Sharon Osbourne has finally explained why Megadeth missed out on one of heavy metal’s biggest events.
The band led by Dave Mustaine didn’t appear at “Back to the Beginning,” the all-star concert celebrating Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s legacy in Birmingham, England, on July 5, 2025. But according to Sharon, Megadeth wasn’t deliberately left off the bill. They simply ran out of time.
Speaking to Rolling Stone in a new interview, Ozzy’s widow and longtime manager confirmed that the organizers genuinely wanted the thrash metal veterans to join the historic show.
“We really, really wanted Megadeth,” Sharon said. “There was no time; we couldn’t fit everybody in on one day. There were so many bands that were due to play that we just couldn’t because there was not enough time.”
Why Megadeth Missed ‘Back to the Beginning’
Megadeth’s absence was noticeable because the concert featured three of thrash metal’s legendary “Big Four” bands: Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. Megadeth was the only member of the famous quartet missing from the lineup.
The July 5 event took over Villa Park in Birmingham, Ozzy’s hometown, for a marathon celebration of the Prince of Darkness and Black Sabbath. The lineup featured performances from Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, Tool, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, and Mastodon, among others.
With so many artists scheduled to perform, fitting everyone into a single day proved difficult.
Sharon’s latest comments also shed new light on earlier remarks from Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo, who discussed the band’s absence shortly after the concert.
In a 2025 interview, LoMenzo said he didn’t believe Megadeth had received an invitation. He explained that Mustaine had reached out to people involved with the event and made it clear that the band was in Europe and could potentially stay longer if the organizers wanted them to perform.
However, those conversations never resulted in an appearance.
Sharon Osbourne Praises Tom Morello and the Concert’s Organizers
While discussing the event, Sharon also praised the people who helped bring the ambitious show together, particularly Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who served as musical director, and Live Nation promoter Andy Copping.
Sharon credited both men with helping make the concert possible.
She called Morello an “absolute saint,” praising his musical knowledge and judgment. She also commended Copping for his relationships throughout the music industry, noting that many of the performers already knew and respected him.
The show brought together generations of rock and metal musicians to honor Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s influence. Alongside full-band performances, the concert featured all-star collaborations that brought musicians from different groups together onstage.
For Sharon, the sheer number of memorable performances made the event overwhelming in the best possible way.
‘Back to the Beginning’ Is Coming to Theaters
Fans who missed the original concert will soon have another opportunity to experience the historic performances. The concert film, Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning, is scheduled to arrive in cinemas beginning October 28 for a limited theatrical release.
The film documents Ozzy’s final performance, including his reunion with Black Sabbath’s original lineup: guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. It captures the July 2025 event, which marked the first time the original lineup had performed together in more than two decades.
