Jason Momoa recently opened up about his experience hosting Black Sabbath’s final concert. He revealed how he initially begged for tickets before being asked to host the legendary farewell show. The actor shared these details during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Momoa described his initial desperation to attend the historic concert. He also explained how the opportunity to host came about unexpectedly.
“The show got announced, and I just called everyone I knew [that was going to perform there]. I called Metallica and Anthrax, just to get tickets so I could be there. Because it’s gonna come out and there’s only a limited amount of tickets. I’m, like, ‘Dude, just me and my kids.’ And so I was just begging to get scraps,” Momoa said.
The actor then explained how legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin contacted him with an unexpected offer from Sharon Osbourne.
“And then [legendary rock photographer] Ross Halfin called and goes, ‘[Ozzy’s wife and manager] Sharon Osbourne wants you to host it.’ And I helped them out. I did a music video for [Ozzy] when he couldn’t do it. And I did a music video for the album before. And I was, like, ‘Anything Ozzy needs, I’ll do it.’ And so they just probably just remembered that. And she’s, like, ‘I want Jason to host it.’ And I’m, like, terrified. Terrified. That many people. [Sitting at this studio in front of a live audience] is terrifying. Imagine a stadium,” he continued.
Momoa reflected on the overwhelming nature of the event. He also described his privileged position during the performance.
“And there’s everybody you love [playing at the event]. I mean, all my music — everyone. Metallica, Guns N’ Roses. You can’t believe all the people that are there. And dude, I’m on the poster. And so when he actually went up, I was with Ross, and I’m like right at Ozzy’s feet and I’m the closest to him of anyone. Geezer’s [Butler, Sabbath bassist] not even as close to him as I am. And I watched it with my kids just quietly. And it was unbelievable, yeah. And then sadly he passed like a couple of weeks later,” he said.
The concert Momoa hosted became one of the most significant events in rock history. It far exceeded expectations in both attendance and charitable impact.
The “Back to the Beginning” concert was held on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. It proved to be an extraordinary success. idobi reported that the event became the highest-grossing charity concert of all time. It raised £140 million for Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Cure Parkinson’s. The massive fundraising achievement demonstrated the enduring power of Black Sabbath’s legacy. It also showed the generosity of the rock community.
The demand for tickets was unprecedented. Wikipedia noted that all 45,000 tickets sold out in just 16 minutes. This lightning-fast sellout highlighted the immense anticipation surrounding what fans knew would be Black Sabbath’s final performance. The concert featured an impressive lineup of rock and metal acts who performed for free. They contributed to the charitable cause.
The event held special significance as it marked the first time since 2005 that the original Black Sabbath lineup had performed together live. Wikipedia documented that Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward reunited on stage for this historic farewell. The reunion brought together the founding members who had created the heavy metal genre in Birmingham decades earlier.
Beyond the live audience, the concert reached millions worldwide through digital streaming. Consequence of Sound revealed that the livestream was viewed by over 5 million fans globally. This made it one of the most-watched rock concerts in streaming history. This digital reach ensured that Black Sabbath’s final bow was witnessed by fans across the globe who couldn’t attend in person.
