Geezer Butler has addressed fan complaints regarding the seemingly abrupt ending of Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” concert livestream. He issued a clarification on Instagram.
The bassist’s statement aimed to explain what appeared to viewers as an unexpected conclusion to the performance.
“I keep hearing that people watching the stream thought that our set ended abruptly…with us just walking off,” Butler said. “Sorry if it seemed that way.”
Butler went on to provide context for his departure from the stage during the livestream.
“I went off to get this cake for Ozzy,” he continued. “Cheers to the fan that captured the proper ending.”
The apology comes after viewers of the livestream expressed confusion about the concert’s conclusion.
The incident highlights the massive scale and significance of the “Back to the Beginning” event. The event represented a historic moment for both the band and heavy metal music.
Consequence of Sound reported that the farewell show was streamed by over 5 million fans worldwide. This made it one of the largest digital events in metal history. The livestream ticket was priced at $29.99, generating roughly $150 million in revenue. It remains unclear if these funds were allocated to charity like the concert proceeds.
The “Back to the Beginning” concert marked a monumental homecoming for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. They returned to their roots in Aston, Birmingham, where the band formed 55 years ago. Kerrang! noted that the event featured a star-studded lineup including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Slayer. This made it a truly historic send-off for the legendary band.
The livestream format allowed global access to what many considered Ozzy’s final performance. Ultimate Classic Rock confirmed that the digital broadcast reached audiences across multiple continents simultaneously. This technological approach ensured that fans who couldn’t attend the Birmingham venue could still witness the historic farewell.
The confusion over the concert’s ending underscores the challenges of broadcasting live events. This is particularly true when spontaneous moments like Butler’s cake presentation for Ozzy occur off-camera. The bassist’s clarification helped fans understand that the apparent abrupt conclusion was simply a technical limitation of the livestream coverage. It was not an actual premature end to the performance.
