The Wild Story Behind Jason Momoa Hosting Black Sabbath’s Final Show
The actor went from begging for a ticket to stealing the spotlight
Vladimir Arteaga—On Saturday, July 5, 2025, heavy metal icons Black Sabbath took their final bow at a historic farewell concert titled ‘Back to the Beginning’ at Villa Park in Birmingham. The event marked the official retirement of Ozzy Osbourne, and in a surprising twist, Jason Momoa stepped in as the evening’s host. But how did a Hollywood star end up introducing the most legendary metal show in history? The story, according to Momoa himself, is as unexpected as it is entertaining.
Best known for playing Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones and for being a die-hard metal fan, Momoa revealed in an interview with Kerrang! that he was originally just trying to get a ticket like any other fan. “I was just calling my buddies. I called Scott Ian, I called Kirk [Hammett], I called people basically begging to go,” he laughed.
Then, fate—or rock and roll magic—intervened. Ross Halfin, the iconic rock photographer, reached out. “And then Ross Halfin, who’s the photographer of every goddamn band, he hit me up and [asked if I was going to be there]. I said I was trying to get a ticket, then he’s like, ‘Sharon wants you to host it!’” Momoa recalled, still sounding amazed.
Jason Momoa was by far the best host for Black Sabbath’s Final Show! pic.twitter.com/MMqp8mNZxJ
— Rock Photography (@Photomusicrock) July 7, 2025
Momoa was stunned: “I’m like, ‘What the f**k are you talking about, man?!’ I’m over here begging for a ticket and now they want me to host it! I’ve never hosted anything before but I’ve gotta go out in front of all these people and host!”
A Massive Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne
The event at Villa Park drew over 40,000 fans and was broadcast via pay-per-view, making sure no Sabbath fan missed this epic night. Jason Momoa highlighted how much Ozzy and Black Sabbath have meant to him, even sharing that the first song he ever played for his children was from the band.
The lineup was a metal lover’s dream, featuring legends like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Alice In Chains, and many more.
Black Sabbath’s Final Farewell
Formed over 55 years ago in Birmingham, Black Sabbath came home for their final goodbye. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward didn’t just perform—they made history.
What a night. Thank you all pic.twitter.com/wzvqaVSvUd
— BlackSabbath (@BlackSabbath) July 7, 2025
However, beyond being a historic musical moment, the concert also served a greater cause. Proceeds were donated to Parkinson’s research organizations—a disease Ozzy himself is battling—and to children’s hospitals in Birmingham. As Sharon Osbourne put it: “This isn’t about money. It’s about Ozzy. Everyone here tonight is doing it out of love and respect for him.”