As Black Sabbath prepares for its final bow in Birmingham, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo reflects on what it means to be part of the legendary Back to the Beginning concert, taking place on July 5, at Villa Park. The all-star event marks the final live performance of Black Sabbath’s original lineup—and of Ozzy Osbourne himself.
In an interview with Billboard, Trujillo expressed how deeply emotional and historic the moment feels. “So this experience we’re about to have in Birmingham is really special, but it’s also sad because you know this is the final show for them, and that’s definite. It feels like the closing of a chapter,” he said.
Trujillo has long held a deep personal and musical connection with Sabbath and Ozzy. Long before sharing the stage with the Prince of Darkness himself, Trujillo was just a teenager in Los Angeles, blasting Sabbath tracks at backyard parties. He recalled how surreal it felt to go from being that fan to becoming Ozzy’s bassist—playing iconic songs like Iron Man, Sweet Leaf, and War Pigs alongside the man who made them legendary.
“I’m always there for Ozz,” he shared.
Even earlier in his journey, Trujillo and his Metallica bandmates were already drawn to the eerie, powerful world of Black Sabbath. He recounted how, as kids, they would listen to the haunting track “Black Sabbath” while staring at the ominous album cover—featuring a mysterious woman standing near a church.
That imagery, combined with the doom-laden sound, stirred something primal in them. It scared them, thrilled them, and ultimately shaped their musical futures.
Metallica was invited to join the farewell show well in advance, before any public announcements were made. “We got asked months and months and months ago — six months ago or before, when people didn’t know that it was happening,” Trujillo revealed.
Back to the Beginning will also feature Pantera, Slayer, and a star-studded supergroup. Curated by Tom Morello, the concert is expected to go down in history as one of the most epic send-offs in heavy metal.
For Trujillo, the night won’t just honor a band—it will honor a legacy that raised generations of musicians, including himself. A fan turned collaborator, he’ll now help close the final chapter of the very band that started it all.
And, as July 5 approaches, anticipation builds—not only for Ozzy’s farewell but for a grand culmination of heavy metal’s lineage. For Trujillo and the band, it’s a momentous chapter’s close, a salute to the past, and a landmark moment in music history.