Ozzy Osbourne fans divided over his 'sad' final performance with Black Sabbath
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.
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