Ozzy Osbourne prepares for final farewell as bands pay tribute to Diogo Jota
He will grace the stage alongside Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler as well as the world's best heavy metal bands for the mega show. It marks a very rare appearance for Ozzy, who first retired from live singing in 2023 because of his numerous surgeries and his Parkinson's Disease.
However, it didn't put off his desire to get back on stage for his thousands of fans. 'As you may all know, four years ago, this month, I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine,' he said on social media.
'My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently, groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak.'
The Back To The Beginning supershow will include sets from Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer, Tool, Gojira, Anthrax, Lamb Of God, Halestorm, Mastodon and Rival Sons.
An all-star super-group will be playing, with The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, Megadeth's David Ellefson, and Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst taking to the stage.
Follow along for the latest updates as the Prince of Darkness hangs up his crown once and for all...
Yungblud's guitarist has paid tribute to footballer Diogo Jota by wearing a number 20 Liverpool shirt on stage. In a touching moment, the guitarist showed the number 20 shirt, which Jota wore.
The Premier League footballer and his younger brother Andre Silva both died in a devastating car crash near Zamora close to Spain's north-west border with Portugal. The tragic incident occurred just days after Jota's marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso - who had to identify her husband and his brother after the crash.
Black Sabbath fans from around the world managed to secure tickets for the sell-out show in Birmingham to bid farewell to Ozzy.
A Brazilian fan travelled in from Stockholm to be part of the historic gig and told the Mirror: "We flew here to see Black Sabbath. Sabbath and Ozzy is my favourite. It was my first concert in my life so have the nostalgia feeling."
Another woman, who is from Estonia and now living in Chesterfield, added: "I saw Ozzy 10 years ago for the first time at Hellfest in France. It's the first time for my mum. Can't wait to have a blast."
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Times
an hour ago
- Times
Black Sabbath at Villa Park review: moving reunion as Ozzy rocks out
Never mind those over-hyped Oasis gigs, there was only one truly historic rock comeback show over the weekend as Birmingham's Villa Park football stadium hosted Back to the Beginning, an all-star heavy rock gathering that reunited the full original line-up of the local heroes Black Sabbath for the first time in 20 years, and the last time ever. This sold-out, all-day charity benefit event was essentially the retirement party for the band's 76-year-old singer and international treasure Ozzy Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, and now has limited mobility. It is no exaggeration to call Black Sabbath the Beatles of heavy metal, their hugely influential legacy reflected in the multigenerational cast list of superstar head-bangers who came to pay tribute at Villa Park, all working for free. Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Anthrax, Slayer, Alice in Chains and many others performed short sets of about 20 to 30 minutes, each including at least one Sabbath or Ozzy song. • The best concerts in London and the UK to book in 2025 Not every set was a killer, but credit is due to Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, the only woman on the bill, for rocking harder than most of her male peers. Metallica were also reliably propulsive, exhilarating and adrenalised. 'Thank you Black Sabbath,' growled James Hetfield, 'for giving us a purpose in life'. Between the main bands, a fluid supergroup featuring members of Judas Priest, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more also played, joined by surprise guests including the Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and the rising pop-rock star Yungblud, who brought high-energy swagger to his reworking of Sabbath's 1972 power ballad Changes. The Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello served as musical director for the whole event, and gave a few shredding performances himself, pairing up with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for riotously funky versions of Walk This Way and Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love. The Villa Park video screens also aired fond video tributes to Ozzy and Sabbath from famous well-wishers, including Sir Elton John, Dolly Parton and Jack Black. Black Sabbath have survived multiple splits, temporary reunions and premature retirements over their six-decade career. They last played in Birmingham with two huge 'farewell' shows in 2017, but Back to the Beginning inevitably had a more concrete air of finality, given Ozzy's health issues. Even so, the singer seemed in pretty fine voice when he finally appeared on stage to huge cheers, performing two short sets from a black leather armchair adorned with skulls and bat wings. Even a fallen emperor needs a throne. Ozzy opened with five songs from his post-Sabbath solo career, including a gothically camp Mr Crowley and the rollicking audience sing-along Crazy Train. After a short break, he reappeared with his Sabbath co-founders: the guitarist Tony Iommi, the bass player Terence 'Geezer' Butler and the drummer Bill Ward. There was a palpable sense of hatchets being buried and rifts healed at Villa Park, with Ward back in the fold after his acrimonious exclusion from previous tours. Sabbath's four-song set was all too brief, but still a pleasing reminder that seminal classics such as Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man retain their potent fusion of jazz, blues, funk, proto-punk aggression and doomy occult imagery. Climaxing with a blaze of fireworks, this was a mostly excellent and ultimately rather moving event. The artist formerly known as the Prince of Darkness may be hanging up his horns, but he is not going gently into that good night. ★★★★☆
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne bids farewell with Black Sabbath reunion
The legendary rocker 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. Osbourne 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 – plans 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.
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne bids farewell with Black Sabbath reunion
The legendary rocker 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. Osbourne 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. Bassist Terence 'Geezer' Butler, drummer Bill Ward, singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi pictured in 2005 (PA) Osbourne – who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019 – plans 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. Ozzy Osbourne and wife Sharon at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in 2018 (PA) 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.
