Ozzy Osbourne takes to the stage for the last time
The frail 76-year-old arrived on stage at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK, dressed in his trademark black, sitting on a bat throne for the historic gig.
Called Back To The Beginning, it is frontman and rock veteran Ozzy's last time performing on stage amid his worsening diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, The Sun reported.
The crowd was delighted to see the iconic rocker back on stage, and kept chanting his name.
Ozzy was equally thrilled to be performing, and repeatedly broke out into a massive grin.
The gig was already being touted as 'the greatest heavy metal show ever' ahead of Saturday and Ozzy played a short five-song set reuniting with his bandmates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward.
It is the first time in 20 years that the original Black Sabbath line-up have performed together.
Ozzy, 76, has vowed it will be his final performance due to his deteriorating health. He went public with his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2020.
Back To The Beginning has also featured a mega line-up of fellow rock stars, performing their own sets and as a supergroup, 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.
Ahead of the gig, Ozzy's wife Sharon told The Mirror: 'There won't be any head banging. Not any more. But his voice is still absolutely perfect. 'Even if you don't like his music, you can't not like Ozzy – he draws you in.'
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Sydney Morning Herald
37 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ozzy Osbourne plays final concert sitting on black throne amid Parkinson's battle
British rock star Ozzy Osbourne has played his final concert, reuniting metal legends Black Sabbath, for the 40,000-strong show in his home town of Birmingham at the weekend. The 76-year-old took to the stage for the first time in two years on Saturday night (Sunday AEST), performing the entire set seated on a dark, bat-winged throne, as he struggles with Parkinson's disease. Dressed in a quintessential all-black ensemble, Osbourne, also a former reality star, rose from the ground seated on an enormous black throne and urged the crowd to 'let the madness begin'. He later paid tribute to his 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 on stage, for the first time in 20 years, by Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a four-song set with Paranoid, one of their best known songs. The throne Osbourne performed on — a black armchair adorned with skulls and a giant bat with outstretched wings — appeared to be the same one the rock star performed on during his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in October last year. Black Sabbath band members had earlier flagged that the set would be short, indicating that age-related stamina issues were keeping them from a longer offering. The band was presented a cake at the end of their set, which would serve as their last concert as a group. It capped a day-long metal festival that included performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N'Roses. Hollywood star Jason Momoa and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler were watching from the crowd while other artists – including Jack Black, Dolly Parton and Elton John – sent plaudits and well wishes.
The Age
42 minutes ago
- The Age
Ozzy Osbourne plays final concert sitting on black throne amid Parkinson's battle
British rock star Ozzy Osbourne has played his final concert, reuniting metal legends Black Sabbath, for the 40,000-strong show in his home town of Birmingham at the weekend. The 76-year-old took to the stage for the first time in two years on Saturday night (Sunday AEST), performing the entire set seated on a dark, bat-winged throne, as he struggles with Parkinson's disease. Dressed in a quintessential all-black ensemble, Osbourne, also a former reality star, rose from the ground seated on an enormous black throne and urged the crowd to 'let the madness begin'. He later paid tribute to his 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 on stage, for the first time in 20 years, by Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a four-song set with Paranoid, one of their best known songs. The throne Osbourne performed on — a black armchair adorned with skulls and a giant bat with outstretched wings — appeared to be the same one the rock star performed on during his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in October last year. Black Sabbath band members had earlier flagged that the set would be short, indicating that age-related stamina issues were keeping them from a longer offering. The band was presented a cake at the end of their set, which would serve as their last concert as a group. It capped a day-long metal festival that included performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N'Roses. Hollywood star Jason Momoa and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler were watching from the crowd while other artists – including Jack Black, Dolly Parton and Elton John – sent plaudits and well wishes.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath play last-ever show in England
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. The original line-up 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 band mates Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a short set with Paranoid, one of their most famous songs. It capped a day-long metal festival that included performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N' Roses. Fans around the world were able to join in on the celebration via a live stream that beamed the show into the homes of metalheads far and wide. Early in the day, bands were given such short sets that they could play just one or two original songs, followed by a cover of an Ozzy Osbourne or Black Sabbath classic. Among a cavalcade of highlights and guest appearances was a performance from a supergroup made up of heavy rock royalty including Billy Corgan, Sammy Hagar, Steven Tyler, Adam Jones, Vernon Reid, Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt, and a drum off between blink-182's Travis Barker, Red Hot Chili Peppers's Chad Smith, and Tool's Danny Carey. Artists who sent plaudits and well-wishes via video tributes included Jack Black, Dolly Parton, AC/DC, Cyndi Lauper, and Elton John. Actor Jason Momoa hosted the show, and didn't let that commitment stop him from getting amongst the action, jumping into the mosh pit at one stage to get the crowd riled up. 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 in 2020 and paused touring in 2023 after spinal surgery. - AP/ABC
