Black Sabbath’s Final Show is Honored on The adidas Birmingham Ozzy Osbourne
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Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath performed for the final time on July 5, 2025, in Birmingham, England, the city where the band was formed in 1968, as part of the Back to the Beginning show. The star-studded lineup included performances from some of metal and rock's heavy hitters, like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Alive in Chains, Fred Durst, and more. However, for sneakerheads, the most important moment came during Black Sabbath’s performance as the band members all wore a special pair of adidas sneakers, the adidas Birmingham, created specifically for The Prince of Darkness.
For those unaware, the adidas Birmingham is part of The Three Stripes’ famed City Series, with the pair originally being released in collaboration with UK-based retailer size? back in 2010. Since then, the model has been released in two other colorways, one for the 10th anniversary of the City Series in 2020 and most recently in 2025 as part of size?’s 25th anniversary celebrations. The 2025 rendition actually paid tribute to the city’s heavy metal roots, with the black and hot pink color scheme drawing comparison to the cover of Black Sabbath’s album Paranoid.
As for the pair gifted to Ozzy Osbourne, the model is coated in black hues, with smooth leather used on the base and suede on the T-toe overlay, eyelets, and heel. Hits of purple appear on the Three Stripes and the heel tab, while nods to Ozzy are scattered throughout. First, his logo appears on the tongue tag and insole, while bats are added to the forefoot of the insole in a nod to the creature that has followed him throughout his career (and even caused one of his most controversial moments).
The date of the band’s performance at Back to the Beginning, 05.07.2025, is added to the back of the tongue alongside the phrase “Up The Villa.” The latter nods to Aston Villa, who call Villa Park (the stadium where the concert took place) home. Villa Park is also added to the medial midfoot in gold foil, opposite to the Birmingham text on the lateral side. Finishing the design is the 01/0121 on the heel, denoting the pair is limited to 121 units.
The adidas Birmingham Ozzy Osbourne is exclusive to friends and family of the Prince of Darkness. All 121 pairs were given to Ozzy to distribute as he chose. Check below for detailed looks at the sneaker courtesy of adidas designer Joe Ling, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via Joe Ling
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
