"The most glittering reign"

"Nothing lasts forever. Even the longest, the most glittering reign must come to an end someday." Black Sabbath played their last show on 5 July 2025 at Villa Park (the home of Premier League club Aston Villa) in Aston, Birmingham, England, not far from where the band was formed in 1968. Black Sabbath was supported by a couple of bands (Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon), which I don't care for. The hype was unreal. Tickets were sold out in 16 minutes, following pre-sale events. A colleague of mine engaged his whole family in an attempt to get tickets, but failed. The event was streamed worldwide via pay per view with a broadcast delay. The proceeds from the event totalled $190 million, and was donated to a couple of health care institutions. Black Sabbath entered my life at an early age. The farewell concert could have been a good opportunity for a closure, but I didn't even try to get a ticket. I realized that it was futile. The band means different things to different people. For me, the original line-up and their first six albums are what counts. Some people embrace other incarnations and later albums. How is that even a question? Black Sabbath occur on this site now and then. I have published four blog posts over the years. They have been about their biographies, read more here (opens in a new window). Or departing from memorabilia from the 1970s, read more here (opens in a new window). The farewell concert also marked the first time since 2005 that the original line-up of the band performed together live. The first and only time I've seen them live was 3rd of July 2005 at Globen Arena in Stockholm, read more here (opens in a new window). Black Sabbath has also made the album that means most to me, read more here (opens in a new window). They were old and chastened already in 2005. That was 20 years ago. It's a wonder they are still standing after all they have been through. At least, three out of four. The singer Ozzy Osbourne, no longer able to walk due to advanced Parkinson's disease, sang while seated on a throne. That's what I call making an entrance and going out in style. I make a deep bow all down.