Legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates took the stage for the last time in an unforgettable farewell concert. The 76-year-old music icon performed at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK, marking the end of an era for the pioneers of heavy metal. The concert, fittingly named Back To The Beginning, was Ozzy’s final live performance, as he battles worsening health due to Parkinson’s disease.
Ozzy, dressed in his signature black attire, made a dramatic entrance seated on a bat-themed throne, delighting fans who chanted his name throughout the night. Despite his frail condition, Ozzy’s charisma and passion for performing shone through as he grinned and connected with the ecstatic crowd.
The event, already being hailed as “the greatest heavy metal show ever,” featured a short but powerful five-song set by Black Sabbath’s original lineup: Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward. It was the first time in 20 years that the iconic lineup performed together, making this a historic night for fans of the band.
Ozzy publicly announced that this would be his final performance, citing his Parkinson’s diagnosis, which he revealed in 2020.
The Back To The Beginning concert also featured an all-star lineup of rock legends, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon. These bands performed their own iconic sets, along with special supergroup collaborations, in tribute to Ozzy’s incredible legacy.
Profits from the event were donated to charity, with proceeds benefiting Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice. This remarkable act of generosity further cemented the concert’s significance, not only as a celebration of Ozzy’s legacy but as a meaningful contribution to worthy causes.
