There was one live music event in 2025 which spread across the entire heavy metal community on a global scale, Back To The Beginning; the final bow for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, surrounded by some of the biggest names in heavy music, and the promoter behind the spectacle was none other than Andy Copping, the man responsible for creating Download Festival and putting on some of the biggest shows throughout the United Kingdom and beyond.
Back To The Beginning took place at Villa Park, Birmingham in front of 45,000 (with millions watching the livestream around the world) and featured a cavalcade of stars like Metallica, Guns 'N Roses, Tool, Slayer, Halestorm, Yungblud, Pantera, Gojira and so much more - the historical event raised £140 million which was donated to Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Cure Parkinson's.
Not only has Andy been at the forefront of giving bands a chance to step up as the next headliners of their generations, he's been feeding grassroots bands with opportunities to flourish and have their music heard by the masses on a scale never before achievable, including a stack of Australian bands who have been invited to play Download throughout the course of its 22 years in existence.
It's an honour to have Andy taking us through his #WoSYearinReview, shining a light on the next big bands we'll be seeing at the top of festival lineups for years to come...
TOP 5 RELEASES OF 2025
SLEEP TOKEN - Even In Arcadia
GHOST - Skeleta
YUNGBLUD - Idols
SPIRITBOX - Tsunami Sea
DEFTONES - Private Music
TOP 5 SONGS OF 2025
SLEEP TOKEN - 'Emergence'
GHOST - 'Sanatized'
PRESIDENT - 'King Of Terrors'
TURNSTILE - 'I Care'
CREEPER - 'Headstones'
WHICH AUSTRALIAN BAND CAN’T YOU GET ENOUGH OF?
THORNHILL
FAV GIG YOU PROMOTED THIS YEAR AND WHY
'Back To The Beginning' - which was OZZY OSBOURNE's and the original BLACK SABBATH's last gig ever.
We will never see another gig like that in out lifetime. It was like the rock/metal version of Live Aid. Absolutely incredible and it allowed OZZY to say thank-you and goodbye to the fans.
His tragic passing just days after just made the gig even more legendary and poignant.
TELL US ABOUT A CAREER HIGHLIGHT YOU HAD IN 2025
Again, it had to be 'Back To The Beginning'. Nothing will ever top that. Having all those incredible bands playing on one bill and all of them leaving their egos at the door, so that they could pay tribute and respect to OZZY and BLACK SABBATH moves me even now. I am crying as I write this.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF NEW HEADLINERS IN THE UK
Seeing the rise of BRING ME THE HORIZON and SLEEP TOKEN to global festival headline status in the UK is very encouraging. ARCHITECTS are in the frame to follow the same path. Internationally, you only have to look at YUNGBLUD, SPIRITBOX, GHOST, BAD OMENS, ICE NINE KILLS, TURNSTILE, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, PARKWAY DRIVE who are just some bands on the cusp of becoming festival headliners globally. The future is looking very healthy for festivals.
ANY SNEAK PEEKS OF INBOUND PLANS NEXT YEAR
Nothing really specific but I have never felt more strongly about the state of rock and metal right now. We are heading for a new phase of our scene becoming more and more popular and breaking hard into the mainstream which is fantastic.
BEST ADVICE GOING INTO 2026
Go in hard and go in strong with your eyes wide open. There's so much great music out there and there is more to come - great acts like ANDO SAN, PRESIDENT, THORNHILL, SLEEP THEORY, VIANOVA, DIE SPITZ, SPITTING GLASS, BLOODYWOOD and many more are going to have great impact in 2026.
Words by Andy Copping @andycoppingofficial
