Tony Iommi is opening up about both the emotional and hilarious moments leading up to BLACK SABBATH’s final performance at the “Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5, 2025 — including a candid joke aimed at drummer Bill Ward during rehearsals.
Speaking on the July 8 episode of SiriusXM‘s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Iommi reflected on the intense preparation for the show, which marked the first time the original BLACK SABBATH lineup had performed together since 2005 — and their final time ever. While the band played a tight four-song set, Iommi revealed that more songs had been rehearsed but ultimately left off due to time constraints and concerns about Ozzy Osbourne’s stamina following his own solo set earlier in the evening.
“We had seven songs that we’d gone through, and then it went down to six,” Iommi said. “And then, of course, there is a strong curfew at the Villa. You know what, Eddie?! I’m surprised they managed to get all the bands in anyway — I really am — because the organization… How Tom Morello had organized that was just incredible. He had really done a great job. But they were working to the minute, and it was touch and go. You couldn’t go over your time span; otherwise I don’t know what would’ve happened because they do work to a serious cut-off.”
Songs rehearsed but not performed included “Fairies Wear Boots” and “Black Sabbath.” Iommi explained: “It was a little difficult for Bill ’cause he hadn’t played them for so long. And Geezer [Butler] and I, of course, we played them on the last tour. And, of course, Bill hasn’t toured, don’t forget, for a long time. So we could have done six [songs], but we ended up doing four.”
When Trunk jokingly said he was “impressed that Bill took his shirt off” during the SABBATH performance, Iommi shared a lighthearted behind-the-scenes story that brought back memories of the band’s early days.
“Oh my God. I’ll tell you what, one funny story. When we had a break on one of the rehearsals, we went in to eat at the studio, and Bill got his shirt off, and Geezer was just about to have a sandwich. He went, ‘Oh, Bill put your shirt on. You’re putting me off the sandwich.’ [Laughs] But it’s typical Bill. He is always taking his shirt off every time. I mean, in the old days, he’d always take his shirt off. I said to Bill, ‘Blimey, Bill, you look like Gollum.’ And I don’t think he knew who Gollum was. He’s always always been the same, Bill. He just doesn’t care. He goes on and does what he wants, which is great. That’s always been Bill. And immediately, of course, all the jokes started again as soon as we were together, having a go at each other. It was really fun, actually. It was great. The communication carried on from years ago.”
The “Back to the Beginning” concert, held at Villa Park in Birmingham, was more than just a historic reunion. It also raised $190 million for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, with over 40,000 fans attending in person and more than five million watching online. Curated by Tom Morello of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, the event featured a solo set from Ozzy Osbourne — seated on a black throne due to ongoing health issues — before he returned to the stage with Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for a final performance of “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.,” and “Paranoid.”
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