Ozzy Osbourne has reunited with Black Sabbath and performed his final gig – telling fans «you’ve no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart», in an emotional but truly metal goodbye.
Announced earlier this year, Back To The Beginning at Villa Park stadium was billed as the «final bow» for the man revered as a founder of heavy metal after several years of health problems, including Parkinson’s disease.
Rising up on a black throne featuring jewelled skulls, the 76-year-old performed a solo set before being joined by his original bandmates – Terence «Geezer» Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward – for Black Sabbath’s first performance in 20 years.
«Let the madness begin,» Osbourne cried as he appeared for the first time, telling about 40,000 fans: «It’s so good to be on this stage.»
Ozzy Osbourne sings while sitting on a black throne
With the crowd chanting his name, he performed both sets sitting down, but the voice and the crazed glint in his eyes were there almost throughout.
Singing fan favorites including Mr Crowley and Crazy Train, and Iron Man and Paranoid with Black Sabbath, Osbourne conducted the crowd to sing «louder, louder», and «go f****** crazy».
This was an orchestrated exit by heavy metal’s biggest character, with a supporting line-up of hard rock luminaries – from Slayer and Halestorm to Metallica and Guns ‘n’ Roses, plus stars including Steven Tyler, Ronnie Wood, Yungblud, Travis Barker and Chad Smith, who showed up for «supergroup» performances.
Many said they would not be the musicians they are without Osbourne and Black Sabbath.
Ronnie Wood was among the hard rock luminaries in the line-up. Pic: Ross Halfin
Stars at the concert included Steven Tyler. Pic: Ross Halfin
«You know, there’s not another guy as respected in metal as Ozzy Osbourne,» former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar told Sky News just ahead of his performance. «And for him to be sick and to be saying, I’m out, I’m done. Man. There’s no one else that can replace that.»
«Without Sabbath, there would be no Metallica,» said frontman James Hetfield during their performance.
«We’re not here to say goodbye,» said Anthrax’s Scott Ian. «We’re just here to say thank you.»
Throughout the day, giant Ozzy and Black Sabbath beach balls, in the Aston Villa claret and blue, were bounced around a jubilant crowd.
Tributes from other celebrity friends and fans, from Billy Idol and Ricky Gervais to Dolly Parton and Sir Elton John, were played on screen.
Read more: From Black Sabbath’s Prince of Darkness to reality TV star
Metallica frontman James Hetfield during the show. Pic: Ross Halfin
Yungblud also performed. Pic: Ross Halfin
Hollywood actor Jason Momoa, who hosted the event, shared with the crowd that heavy metal had been a «safehaven» for many growing up, and Black Sabbath’s music had «influenced and inspired musicians» of all eras and genres.
The farewell show was the brainchild of Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, who wanted to give him one final gig to finish his performing career on a high note. This decision came after Osbourne had to cancel shows planned for 2023 due to health issues. Sharon Osbourne revealed that Osbourne’s one regret was not being able to say thank you to his fans, which led to the idea of the reunion gig.
Profits from the show will be shared between Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn’s Children’s Hospice.
The gig took place after the Black Sabbath band members were awarded the freedom of Birmingham in June, recognizing their cultural and musical significance to the city where they grew up. The band, formed in 1968, went on to become one of the most successful metal bands of all time, selling over 75 million albums worldwide.
Their first performance in 20 years also marked their final show, creating a historic moment in metal history. The show ended with fireworks and a roar from the crowd, who chanted Ozzy’s name throughout.
Fans described Back To The Beginning as the ultimate rock and metal lineup, a chance to witness history and show their love for the Prince of Darkness. Attendees expressed their gratitude for being able to witness such a monumental event.
Read more from Sky News:
– Oasis reunion: Ultimately, it was all about the music
– BBC to stop showing ‘high risk’ performances live
Overall, the reunion and final gig of Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne was an emotional and memorable event for fans and musicians alike. Pic credit: Ross Halfin The event was hosted by Hollywood actor Jason Momoa, who expressed how heavy metal had served as a «safehaven» for many individuals while growing up. He also highlighted how Black Sabbath’s music had influenced and inspired musicians across various eras and genres.
The idea for the farewell show came from Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, who wanted to give him one final gig to conclude his performing career on a high note. This decision was made after Osbourne had to cancel planned shows in 2023, a situation he never anticipated would mark the end of his touring days.
Sharon Osbourne shared with Sky News that Osbourne’s one regret was not being able to thank his fans properly. This led to the concept of the reunion gig, where profits would be shared among Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn’s Children’s Hospice.
The gig took place following the Black Sabbath band members receiving the freedom of Birmingham earlier in June, acknowledging their cultural and musical significance to the city where they originated. Formed in 1968, the group went on to become one of the most successful metal bands of all time, selling over 75 million albums worldwide.
Their accomplishments include being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, with Osbourne later honored as a solo artist as well. They were also awarded a lifetime Ivor Novello songwriting award in 2015 and received a Grammy lifetime achievement prize in 2019.
The reunion show marked their first performance in 20 years and will also be their last, cementing its place in metal history. The event concluded with fireworks and an enthusiastic response from the crowd, who chanted Ozzy’s name throughout.
For fans like Calum Kennedy from Dunfermline and Ben Sutton from Chester, attending the show was a remarkable experience. They expressed admiration for the ultimate rock and metal lineup and the chance to show their appreciation for the Prince of Darkness.
Steve Townson from Lincolnshire reflected on witnessing Osbourne’s journey from the beginning to the end, emphasizing the incredible longevity of his career.
In conclusion, the Back To The Beginning show was a memorable and significant moment in the history of metal music, celebrating the legacy of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy Osbourne’s emotional final gig with Black Sabbath – Sky News
Ozzy Osbourne’s final gig with Black Sabbath – Sky News
Ozzy Osbourne’s emotional goodbye with Black Sabbath – Sky News
Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance with Black Sabbath – Sky News
Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell gig with Black Sabbath – Sky News Pic: Kazuyo Horie
Hollywood actor Jason Momoa, who was the host of the event, mentioned that heavy metal had served as a «safehaven» for many individuals while growing up. He also highlighted how Black Sabbath’s music had influenced and inspired musicians across different eras and genres.
The idea for the farewell show came from Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, who wanted to give him one final performance to end his career on a high note. This decision was made after Osbourne had to cancel shows planned for 2023 due to unforeseen circumstances. Sharon Osbourne shared with Sky News that Osbourne’s one regret was not being able to thank his fans, which led to the concept of the reunion gig.
The show’s profits will be donated to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn’s Children’s Hospice.
After being granted the freedom of Birmingham in June, the Black Sabbath band members were recognized for their cultural and musical impact on the city where they originated. Formed in 1968, the group went on to become one of the most successful metal bands globally, selling over 75 million albums. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and received various prestigious awards throughout their career.
Their recent performance, the first in 20 years, marked the end of their musical journey and left a lasting impact on metal history. Fans showed their love for the band, especially for Osbourne, with chants and cheers throughout the show.
The event concluded with fireworks and a heartfelt response from the audience. Fans expressed their gratitude for witnessing such a historic moment, with one attendee calling it the «biggest metal show known to man.» The show provided an opportunity for fans to show their appreciation for the legendary band and their iconic frontman, the Prince of Darkness.
For more information from Sky News, check out their coverage on the Oasis reunion and the BBC’s decision to stop airing «high risk» performances live.
Attendees shared their thoughts on the significance of the event, with one individual noting the importance of honoring the heritage and history of the metal genre. Another fan reflected on witnessing Osbourne’s career from the beginning and expressed gratitude for being present at the end.
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