Fans were quick to notice the absence of Mötley Crüe during Black Sabbath’s historic farewell concert, Back to the Beginning, held on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham. As rock royalty gathered to pay tribute to the pioneers of heavy metal, many expected to see fellow legends Mötley Crüe among the attendees. Now, bassist Nikki Sixx is breaking the silence and revealing the reason behind their noticeable absence.
In a recent interview, Sixx addressed the speculation directly. “We were all heartbroken to miss it,” he said. “Black Sabbath changed our lives. But unfortunately, we had some health issues within the band that kept us grounded.”
While he didn’t specify who was affected or what the issues were, Sixx emphasized that the decision to sit out the event wasn’t made lightly. “We wanted nothing more than to be there—onstage or in the crowd—to honor Sabbath and everything they’ve meant to rock ‘n’ roll. But sometimes life throws things at you that are out of your control.”
The Back to the Beginning show was a monumental event that marked the official retirement of Ozzy Osbourne from live performance, and featured emotional tributes, surprise guest appearances, and an epic setlist spanning Black Sabbath’s five-decade career. Musicians from across the rock and metal spectrum came together for the sendoff, including members of Metallica, Judas Priest, and Pantera. Mötley Crüe’s absence raised eyebrows, especially given their long-standing respect and influence from Sabbath.
Nikki Sixx, who has never been shy about crediting Black Sabbath as a foundational influence on Mötley Crüe’s sound and image, said the band watched footage of the show and was moved by the energy and emotion of the night. “Ozzy, Tony, Geezer—they’re the godfathers of what we do. Watching that final performance was like watching the sun set on an entire era.”
Sixx added that the band had plans to reach out to Osbourne and the Sabbath camp personally to express their support and congratulations. “It wasn’t just another gig—it was history. And we respect that deeply.”
As of now, Mötley Crüe is reportedly taking time off the road to deal with the internal health matters, though no official updates on their next tour or studio plans have been released.
While their absence was felt at Sabbath’s final bow, fans and peers alike understand that health must come first. And as Sixx put it, “We may not have been there in person—but in spirit, we were headbanging right along with them.”
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