Black Sabbath’s big farewell and Iron Maiden’s epic anniversary: Classic rock gigs to look forward to in 2025

Black Sabbath’s big farewell and Iron Maiden’s epic anniversary: Classic rock gigs to look forward to in 2025

 

 

### 🎸 Classic Rock Alert: Black Sabbath Farewell & Iron Maiden’s 50th Anniversary Tour Light Up 2025

 

From heavy metal’s origins to veteran virtuosity, 2025 is a landmark year for rock fans — featuring two monumental tours from genre-defining British bands.

 

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## 🕯️ Black Sabbath: “Back to the Beginning” – Final Farewell

 

* **When & Where**: July 5, 2025 at Villa Park (Aston, Birmingham) ([en.wikipedia.org][1])

* **Line‑Up**: Original lineup reunites—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward — performing together for the first time since 2005 ([en.wikipedia.org][1])

* **Special Guests**: Star-studded supporting acts including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Mastodon, Halestorm, Guns N’ Roses, Tool and more — curated by Tom Morello ([en.wikipedia.org][2])

* **Production**: A 10.5-hour marathon event with revolving stage transitions and worldwide pay-per-view livestream ([en.wikipedia.org][1])

* **Purpose**: A true send-off for Ozzy, with proceeds going to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice ([en.wikipedia.org][1])

 

**Why It Matters:**

Described by Tom Morello as possibly *“the greatest heavy metal show ever”*, this concert brings Sabbath full circle in their hometown, giving fans one final chapter in the band’s storied legacy ([kerrang.com][3]).

 

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## 🔥 Iron Maiden: “Run For Your Lives” – 50th Anniversary World Tour

 

* **Tour Dates**:

 

* Europe kickoff on May 27, 2025 in Budapest

* UK arena dates: Birmingham (June 21), Manchester (22), London (28), Glasgow (30)

* European run continues through July (Madrid, Vienna, Berlin, etc.) ([nme.com][4])

 

* **Setlist**: A celebration of their first nine albums — from *Iron Maiden* (1980) to *Fear of the Dark* (1992) — featuring rare and classic tracks ([nme.com][4])

 

* **Special Guests**:

 

* Halestorm (select shows)

* Avatar and The Raven Age as openers ([nme.com][4])

 

* **Production Scale**: Announced as the band’s most spectacular live show yet. 32 European dates alone have sold over a million tickets ([en.wikipedia.org][5])

 

**Why It Matters:**

Marking five decades in the spotlight, **Iron Maiden** promises a nostalgia-packed ride through their formative years — a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans to relive classic tunes with large-scale production values ([hotpress.com][6]).

 

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## 📝 Tour Comparison at a Glance

 

| Aspect | Black Sabbath “Back to the Beginning” | Iron Maiden “Run For Your Lives” |

| ——————– | —————————————– | ———————————– |

| **Date** | July 5, 2025 | May–July 2025 |

| **Location** | Birmingham, UK | Europe & UK |

| **Lineup** | Original members + All‑Star guests | Originals + Halestorm, Avatar |

| **Theme** | Final farewell | 50th anniversary |

| **Special Features** | 10.5‑hr show, revolving stage, livestream | Setlist deep dive, grand production |

 

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## 🙌 What Fans Are Saying

 

Social media is ablaze with anticipation:

 

> “Back to the Beginning isn’t just a show—it’s history in the making.”

> “Run For Your Lives is Iron Maiden at their best — classic era but with full-blown epic production.”

 

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### 🔔 Final Thoughts

 

2025 is a year for rock’s greatest: **Black Sabbath’s final bow** promises emotional closure and supercharged live music, while **Iron Maiden** gears up for a celebratory journey through their iconic catalog. Both tours underscore the enduring power and passion of classic metal.

 

**Whether you’re in Birmingham or Berlin, get ready to raise your horns — these are the gigs you’ll tell your grandkids about.**