Axl Rose Finally Meets Ozzy Osbourne, Reunites With James Hetfield, Gets Tribute From Future
On Saturday night, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath both bade farewell, performing in their Birmingham hometown at their Back To The Beginning extravaganza, which will presumably be their final concert. Many of the biggest names in the metal world gathered to pay tribute, including Metallica, Slayer, Tool, and Pantera. Gun N’ Roses were never that type of metal act, and they must’ve felt a little like an odd band out on that lineup, but they were there, too. In a reflection that he posted on Twitter afterward, GN’R leader Axl Rose wrote that he had an incredible time and that it was actually the first time he ever met Ozzy Osbourne, which is truly wild:
Wow!! What an EVENT!! Extremely overwhelming!! Really great crowd!! Was very emotional for everyone!! MET OZZY!! (Crazy we’d never met b4!!) He was really great!! 的人 Was great to meet Sabbath!!
Was hard as I imagine for anyone to watch his struggles while at the same time everyone was rooting for him n’ massively respecting the challenges he took head on n’ HE DID IT!!!!
Was great to meet Ozzy’s family n’ see friends n’ peeps in all the bands n’ the business. A HUGE THANK YOU again to Ozzy, Sharon, Black Sabbath n’ all the fans for having us!!
BIRMINGHAM!!!!!
In a subsequent Instagram post, Osbourne wrote, “My first time meeting Axl Rose, at my age you don’t get to meet many legends, seriously an utter gentleman.”
— Axl Rose (@axlrose) July 7, 2025
Guns N’ Roses’ set at Back To The Beginning was just six songs in 25 minutes. GN’R were introduced by Jason Momoa, and they played without band members keyboardist Dizzy Reed and multi-instrumentalist Melissa Reese. It was the band’s first time playing as a five-piece in 35 years. Like all the other groups on the bill, they paid tribute with Black Sabbath covers — “It’s Alright,” “Never Say Die,” “Junior’s Eyes,” and “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.” Check out a couple of videos below.
For the first time since 1992, @gunsnroses played It’s Alright at Back to the Beginning in ode to Black Sabbath.
I love Sabbath and the night is about them and Ozzy, but for us GN’R fans specifically, it’s really special to hear this again in 2025. pic.twitter.com/N5A4CFox9W
— Jen (@TheGNRGiirl) July 5, 2025
Sabbath bloody sabbath
Guns N' Roses
Black sabbath
Back to the beginning
Birmingham pic.twitter.com/3TcS5FlXGp— maria (@axlgifsnpics) July 5, 2025
Backstage at Back To The Beginning, Axl Rose came face-to-face with Metallica frontman James Hetfield for what was presumably the first time in a while.
— Axl Rose (@axlrose) July 6, 2025
That conversation could’ve been awkward. In 1992, Guns N’ Roses and Metallica famously toured stadiums together. As a matter of fact, the opening date was my first concert. The whole tour didn’t go so well. A Montreal show ended in a riot after both bands cut their sets short — Metallica because a stray pyrotechnic caught Hetfield on fire, Guns N’ Roses because Rose simply didn’t want to perform after that. Metallica talked about that situation on their episode of Behind The Music in 1998.
@elmusic.yap Metallica talks about the disappointing 1992 tour and problems they had after Montreal gig. #gunsnroses #gunsnroses #axlrose #metallicafan #jameshetfield #rockmusic #musichistory original sound – Elmeri
Talking to Howard Stern in 2013, Hetfield said that Guns N’ Roses “stood for everything we didn’t like.”
@tallicacentral Howard Stern 💀 #metallica #jameshetfield #kirkhammett #larsulrich #robtrujillo #jasonnewsted #cliffburton #gunsnroses original sound – Tallica Central
But apparently, things are good between those two bands now. At the Power Trip festival in 2023, Metallica watched Guns N’ Roses, and they seemed to have a good time.
@rocktribe89 Guns N Roses show 2023 Metallica Power Trip #gunsnrosesforever #gunsnrosesparadisecity #gunsnrosesindonesia #gunsnroses2023 #gunsnroses80s #gunsnroses1992 #gunsnrosesjapan #rock #axlrose #slash #rockandroll #gunsnrosesband #gunsnrosesbogota som original – rocktribe89
In vaguely related news, Future dressed up like Axl Rose when he played Poland’s Open’er Festival on Thursday.
And speaking of merch, Axl Rose was recently seen repping for BLACKPINK member LISA.
Axl Rose – lead vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses
– has been spotted wearing a #LISA t-shirt in Barcelona. #리사 #LISAxAlterEgo pic.twitter.com/4X5zbLrgOn— Blinks United (@blinksunitedtwt) June 12, 2025
