career.”
The mystery surrounding SOUNDGARDEN’s disappearance has been met with frustration from fans. Some posted that they bought tickets specifically to witness what could have been a rare and emotional SOUNDGARDEN reunion. Speculation has even extended to possible legal hurdles, with some pointing fingers at Chris Cornell’s estate and the band’s complicated history with Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.