So, according to BBC News, BLACK SABBATH’s big “we’re done, probably” show at Villa Park in Birmingham (July 2025, folks!) somehow raked in a whopping £33.8 million (aka $45.5 million). Not bad for a bunch of Brummie metal granddads, eh?
Turns out, the University of Birmingham crunched the numbers and found £27.6 million ($37 million) of that cash actually stayed in the West Midlands. Dr. Matt Lyons, who clearly knows how to party, told BBC News: “As regional economists… we thought we’d honor Ozzy’s legacy by estimating the economic impact of his last gig.” He added, “The Prince Of Darkness’s impact isn’t just financial… his gift of crazy music *and* cash will keep Birmingham buzzing for years.”
42,000 fans showed up—20% from abroad—who forked over between £197.50 to £834 a ticket. Fun fact: Ozzy once bit the head off a bat for free. Inflation’s a killer.
Now, Sharon Osbourne wasn’t having it when rumors swirled that the gig made nearly $200 million. She slammed the claims as “ridiculous,” saying, “God, I wish we could have, for one gig! Where does this stuff come from?” (Cue eye-roll.) The confusion started when Tom Morello, the show’s musical director (and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE legend), posted on Instagram that $190 million was going to charity. Billboard and The Guardian piled on with their own sky-high estimates. Sharon clarified it takes “six weeks” to tally final numbers after paying all the bands. “Everybody thinks they’re gonna cure everything with this money, but it’s not the real world,” she told Pollstar in an interview five days before Ozzy’s death. Chilling.
Despite the drama, Sharon called the concert—featuring METALLICA (still outlasting trends since 1981), SLAYER (who’ve “retired” more times than Cher), PANTERA (reformed like a Voltron of chaos), GUNS N’ ROSES (Axl’s punctuality: improved!), and TOOL (because prog-metal needs reps)—a “phenomenal event.” She said, “It’s the first time anybody’s gone into retirement with a streamed charity gig. Perfect way to say ‘goodnight’ after 50 years of madness.”
Billboard reported 40,000 in-person fans and 5.8 million online viewers. Charities like Birmingham Children’s Hospital also raised extra cash by auctioning SABBATH memorabilia. Pro tip: Bid on Tony Iommi’s riff notebooks at your own risk.
