Nikki Sixx has explained why Mötley Crüe did not appear at Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s farewell concert Back To The Beginning on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham. Speaking to Billboard, Sixx said the band wanted to be there but couldn’t because of health issues. “It was something we were just unable to do… We couldn’t do it even if we wanted to,” he admitted. The absence was tied to frontman Vince Neil’s recovery after suffering a stroke last December, which left the group unable to commit to the show.
Sixx stressed that the Crüe was not disinvited, dismissing rumors that suggested otherwise. Instead, he said the band watched the event from afar and remained proud to honor their roots with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. “Honestly, they broke our band, Ozzy and Sharon. They took us around the world… I’ll forever be in debt to Sharon and Ozzy for that,” he said, recalling how Black Sabbath gave them crucial early opportunities as an opening act in 1984.
Reflecting on Osbourne’s final performance, Sixx added: “Ozzy, way to fuckin’ go out with a bang. He really did it, and everybody showed up because they loved him and supported him. Thank you, Ozzy, every day for the opportunity to have a career.”
