Ozzy Osbourne's emotional message to fans after final Black Sabbath performance
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary rocker, ended his live performance career with a bang on Saturday evening, sharing a saucy farewell message to fans after his final gig.
At 76 years old, the Black Sabbath frontman returned to the stage in Birmingham for the first time in two decades as part of the Back to the Beginning farewell concert.
Devoted fans from all corners of the globe gathered to watch Ozzy perform alongside original bandmates Bill Ward, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler, possibly for the last time, although some were visibly moved by Ozzy's need to sit upon a throne during the show due to his health struggles.
Clad in black attire and eye makeup, the prince of darkness, who is battling the effects of Parkinson's disease and has disclosed his inability to walk, sang iconic songs I Don't Know, Mr. Crowley, Suicide Solution, Mama I'm Coming Home, and Crazy Train.
Finishing up his iconic stint, Ozzy, visibly touched and seated as he left the stage amidst a backdrop of fireworks, expressed his gratitude with a heartfelt "thank you," sending kisses and lifting his hands skyward to the sound of adulation, reports the Mirror US.
Ozzy's send-off was as defiant as his career, with an unapologetically bold banner unfurling at Villa Park—home to football clashes—stating, "Thank you for everything, you guys are f***ing amazing. Birmingham Forever."
The night also featured some stellar performances from other music legends, including Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, Limp Bizkit sensation Fred Durst, and Guns 'n Roses icons Duff McKagan along with Slash.
In a heart-to-heart with Rolling Stone UK before the concert, Sharon Osbourne disclosed that they had been planning the show for two years and confessed to feeling "so emotional" about the experience, calling it "magic".
"It was just amazing how everybody said, 'yes, we wanna do it, we're there, we wanna support Sabbath and Ozzy and be there for the charity'. And so it's just been a pleasure dealing with everyone, and they've just been so generous with their time.
"Every single artist has just been fantastic," expressed the former X Factor UK judge. Sharon also conveyed Ozzy's gratitude for his fans' longstanding support.
"Ozzy has finally got a chance to thank people for all their years of support and encouragement to him and really giving us the life that we have together. We appreciate everything that these fans have given us around the world," Sharon stated.
The announcement of the goodbye gig sent fans into a frenzy when it was released back in February. An Instagram upload from Ozzy earlier this year saw Tom Morello, the music director of the event, declare, "This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever."
As the legendary guitarist of Rage Against The Machine, Tom's words carried considerable weight.
Accompanying the social media snapshot was Ozzy's reflection: "It's my time to go Back to the Beginning....time for me to give back to the place where I was born. How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Black Sabbath review - Ozzy Osbourne's touching comment moved fans to tears
It was labelled Back to the Beginning, but it was most certainly the end of an era for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. As the curtain came down on an industry defining career, a full day of metal with the biggest names in the genre a stone's throw from Ozzy's childhood home was a fitting way to call it quits. I can't confess to being one of the staunchest of followers of the Prince of Darkness - fans arrived from all over the world, including Brazil, Estonia and USA to name a few. But, it was clear I was a part of history at Villa Park as Ozzy and co took to it for one last time. Sitting trying to take it all in after the show had finished, I joined fans in questioning what we had just witnessed. Will this ever be repeated? Will there ever be another? I highly doubt it. It really felt like the perfect celebration - and one both the fans and Ozzy himself clearly needed. He might not have been the rocker of old, his frail body confined to his bat-adorned chair, but he was still able to keep the adoring crowd in the palm of his hand at ease. He brought many fans to tears as they tried their best to soak it up in their dream-like state for the final time. While it was an emotional day for those watching on, some conflicted on the appearance due to his physical wellbeing, it was obvious that Ozzy was feeling it too. He regularly thanked fans, with the sincerity touching. But he still threw it back with his expletive urges for the crowd to get louder, of course. While his struggles were obvious, he left it all out on stage. Ozzy's glares and demonic stares were also on hand to roll back the years with his iconic appearance. His health issues have been well documented, with the 76-year-old's Parkinson's disease taking its toll. But while some fans were left torn when it came to his wheeled out performance, I personally hold nothing but respect for the icon and the efforts made to entertain his crowd one last time despite his ailments. Let's face it, who else in this genre could have such a pull? Over 40,000 packed into the football stadium of his beloved Aston Villa for a once-in-a-lifetime concert. Where else would you see so many legendary bands take to the same stage? I happily avoided the many mosh pits throughout the day but enjoyed watching on as the jubilant fans on the pitch went hell for leather. Rather them than me! Although, I hope you weren't one of those hit by a flying trainer from the Lamb of God lead singer as he launched his footwear after his set. For me, it was the drum-off and Super Band B's entrance that really got the party started. Three of the world's best - Travis Barker of Blink 182, Tool's Danny Carey, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Chad Smith - mesmerized with their skills. And calling what followed a Super Band was an understatement. I started to lose track of all the iconic names that were being welcomed to the stage. Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt, KK Downing, Rudy Sarzo and Sammy Hagar to name just a few. Throw in Ronnie Wood and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for good measure and I was in awe, if not not fully believing what was going on. And how could we forget Hollywood royalty Jason Momoa? The metal fan was the announcer for the day. Surreal, right? He told the crowd this music is in our DNA as he explained how it has helped in every movie role he has been in before surprisingly joining the moshers near the stage for Pantera's set. It was a day for the ages, that's for sure. It'll long live in my memory and just goes to show the true impact Ozzy has had on the world throughout his 57-year career. As bow outs go, you'll be pushed to see any better.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Emotional fans react after watching Ozzy Osbourne's last ever show
Fans paid tribute to heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne on Saturday (5 July), as the 76-year-old played an emotional farewell show in Birmingham. Reuniting with his Black Sabbath bandmates for the first time since 2005, Osbourne, who five years ago revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, told fans: 'You've got no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' After the gig, fans outside Villa Park stadium were equally emotional. Andrew Dean, who had flown over from the US to attend, told Reuters the event was 'nothing short of a blessing,' adding: 'I think it's the highlight of my life so far.'
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Ozzy Osbourne fans divided over his 'sad' final performance with Black Sabbath
Ozzy Osbourne, aged 76, performed while seated on a throne at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday. Rock superstar Ozzy Osbourne bid farewell to fans with a Black Sabbath reunion in his final ever live performance - but fans were split over his last time gracing the stage. At 76, Ozzy took to the stage in Birmingham on a throne for five songs during Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning farewell gig in his hometown on Saturday, July 5. 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. However, some spectators, both in the audience and watching the live stream, felt uncomfortable seeing their hero perform amidst his health struggles. On X, previously Twitter, one fan posted: "Feel a bit sorry for Ozzy being wheeled out like that. He clearly isn't fit and well." Another reflected: "I feel bad for Ozzy. Yeah it's his last ever live show but it's kind of gross how a visibly unwell man is being wheeled out like this by Sharon," while a third commented: "Very sad, Ozzy in a goth wheelchair." Some were impressed, though, writing: "As much as I am against this final Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath show, the videos I've seen on Twitter and YouTube, Ozzy sounds a lot better than I expected." Last month, Ozzy had cautioned fans that he "may be sitting down" for his final act at Villa Park due to health concerns, around the time Black Sabbath received the freedom of Birmingham. The nicknamed Prince of Darkness entered the stage for the final time by rising on his throne through a trapdoor. 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, donning his signature black attire and thick eye makeup, sang five songs in his own set before re-entering the stage after a break 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, 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. He then departed in an emotional ending to cap off an illustrious career on stage. Over the weekend, the founding members of the heavy metal legends were honoured for their contribution to Birmingham's cultural and musical heritage, as well as their role as heavy metal trailblazers. Ozzy revealed whilst accepting the accolade that the reunion gig was his wife Sharon's brainchild. The band secured their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. During the freedom of the city ceremony, Osbourne reflected: "I first put an advert in a music store in town. If these guys hadn't come to my door, I wouldn't be sitting here now. It seems to have flown by so quickly. It's amazing. "I think about my dad, who went into debt to buy me a microphone. If only he could be here now. I think he would be very proud. I'm a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham forever!" 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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
