Ozzy Osbourne reunites with original Black Sabbath band members during farewell performance
Ozzy Osbourne is saying goodbye to the stage after performing what has been billed as his final show with the original members of Black Sabbath.
Osbourne, along with original Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and guitarist Tony Iommi, appeared on stage together for the first time in two decades in Birmingham, England on Saturday during a concert event called Back to the Beginning, which was said to be Osbourne's 'farewell performance,' according to Black Sabbath's official website.
Osbourne – who performed while sitting in a black, throne-like chair with a bat on top – revealed in 2020 that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
'Your support over the years has made it all possible for us to live the lifestyle we live,' Osbourne told the audience before playing their final song 'Paranoid,' according to footage of the performance. 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you. We love you.'
Osbourne and the band also performed 'Iron Man', 'N.I.B.' and 'War Pigs' during their set. During his earlier set, Osbourne performed 'Crazy Train,' 'Mr. Crowley,' and 'Mama, I'm Coming Home,' among others, according to footage posted to social media.
Actor Jason Momoa hosted the mega-concert. All proceeds from the live event and the livestream benefited several foundations including Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, according to Billboard.
The concert also featured performances by several other rock and metal legends, including Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer and Alice in Chains, among others.
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corrigan, Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker also made special appearances on stage throughout the hours-long concert event. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler also appeared on stage to sing 'Whole Lotta Love' by Led Zeppelin with Morello.
Black Sabbath was first formed in 1968 in Birmingham with Osbourne, Butler, Ward and Iommi. The band, widely considered pioneers in the metal genre, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and have won two Grammys.
It has been somewhat of a long goodbye for the band, whose The End Tour was billed as the farewell tour. It culminated in a 2017 concert film. The band has since gone back and forth about reunion possibilities. The Back to the Beginning show was announced in February.
After opening up about his Parkinson's, Osbourne told ABC's Robin Roberts: 'I feel better now that I've owned up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson's.'
'And I just hope (my fans) hang on and they're there for me because I need them,' he added.
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Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Ozzy Osbourne says farewell to live performance with a hometown show for 40,000 fans
Published Jul 07, 2025 • 2 minute read Ozzy Osbourne performs during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony at the Alexander stadium in Birmingham, England, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. Photo by Alastair Grant / AP Hard-rock royalty and some 40,000 fans gathered for an ear-splitting tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at what the heavy metal icon says was his last-ever live performance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The original lineup of Osbourne's band Black Sabbath performed at Villa Park soccer stadium in their home city of Birmingham, central England, on Saturday. The 76-year-old singer, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, sang from a black throne that rose up from under the stage. 'Let the madness begin!' he urged as he took the stage, and later paid tribute to fans. '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,' Osbourne said. 'You're all … special. Let's go crazy, come on.' Osbourne performed several songs solo before being joined onstage, for the first time in 20 years, by Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a short set with 'Paranoid,' one of its most famous songs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It capped a day-long metal festival that included performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N'Roses. Artists who sent plaudits and well-wishes included Jack Black, Dolly Parton and Elton John. 'You are one of the most remarkable singers of our time,' John said. 'You are the king, you are the legend.' Osbourne formed Black Sabbath in 1968 in Birmingham, a city then known for its heavy industry that became the crucible of the British metal scene. Black Sabbath's devil imagery and thunderous sound made them one of the era's most influential — and parent-scaring — metal acts. Both the band and Osbourne as a solo artist have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Osbourne's fame expanded into the mainstream in the early 2000s, when he joined his wife Sharon Osbourne, and two of their children in the MTV reality TV show 'The Osbournes.' He has struggled with health issues since 2003 following a near-fatal quad bike crash. He revealed his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2020 and paused touring in 2023 after spinal surgery. Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances. Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons Toronto Raptors World Columnists
CTV News
2 hours ago
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Kelly Osbourne gets engaged at dad Ozzy's final show
Sid Wilson (left) and Kelly Osbourne are pictured in Los Angeles in November 2024. (via CNN Newsource) Kelly Osbourne has confirmed her engagement to her long-term partner, rock musician Sid Wilson. TV personality Osbourne posted a video on Instagram of the moment that Wilson, who is part of heavy metal band Slipknot, got down on one knee and proposed in front of various family members and friends, including her father Ozzy and mother Sharon Osbourne. In the footage, Wilson can be heard saying: 'Kelly, you know I love you more than anything in the world.' Ozzy then interjects: 'F**k off you're not marrying my daughter.' The assembled crowd laughs before Wilson continues: 'Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you. So, in front of your family and all of our friends, Kelly, will you marry me?' The couple, who have been together since at least 2022 and share a young son, Sidney, then embraced as people clapped and cheered. Osbourne is a former 'View' panelist while Wilson is best known for being Slipknot's turntablist. The pair confirmed they were dating in February 2022, when Osbourne posted a photo of the two of them to Instagram on Valentine's Day, calling him her best friend and 'soulmate,' saying she couldn't believe this was where the couple had ended up after '23 years of friendship.' The proposal took place backstage at what was billed to be Ozzy Osbourne's last ever live show. Osbourne, along with original Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and guitarist Tony Iommi, appeared on stage together for the first time in two decades in Birmingham, England on Saturday during a concert event called 'Back to the Beginning,' which was said to be Osbourne's 'farewell performance,' according to Black Sabbath's official website. Osbourne – who performed while sitting in a black, throne-like chair with a bat on top – revealed in 2020 that he has Parkinson's disease. Jack Guy, CNN
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Athletes embraced political activism, mental health and looking 25 until you're 70, and now those are the things our society obsesses about. If it's attention economy, no one gets more aggregate attention than sports does. So whether or not you agree that Emma Raducanu is able to perceive the precise location of a sphere relative to a white chalk line when the ball is moving at 110 kilometres per hour, listen to her. This is your future. Eventually, all sports will be officiated by AI. It's inevitable because it's a cheaper alternative. It was tennis that made this movement palatable, through its Hawk Eye system. Its brilliance was replacing one sort of entertainment (John McEnroe screaming 'ARE YOU SERIOUS?' at some poor linesman) with another, equally entertaining one (big-screen computer simulations of balls bouncing a micrometer outside the fault line). Crucially, one is full of human vigour and interaction, while the other has none. 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In the end, we are left with a zombie facsimile of the old system. It will still be wrong, but without recourse because there is no person to argue with. In this way, we become more efficient, allowing for more growth and less life.
