5 Iconic Rockbands That Deserve A Final Show Like Black Sabbath

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has long been considered the top honor for a music legend—but after what went down in Birmingham on Saturday night, that bar has officially been raised.

Back to the Beginning, Ozzy Osbourne’s emotional farewell concert, was more than just a goodbye. It turned into an epic nine-hour celebration of both Ozzy and Black Sabbath’s legacy. Held in their hometown of Birmingham, England, the event brought together 45,000 screaming fans, plus another five million viewers tuning in via pay-per-view around the world.

The lineup? Nothing short of iconic. Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and more took the stage, performing a mix of their biggest hits and heartfelt covers of Sabbath and Osbourne classics. The night ended with Ozzy and the original Black Sabbath crew taking over—of course saving “Iron Man” and “Crazy Train” for their grand finale.

Why This Show Raised the Bar

Unlike a Rock Hall induction where the spotlight gets split across genres and generations, Back to the Beginning was all Ozzy, all night. It was focused, passionate, and packed with love from fans and peers alike.

And now, the big question: who’s next? A tribute this massive only works for the true icons—those who changed the game and still inspire generations.

As Anthrax’s Scott Ian perfectly said during the show: “We’re not here to say goodbye. We’re here to say thank you.” If we want to honor our heroes while they’re still with us, it’s time to think beyond the Hall of Fame—and start throwing more epic birthday parties like this one.

Aerosmith
Steven Tyler lit up the stage during his three-song set at Back to the Beginning—and honestly, he crushed it. You’d never guess this was the same guy who had to cancel a farewell tour due to vocal cord damage just two years ago. His voice sounded strong, his energy was electric, and it left fans thinking one thing: Aerosmith deserves a tribute of their own. A blowout celebration in their hometown of Boston (or maybe Gillette Stadium) feels like the perfect move. Whether it’s a grand send-off or the start of something new, one thing’s clear—Aerosmith still has plenty of fire left in them. Let them go out the way they want—loud and legendary.

Van Halen
It’s been almost five years since Eddie Van Halen passed, and somehow, we still haven’t seen a proper tribute concert. Frustrating? Absolutely. Understandable? Sadly, yes. There’s a lot of tension between past members that’s made things complicated. Alex Van Halen tried to get a tribute tour going in 2022 with David Lee Roth, Jason Newsted, and Joe Satriani—but Roth reportedly shut it down over disagreements about honoring Eddie at each show. In 2024, Satriani toured with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, but let’s just say Hagar and Alex aren’t exactly sending each other holiday cards. Meanwhile, Eddie’s son Wolfgang is focused on his own successful career and says revisiting Van Halen material would feel “very hollow.” The pieces just don’t seem to fit right now—but imagine the magic if they ever do. A Van Halen tribute in L.A. would be an unforgettable, guitar-shredding blowout.

Iron Maiden
Let’s get one thing straight—Iron Maiden isn’t slowing down anytime soon. They’re still packing out arenas and stadiums all over the world. But if any band deserves a massive tribute show, it’s them. And honestly, it would be the perfect opportunity to pull off the ultimate rock and roll mic drop. For years, Maiden fans have raged over the band’s ridiculous exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Even Bruce Dickinson once called it “vulgar” and a “mausoleum,” swearing he’d never step foot inside. Still, they deserve the recognition. So, here’s a fun idea: schedule Iron Maiden’s own “Back to the Beginning” concert in the same city, on the same night as the Rock Hall induction—and let the fans decide where the real celebration is. Spoiler: it’s going to be wherever Eddie shows up.

AC/DC
Like Iron Maiden, AC/DC doesn’t need anyone’s help to pack a stadium. They’ve been doing that for decades—without playing the music industry’s game or chasing nostalgia. These guys haven’t even bothered to release a greatest hits album! But hey, we’re in fantasy mode here, and if anyone deserves a blowout tribute, it’s Angus Young and crew. Imagine the energy of a “Back to the Beginning” bash in their homeland of Australia. And just for fun, let’s make it a rule: one member from every band on the lineup has to rock Angus’s signature schoolboy outfit. Now that’s a tribute concert we’d all remember.

The Rolling Stones
When it comes to rock royalty, The Rolling Stones are in a league of their own. While most bands on this list are hitting 50 years together, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards passed that milestone over a decade ago. And they’re still going strong—touring massive stadiums and dropping Hackney Diamonds, one of their most celebrated albums in years. Their influence runs so deep, it’s tough to find a band that hasn’t been inspired by them. A “Back to the Beginning” show for the Stones wouldn’t just be a concert—it’d have to be a full-blown, two-day rock ‘n’ roll festival. And even then, you’d probably run out of room for everyone lining up to honor them.