How did Metallica honor Black Sabbath at the 'Back to the Beginning' concert? Details explored

Metallica recently paid tribute to one of the metal genre's most influential acts, Black Sabbath, during the "Back to the Beginning" concert in Birmingham, England, on Saturday, July 5, 2025. The all-day event was billed as the final performance for both Black Sabbath's original lineup and frontman Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist.

The show was held at Villa Park, Sabbath's hometown stadium. The concert brought together multiple beloved acts from across generations of metal and hard rock to celebrate the band's farewell.

As one of the evening's important guests, Metallica took the stage just before the headlining sets. The band delivered a six-song performance. Their appearance was an emotional homage to the very band that, according to them, helped shape their music.

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Metallica pays tribute with Sabbath covers and classics: Complete setlist

Metallica opened their set with a cover of "Hole in the Sky," a track from Black Sabbath's Sabotage (1975). The band had not performed the song live since 2009. Hence, the band performing the track at this farewell concert was significant for many.

Next came two of Metallica's own songs: "Creeping Death" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls." They performed in front of a crowd of more than 40,000 fans. The band then returned to Sabbath's catalog for a rare live debut of "Johnny Blade." It is a deep cut from Never Say Die! (1978). This was the first time Metallica performed the song in concert. Their set wrapped up with two beloved classics: "Battery" and "Master of Puppets."

Metallica's complete "Back to the Beginning" setlist is as follows:

Hole in the Sky (Black Sabbath cover)
Creeping Death
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Johnny Blade (Black Sabbath cover)
Battery
Master of Puppets

Before launching into "Creeping Death," frontman James Hetfield took a moment to reflect on the occasion. He said to the crowd:

"Let's celebrate the band Black Sabbath. Because without Sabbath, there would be no Metallica. Thank you boys for giving us a purpose in life."

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Guns N' Roses also delivered their own tribute set. They performed Sabbath covers including It's Alright, Never Say Die, Junior's Eyes, and the title track from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Other notable acts of the evening included Slayer, Pantera, Supergroups, and a collaborative performance of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love with Steven Tyler, Billy Corgan, and Sammy Hagar.

Metallica's tour continues into 2026

The band's appearance at Villa Park came in the middle of their ongoing world tour, which continues into 2026. A complete breakdown of the band's 2026 show dates, stops, and the respective supporting acts is as follows:

May 2026

Friday, May 9 – Athens, Greece @ Olympic Stadium (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Tuesday, May 13 – Bucharest, Romania @ Arena Națională (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Monday, May 19 – Chorzów, Poland @ Stadion Śląski (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Thursday, May 22 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Deutsche Bank Park (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Saturday, May 24 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Deutsche Bank Park (Pantera, Avatar)
Tuesday, May 27 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Stadion Letzigrund (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Friday, May 30 – Berlin, Germany @ Olympiastadion (Gojira, Knocked Loose)

June 2026

Wednesday, June 3 – Bologna, Italy @ Stadio Renato Dall'Ara (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Wednesday, June 11 – Budapest, Hungary @ Puskas Arena (Pantera, Avatar)
Friday, June 13 – Budapest, Hungary @ Puskas Arena (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Thursday, June 19 – Dublin, Ireland @ Aviva Stadium (Pantera, Avatar)
Saturday, June 21 – Dublin, Ireland @ Aviva Stadium (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Wednesday, June 25 – Glasgow, Scotland @ Hampden Park (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Saturday, June 28 – Cardiff, Wales @ Principality Stadium (Gojira, Knocked Loose)

July 2026

Thursday, July 3 – London, UK @ London Stadium (Gojira, Knocked Loose)
Saturday, July 5 – London, UK @ London Stadium (Pantera, Avatar)

Notably, proceeds from the Sabbath event will support multiple charities, including Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorns Children's Hospice.

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