Growing up in Birmingham, Sabbath were part of my DNA. I carried their albums like talismans. They were protection, identity, defiance. Hearing those songs now is like reading diary entries etched into vinyl grooves. At this concert, I saw not just my past, but my present and future reflected back.
What struck me most was the sheer humanity of it all. Musicians just having fun. Young and old sharing space and sound. From pop stars to metal gods, everyone knew this mattered.
Back to the Beginning wasn’t perfect — it was far more than that. It was real. Messy, beautiful, loud, and human.
Thank you Ozzy.
Thank you Sabbath.
Thank you Birmingham.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine