By Deborah Hardiman
They have been arriving early on Saturday to join the queues for the best spaces at Villa Park for the eagerly anticipated gig which is also being billed as frontman Ozzy Osbourne’s final show.
Along with homegrown band Black Sabbath the running order is featuring the big guns Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Tool Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon along with super group combinations which the die-hard heavy metal fans say they can’t wait to see playing together.
Among them is John Lane, aged 42, a health and safety officer from Kidderminster, says: “I am a Villa fan so I decided to get the name “Ozzy” printed on the back of my shirt because I’m a big Sabbath fan as well.
“It’s phenomenal to see the crowds. There’s people here from all over the world. I could see from the Facebook groups that fans were travelling from far and wide which is great. I came on the train from Stourbridge, but I’ve got no idea how I’m getting home tonight.”
Neil Crumpton, a teacher trainer from Church Stretton, Shropshire, says: “My family got the tickets as a present for my 50th birthday on Monday. I couldn’t have asked for a better gift.”
Sarah Picos, a chemist, aged 30, flew in from Las Vegas for the show, said: “I’m a big Sabbath fan. I had to get here today for Ozzy. He is the one that turned me on to metal. When I heard it for the first time, I thought it was amazing. I flew to Heathrow then got the bus here.
“It’s wonderful to be here with like-minded people. I’m looking forward to hearing them perform War Pigs due to what’s happening in the world at the moment.”
Dave Lees, 42, a guitar teacher from Stoke-on-Trent, says: “It’s like Christmas Day and my birthday all rolled into one.
I鈥檝e seen Black Sabbath five times already including when they perform the Last Supper Tour here in Brum. They are my favourite band in the world.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so good to have them performing with Guns & Roses and Metallica and the other super groups. It鈥檚 going to be special. It鈥檚 really exciting. I鈥檝e loved rock all my life.
“It feels like a homecoming.鈥
Steve Derry, aged 59, a retired journalist, from Staffordshire, there with son Rubens. Music student Rubens, aged 19, says: 鈥淐oming to the concert is my 19th birthday present from Mum and Dad because I’m a big rock metal fan and a lead guitarist.鈥
All profits from the Back to the Beginning concert are being donated equally to the following charities Cure Parkinson鈥檚, Birmingham Children鈥檚 Hospital and Acorn Children鈥檚 Hospice, a Children鈥檚 Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
This event is SOLD OUT.