Tony Iommi Opens Up About Black Sabbath’s Final Reunion: Behind the Scenes of “Back to the Beginning”
Tony Iommi recently spoke at length on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” about the experience and behind-the-scenes details of Black Sabbath’s historic “Back to the Beginning” concert. This reunion marked the original lineup’s first performance since 2005 and their final time sharing the stage together. Iommi admitted the lead-up to the show was stressful, particularly since they hadn’t played on a big stage with Bill Ward in twenty years, which made rehearsals both exciting and nerve-racking.
He explained that the band came together for rehearsals about a month before the concert, and though they hadn’t spent time together in years, their old camaraderie quickly resurfaced. Iommi lives in England while the rest of the original Sabbath members are based in the United States, but once everyone arrived, it felt just like old times. They reminisced, shared stories, and quickly fell back into their familiar dynamic. It was, as Iommi described, as if no time had passed at all.
There were also real concerns about how Ozzy would handle performing both his own solo set and Sabbath’s reunion, especially after such a long break from playing together. Iommi and the others worried Ozzy would be too burnt out by the time Sabbath took the stage, but he pulled through and managed to deliver both performances. The band had rehearsed up to seven songs, but because of a strict curfew at Villa Park, they ended up playing four: “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.,” and “Paranoid.” Iommi gave credit to Tom Morello for organizing the massive event and keeping everything on schedule.
Reflecting on the performance, Iommi emphasized that while none of the band members are in their prime anymore—being in their seventies and late seventies—the audience accepted them as they are, enjoying the unique magic of the night without expecting perfection. He expressed how meaningful it was for the group to come together one final time for charity, especially with Bill back in the lineup, which many fans had wanted for years. According to Iommi, it was the proper way to finish the Sabbath story.
A highlight from rehearsals included some classic band humor: at one point, Bill Ward took his shirt off, which made Geezer Butler joke that he was losing his appetite. Iommi chimed in, teasing Bill by saying, “Blimey, Bill, you look like Gollum.” Bill didn’t seem to know who Gollum was, but for the band, this playful ribbing was just like the old days and reflected the deep bond they shared over decades.
Ultimately, Iommi made it clear the event wasn’t about achieving flawless performance but about celebrating their legacy, raising money for good causes, and giving fans and themselves one last unforgettable night together. For Iommi, that final show—with its laughter, challenges, and honest musicianship—was exactly what Black Sabbath was always about.
