Ozzy Osbourne bids farewell to Black Sabbath fans telling them 'it's so good to be on this stage'
The Paranoid singer told thousands of heavy metal enthusiasts at Villa Park, Birmingham – a stone's throw from where Black Sabbath was formed in 1968 – that it was "so good to be on this stage" as he performed his last set from a large black throne.
The War Pigs singer and his fellow original Black Sabbath members – Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler and Bill Ward – were the last to appear on stage as part of a star-studded line-up for the Back to the Beginning concert.
Among the bands performing were Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N'Roses, and there were messages of thanks from other celebrities, including Jack Black, Ricky Gervais and Dolly Parton.
Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, intends to continue to record music, but said that the concert marked the end for him performing live.
The 76-year-old, nicknamed the Prince of Darkness, entered the stage for the final time by rising on his throne through a trap door.
He started the performance by saying: "Let me hear you. Are you ready? Let the madness begin!"
Later, he added: "It's so good to be on this f****** stage. You have no idea. I f****** love you all. Let me see your hands in the air. You are the best, each and every one of you. God bless you all."
In an emotional moment, Ozzy said: "I don't know what to say, man, I've been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.
"You're all f****** special. Let's go crazy, come on."
The rocker – who wore his signature black attire and thick eye makeup – sang five songs in his own set, with fans waving torches from their phones during Mama, I'm Coming Home.
He finished his performance with Crazy Train, before confetti rained over a packed Villa Park.
After a short break, he re-entered the stage to join the rest of Black Sabbath – for the first time in 20 years – in a special reunion.
The band performed some of their greatest hits to the adoration of the crowd, ending with a rendition of Paranoid for the ultimate send-off.
Fans chanted "Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy" as the rock legend thanked and blew kisses to those in attendance, before departing in an emotional ending to cap off an illustrious career on stage.
Video messages from celebrities made clear the impact both Osbourne and Black Sabbath have had on the music industry.
In one of the messages before his performance, Sir Elton John told Osbourne: "You are one of the most remarkable singers of our time.
"You are the king, you are the legend.
"You've been through so much crap in the last few years – I hope this is the best day of your life so far."
In his message, taken in the bath, Gervais quipped: "My everlasting memory of you will be from when we were on the Graham Norton Show together, and they had to stop the recording because we both needed a piss, so maybe have one before you go on stage tonight. Have a great one."
Dozens of fans also sent in personal videos that were broadcast at the event, crediting Osbourne and Black Sabbath for inventing heavy metal and thanking them for their generational influence on music.
Black Sabbath played in Ireland on two occassion in 1983 at Dalymount Park and again in 2017 at the 3Arena.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
How Kelly Osbourne battled two broken engagements to find love with ‘best friend'…and why proposal may raise red flags
SHE'S battled her fair share of heartache - including two failed engagements and very public battles with addiction. But over the weekend, 13 Sid got down on bended knee in front of Kelly's friends and family Credit: instagram/kellyosbourne 13 Proud parents Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne looked on - shortly after Ozzy brought the house down at Villa Park in Birmingham Credit: instagram/kellyosbourne 13 The happy couple share two-year-old Sidney Credit: Getty And, clearly not one to shy away from a very public proposal, Sid popped the question on what was already a very momentous night - her dad Ozzy Osbourne's final This, of course, sent keyboard warriors reeling. Some celebrated Kelly's big news, while others worried that it overshadowed Ozzy's big night. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, behavioural psychologist and relationship expert Jo Hemmings weighs in. According to her, it's no surprise that the move split the internet - leading some to brand it a "red flag". Read More on Kelly Osbourne 'Of course, the timing of the engagement - during her father Ozzy Osbourne's farewell concert - has sparked gossip about whether Kelly was 'stealing his limelight', even though she was apparently surprised by the proposal,' Jo tells us. 'But I'd argue it's more layered than that. "Kelly has always been fiercely loyal to her family; if she had some insight into what was about to happen, choosing that moment could well have been her way of honouring the man who shaped so much of her life. 'Rather than overshadowing him, it entwined her father's legacy with the next chapter of her own.' Most read in Celebrity She adds: "That said, others may see it as signs of jealousy, possessiveness or 'new ownership rights' in front of her dad at such a significant moment." But other cynics said it was a worrying sign of things to come - and that he might continue to assert himself at inopportune moments. 13 Kelly was previously friends with the Slipknot rocker for over 20 years before getting together in 2022 Credit: Getty Jo adds: "If the proposal was a genuine surprise to Kelly, which she claimed it was, then Sid was taking something of a risk in asking her to marry him at her dad's farewell gig. "The attention should really have been on Ozzy. "There was certainly nothing spontaneous about it, clearly pre-planned, which could indicate control issues further down the line, so there's a possible red flag there." Taking to Instagram over the weekend, Kelly, 40, who shares In the clip, Sid, 48, could be seen turning to her backstage, surrounded by family and friends including her parents Sharon and Ozzy, and her brother Jack. He told her: "Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world…' at which point Ozzy chimed in, joking, "F*** off, you are not marrying my daughter!" 13 She's said that becoming a mother is 'the best thing that ever happened to me' Credit: Eroteme 13 Kelly first rose to prominence with her family - pictured together in 2015 - in the early noughties Credit: Getty 13 Kelly has faced her fair share of heartbreak Credit: Instagram/Kelly Osbourne Amid uproarious laughter, Sid continued: "I want to spend the rest of my life with you - and ask in front of all of our family and friends, Kelly, will you marry me?" He then placed a stunning 18K yellow gold ring on her finger, prompting a clearly stunned Kelly to leap into his arms, as their loved ones cheered them on. Kelly's comments were duly filled with well wishes from friends and fans alike. TV personality Rylan Clark wrote: 'OMG Kel!!! Congraaatttsssss' while celebrity blogger It was Ozzy's day, not hers Unimpressed fan However, amid the joy and jubilations, some people were quick to slam the timing of the proposal - questioning whether it really was the right moment for Sid to make his move. As one fan put it: 'Make it about ME! ME ME ME! Poor Ozzy.' Another unimpressed commenter weighed in: 'It was Ozzy's day, not hers.' After all, it was already a seismic day for the whole Osbourne brigade - even before it ended with the shock proposal. Rock icon Ozzy first rose to fame in the late 1960s with rock band Black Sabbath - paving the way for heavy metal music and putting their hometown Birmingham on the map as the 'home of metal'. Then, in 2002, he and his family changed the game for reality TV with their eponymous fly-on-the-wall series Viewers instantly fell in love with the family's potty-mouthed antics, rude British humour - which stuck out even more in their LA bubble - and the dynamics between the matriarch Sharon, a baffled and bumbling Ozzy, and then rebellious teens Kelly and Jack. They also have an older sister, Aimee, who chose not to be featured on the show. However, despite their fame and fortune, the family have been beset by a huge amount of challenges over the years - including Ozzy, Kelly and Jack's own addiction battles, and Ozzy's This followed his All this has had a massive impact on the ailing rocker - which made his final public performance on Saturday night all the more poignant. Ozzy's farewell The event at Birmingham's Villa Park, named But it was Ozzy who quite rightly stole the show, which raised money for Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice. Taking to the stage at the end of the night on a black throne, emblazoned with his signature bat motif (after he famously bit one's head off during a concert in 1982) an emotional Ozzy sang his heart out as he bid farewell to live performing. 13 Ozzy received a rapturous applause as he bid his fans farewell with his final concert Credit: ROSS HALFIN 13 His ailing health has done nothing to dampen his rock and roll spirit Credit: ROSS HALFIN His loving family were all there to support him, all overseen by proud wife Sharon - who has managed her husband's career for the past 46 years and has stood loyally by his side, despite revelations of his infidelity over the years. So, the question is - on such a significant night for Ozzy and the whole family - was it really the right time and place for Kelly to get so publicly engaged? Some cynics didn't like the apparent upstaging of the affair. It entwined her father's legacy with the next chapter of her own Relationship expert Jo Hemmings But, as Jo reminds us, given that the family are so tight-knit and close, it might just have been the most appropriate time imaginable. Every parent ultimately wants to see their child find happiness - and Sharon and Ozzy are undoubtedly no different. Let's remember, Kelly's had some false starts in the love department over the years. Dating drama In the early 2000s, she dated Bert McCracken, the frontman of the band The Used. Then, in 2008, she started a relationship with model Luke Worrall. The pair dated for two years, and even got engaged - but they split in 2010, after it emerged that Luke had cheated on her with a trans woman, Elle Schneider. Elle said at the time, 'He always insisted to me he was single and I had no idea he was engaged to Kelly Osbourne.' Meanwhile, Kelly was devastated when she found out. Taking to Twitter after dumping her cheating ex, she wrote: 'Luke Worrall is the biggest piece of s**t . 'He is the worst thing that ever happened to me...I have never felt heartbreak like this in my life. I only came home for Xmas to see him meanwhile he has been f*****g hundreds of girls as well as men behind my back.' 13 Kelly was engaged to model Luke Worrall before he cheated on her Credit: PA:Press Association 13 She was later engaged to Matthew Mosshart - though their split was more amicable Credit: Getty - Contributor In the aftermath, the TV star - who had already been to rehab several times by then to battle her addiction to prescription pills - said she was determined not to relapse. She threw herself into her career, becoming co-host of E!'s Fashion Police and focusing on her health and wellness. However, she had a tumultuous period of pill taking, until finally getting sober in 2017. Meanwhile, her dating life was a mixed bag. She dated vegan chef However, they amicably split in January 2014, with Kelly saying at the time, 'We love each other very much. It just wasn't the right time for us.' Kelly then dated director Kes Glozier for about a year, and - in 2020 - was linked to cinematographer Erik Bragg. Sadly, around the same time, the star suffered a relapse in 2021 - amid lockdown. She told fans that she'd fallen off the wagon after four years of sobriety, but was back on track again with her recovery. And she hasn't looked back since - owed, partly, to her now fiancé, Sid. In a world where relationships are so often fleeting, superficial and fundamentally incompatible, Kelly's story carries an emotional depth Relationship expert Jo Hemmings Kelly and the Slipknot star had actually been friends for over 20 years before Their son was born later that year, prompting Kelly to tell her fans that becoming a mum 'is the best thing that ever happened to me.' She's also frequently heaped praised on her partner, calling him 'My best friend, my soulmate,' and adding, 'After 23 years of friendship, I can't believe where we have ended up!' As Jo tells us: 'Kelly's journey to love is a heartwarming reminder that sometimes the person you're truly meant to be with has been by your side all along. 'In a world where relationships are so often fleeting, superficial and fundamentally incompatible, Kelly's story carries an emotional depth that's impossible to ignore. 'After two failed engagements that played out under the harsh scrutiny of the public eye, it's significant that she's found her safe haven in someone who's been her best friend for 23 years. 13 The star, who's battled addiction in the past, says she's happier than she's ever been Credit: Getty 13 Friends and fans agree she seems more settled and happier since getting together with Sid Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 'This speaks to a profound foundation of trust, understanding and shared history - the bedrock that so many relationships lack from the outset.' Sid, for his part, may be a rock star, but - before getting together with Kelly - he preferred a more private lifestyle. Indeed, he's known for wearing his infamous mask as the frontman of his heavy metal band. Sure, some fans were surprised that he chose such a public moment to propose to Kelly - suggesting, again, that he was doing it because he knew it would make the family happy. There could be control issues further down the line Relationship expert Jo Hemmings However, weighing it up, she reckons that the fact that Sid's known Kelly - and her family - so long suggests he took a calculated risk and it seems to have paid off. She tells us: 'If Sid barely knew Kelly, or had no real profile of his own, then it would definitely be a red flag. 'But Ozzy obviously has known Sid for some time and his brilliant response 'F**k off, you're not marrying my daughter' mid-way though the proposal is typical Ozzy style. "It's both outrageous and witty, but with typical Osbourne family warmth at the same time.' The bottom line is that Kelly's clearly happier than she's ever been before - and her family have all shared a very memorable, and moving, few days. Whether the proposal happened at the right time or not is a matter of opinion. But the fact that it happened is reason to celebrate. The question is, how will Ozzy get his own back on their wedding day?
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ozzy Osbourne completes HUGE ‘rehab wing' with boating lake, spa and art studio at UK mansion following final gig
OZZY Osbourne prepared for his final ever gig in a brand new 'rehab wing' - which is as big as his luxury country mansion and even includes a boating lake, wellness space and art studio. But money won't be an object for Ozzy, 76, as we can reveal that his personal firm made £5,000 per day in its last financial year. 8 Heavy metal royalty Ozzy has turned part of his epic home into a health retreat Credit: ROSS HALFIN 8 Ozzy and wife Sharon Osbourne have built an in-house spa and wellness area Credit: Getty 8 Welders House in Buckinghamshire was purchased by Ozzy and Sharon in 1993 Credit: Getty 8 The exterior can be seen on Jack Osbourne's Haunted Homecoming mini-series on Discovery+ Credit: Discovery+ Three years ago, Ozzy and wife Sharon were given the green light by the council to transform their historic Buckinghamshire home to include a new adjoining mega-extension solely for the Black Sabbath frontman. Now The Sun can reveal that the rehab wing is as huge as the historic Grade II-listed home. According to plans, it includes a 'health and welfare exercise studio', 'art studio room', 'pool house orangery' complete with spa, a wet room and a changing area. Read more There's also a terraced area overlooking the vast garden and a new lake that's been built with pictures appearing to show that there are small boats on it. The upstairs area of the new wing also includes an attic space and kitchenette and the current gym has been extended. To make sure that There's more visitor parking spaces as well, presumably for any professionals and medics looking after Ozzy. Most read in Celebrity Bat and bird boxes have been built around the property and the lake will provide an area for new wildlife and aquatic creatures. New accounts for Ozzy's main firm Monowise Ltd reveals that money wouldn't be a problem to fund such an expensive project. How Kelly Osbourne battled cheating scandal & two broken engagements to find love with 'best friend' … and why proposal raises red flags for future marriage Ozzy took out a £6.35M director's loan from the firm last year, which shows that the firm is now worth £5.97M. It paid £445k in corporation tax in its last financial year, which means at a 25 per cent tax rate, the firm made around £1.8 million, that's £4,876 profit a day. Ozzy and his Ozzy arrived on stage at Villa Park in Birmingham dressed in his trademark black, sitting on a bat throne for the historic gig. The Sun was there to Called Back To The Beginning, it is frontman and rock veteran Ozzy's The crowd were delighted to see the iconic rocker back on stage and kept chanting his name. The gig was touted as "the greatest heavy metal show ever" and Ozzy played a short five-song set reuniting with his bandmates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward. Back To The Beginning also featured a mega line-up of fellow rock stars, performing their own sets and as a super-group, and all the profits made will be going to charity. The money will be shared equally between Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice. Metallica and Slayer were on the line-up for main sets as they celebrated Ozzy's remarkable legacy. Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon also played at the show. It is the first time in 20 years that the original Black Sabbath line-up have performed together. 8 The interior of the stately home was featured on Jack's reality show in 2022 Credit: Discovery+ 8 The decadently-designed home screamed of Ozzy Osbourne's influence Credit: Discovery+ 8 Ozzy has since turned his huge home into a relaxed environment with a 'rehab wing' Credit: Discovery+ 8 Ozzy performed his last ever gig over the weekend in pure heavy metal style Credit: ROSS HALFIN
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Huge film about Ozzy Osbourne's life ‘on the way' – and son Jack vows it will be ‘raw' and ‘not pull any punches'
FANS might never see Ozzy on stage again – but his son Jack has promised that a big-screen biopic about the rock legend's life is not far off. Speaking ahead of his dad's farewell show, Advertisement 11 Ozzy Osbourne will be the subject of a big-screen biopic Credit: ROSS HALFIN 11 Ozzy with wife Sharon and son Jack Credit: Getty 'We have a director attached now, and the script is done, and Sony Studios is going to be producing it. 'It is about to go through a script rewrite. 'It's going to be raw. 'We are not pulling any punches, we are really laying it all out.' Advertisement Read More on Showbiz Jack revealed a top team is working on the film, adding: 'The director is absolutely phenomenal. 'I can't say who he is, but we are very lucky to have him and he is a die-hard fan. 'If the evil overlords of Hollywood give us the green light, we could be filming in the spring, so maybe it will be out by the summer of 2027.' Hailing his dad's incredible 55-year career, Jack said: 'His contribution to music is bigger than his faults. Advertisement Most read in Bizarre Exclusive Exclusive 'This whole weekend has been emotional.' Jack also paid tribute to Ozzy and his struggles following a 'He is an incredible man.' I'll say. Advertisement Ozzy's epic farewell show wows 40k fans ★★★★★ IT was the day heavy metal royalty returned to the Midlands – and fans welcomed back Brum's No1 son, 'Put your f***ing hands up,' roared the Prince of Darkness as his bat-throne rose through the floor of the stage. 11 Steven Tyler and Tom Morello hit the stage Credit: Ross Halfin 11 Kerry King of Slayer on stage Credit: Getty Advertisement 11 Anthrax's Scott Ian plays to the crowd Credit: AFP 11 A ticket for Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning show Black Sabbath's epic Back To The Beginning show at Birmingham's Villa Park was a remarkable return to form for Ozzy. Black Sabbath fans shocked as A-list actor joins them in mosh pit as Ozzy Osbourne performs for the final time The last time I saw him in person was when he was inducted into the Advertisement But clearly the thought of playing with his peers to a huge crowd of devoted metalheads — with another 5.8million watching Saturday's live stream at home — spurred him on. Armed with a spray for his throat and eyeliner so thick Claudia Winkleman would be jealous, Ozzy worked his way through a 20-minute solo set, before returning to perform alongside his original Sabbath bandmates Ozzy's set was born out of his Eighties solo hits, with Mr Crowley leaving him visibly emotional as he heard the 40,000-strong crowd chanting his name. 'It's so good to be on this f***ing stage,' Ozzy told us. Advertisement 'I don't know what to say. 'I've been laid up for six years. 'You have no idea how I feel. 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' Advertisement He pulled faces for the crowd, clapped his hands above his head and gleefully pulled the trigger on a powerful water jet, which drenched front row fans who had held their positions for eight hours to get the best view of the performers. 'Go f***ing crazy for me!' Ozzy bellowed, before singing Crazy Train — with the entire stadium getting to their feet. 'That is the best thing I've ever done,' Ozzy told us, before he was whisked away to prepare for his last ever set with Sabbath. Advertisement This show was the first time the heavy metal pioneers had performed together since 2017. But they have a magic the sands of time can't dull — and fans went nuts for War Pigs, N.I.B., Iron Man and Paranoid. The poignancy of this final show was not lost on anyone. And I watched grown men and women wipe away tears when fireworks lit up the sky over the stadium. Advertisement As Anthrax's frontman John Bush put it, while joining acts including 'And that's to celebrate the music Black Sabbath gave us. 'We're not here to say goodbye. 'We're here to say thank you.' Advertisement OZZY'S band have been awarded the Freedom of Birmingham, with the tourist board declaring this the 'Summer of Sabbath'. And wandering through the city at the weekend, there were tributes everywhere. Outside New Street train station a huge 36m mural has been painted of the band, while fans flocked to the Black Sabbath bench on Broad Street for pictures. If you're in town and haven't caught the mural yet, it's quite a sight. Advertisement Ozzy's son Jack told me: 'It has been insane to be here. 'Every street I've gone down it was Ozzy and Sabbath everywhere.' SHE is the business mastermind behind Ozzy's epic career and has stuck by him through thick and thin over the decades. But now Sharon Osbourne has revealed she's ready to take a step back. Advertisement 11 Sharon Osbourne has revealed she's ready to take a step back from managing Ozzy's career Credit: Instagram/sharonosbourne She said: 'I've been doing this since I was 15, and I'm done. 'We just want to live our life and do what we want to do and not have to follow an itinerary any more.' Of the reunion, Sharon added: 'This is what we thought would be the best way to do it. Advertisement 'It's a celebration of Ozzy and Sabbath and the music.' LZZY HALE proved punk can be pretty as she rocked out with her band Halestorm. In a laced-up leotard, leather gloves and thigh-high boots, she belted out Ozzy's hit Perry Mason with her US band. 11 Lizzy Hale proved punk can be pretty as she rocked out with her band Halestorm Credit: Getty Advertisement Then the stunning strummer was back alongside Faith No More's Mike Bordin, guitar whizz Nuno Bettencourt, ex-Megadeath bassist David Ellefson, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and one-time Ozzy bandmate, Jake E Lee for a rendition of The Ultimate Sin. They were just one of the supergroups put together by US rocker Tom Morello to honour legend Ozzy on the day. Luckily Lzzy could more than hold her own. DOCU WITH SERIOUS BITE CELEBRATIONS included a world film premiere of Advertisement In the documentary, which is available now on Prime, Ozzy opens up about the now-infamous time, at a 1982 concert in Iowa, when he unwittingly bit the head off a dead bat. 11 Celebrations included a world film premiere of The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne, at Birmingham's Millennium Point on Friday He said: 'People would once throw sheep testicles at me, live snakes and dead rats on stage. 'Someone threw a frog and it was the biggest one I have ever seen. Advertisement 'And someone threw a bat. 'I thought it was a rubber bat and crunched down and realised it was real. 'Bats are the biggest carriers of rabies in the world and I had to go to hospital and get my rabies shots.' Blud's up for salute A SURPRISE appearance from punk rocker Advertisement The metalheads in the crowd may not have known his music before but I bet they'll be looking him up today after his incredible rendition of Sabbath's 1972 hit Changes. 11 Yungblud stole the show when he made a surprise appearance and paid tribute to Ozzy Credit: KAZUYO HORIE 'God bless Black Sabbath and God bless Ozzy Osbourne,' Yungblud said before he left the stage. Advertisement Yungblud's short but sweet appearance was one of the highlights of the night – with 'YOU'RE KNOT FOR KELLY' CONGRATS to Ozzy's girl KELLY and her fella SID WILSON, who topped a tremendous day by getting engaged. Kelly has two-year-old son, Sidney, with the SLIPKNOT DJ, and now they're making it official. 11 Ozzy's girl Kelly and her fella Sid Wilson topped a tremendous day by getting engaged Credit: instagram/kellyosbourne Advertisement She shared a video online of the cute moment Sid popped the question, and wrote: 'Oh and this happened yesterday!' In the tape, Sid gets down on one knee and says: 'Kelly, you know I love you more than anything else in the world.' Ozzy then jokes : 'F**k off, you're not marrying my daughter!' The week in bizness TODAY: Billie Eilish brings her Hit Me Hard And Soft tour to the UK for two nights at Glasgow's OVO Hydro, with 12 further concerts in London, Manchester and Dublin. TOMORROW: Kendrick Lamar and SZA begin the UK leg of their Grand National tour at Glasgow's Hampden Park, ahead of dates in Birmingham, Cardiff and London. THURSDAY: A newly imagined musical version of Burlesque opens in London's West End, with The Voice Kids champ Jess Folley – now all grown up – taking the lead role of Ali. FRIDAY: Superman, starring David Corenswet, is sure to top the box office as it hits cinemas nationwide.
