For over half a century, Ozzy Osbourne has lived and breathed the stage — through the haze of smoke machines, under the blaze of stage lights, and backed by the roar of generations of fans. But this past Saturday, at Villa Park in Birmingham, the city where it all began, the Prince of Darkness sat on a black throne and brought it all to a close.
Livestreamed to an audience that reportedly topped five million, the “Back To The Beginning” event marked what is expected to be Ozzy Osbourne‘s final live performance. A 76-year-old icon now contending with Parkinson’s disease, Ozzy delivered a nine-song set that felt as much like a farewell letter as it did a concert.
He started with his solo band — Zakk Wylde on guitar, Mike Inez on bass, Adam Wakeman on keyboards, and Tommy Clufetos on drums — powering through four tracks from his 1980 solo debut Blizzard Of Ozz: “I Don’t Know”, “Mr. Crowley”, “Suicide Solution”, and “Crazy Train”. He also included the 1991 ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home” from No More Tears, a moment that felt especially poignant.
But the true climax of the night came when Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward joined their old frontman onstage to summon the ghost of Black Sabbath for one last time. The four original members — together again — delivered a potent, emotional closing set of classics: “War Pigs”, “Iron Man”, “N.I.B.”, and “Paranoid”.
Between songs, Ozzy spoke from the heart. “You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the crowd at one point. Later, as the final chords rang out, he said, “It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
That was followed by a surprise tribute. A cake was brought out, fireworks exploded over the stadium, and a message appeared onscreen: “Thank you for everything, you guys are fucking amazing. Birmingham Forever.”
Over 40,000 people witnessed the moment in person. The concert also featured performances from other legendary acts, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Lamb Of God, and Anthrax. But for many, the night will be remembered for one thing: the way a seated, smiling, and occasionally tearful Ozzy Osbourne turned the final page on one of rock’s most mythic chapters.
The event wasn’t just emotional, it was meaningful in another way, too. Proceeds from the show are being split among three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice. A simultaneous online auction added to that impact, offering memorabilia like signed Gibson guitars, a Guns N’ Roses pinball machine, and framed gold records, including Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin, and Master Of Puppets by Metallica.
