Ozzy Osbourne says farewell to live performance with a hometown show for 40,000 fans
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.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Fans Say Black Sabbath's Final Show Ended 'Coldly,' But What Really Happened?
Fans Say Black Sabbath's Final Show Ended 'Coldly,' But What Really Happened? originally appeared on Parade. Black Sabbath played its final show on Saturday, but it wasn't a happy ending for some fans. Those who tuned in to the July 5 livestream watched as , Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler played together one final time. In front of a sold-out Villa Park in their hometown of Birmingham, England, the heavy metal pioneers performed their songs 'War Pigs,' 'N.I.B,' 'Iron Man,' and 'Paranoid.' For many, this was the epic farewell that these living legends deserve. But some fans were left feeling a bit 'cold' with how the night ended. After Ozzy finished singing the last bit of 'Paranoid,' the singer known as the 'Prince of Darkness' said goodbye to the crowd. The livestream then showed confetti being shot into the crowd and fireworks exploding over the top of Villa Park. And that was it. Some fans voiced their displeasure that they didn't get to see the four take a final bow together. Some even accused Ward, Iommi and Butler of walking offstage while leaving Ozzy—who performed that night seated in a gothic throne due to his well-documented issues with Parkinson's Disease—all by himself. However, what the livestream didn't show was that Iommi and Butler went over to speak with Ozzy after the song. According to a video shared by Metal Hammer, Tony warmly shook hands and spoke with Ozzy while Butler gave him a cake featuring Ozzy's likeness on the front. Butler then allowed Ozzy to 'soak up the adulation from the crowd,' per Metal Hammer. The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn also said that there was camaraderie between the Black Sabbath brothers that didn't make it to the live stream. The event, dubbed "Back to the Beginning," featured appearances from modern-day metal royalty, who performed throughout the day. The night capped off with Ozzy performing a handful of songs from his solo career before delivering one final performance with the band that helped make him an Say Black Sabbath's Final Show Ended 'Coldly,' But What Really Happened? first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Stars at Black Sabbath gig make emotional tribute to footballer Diego Jota as fans left 'in bits'
Artists paid tribute to footballer Diego Jota at the Black Sabbath Villa Park gig today - with fans saying they were 'in bits'. The Portuguese footballer, who played for Liverpool, died on July 3 in a car crash in Spain. The 28-year-old's funeral was today. Surprise act at the Villa Park gig Yungblud had fans wiping away tears as he dedicated his Changes cover to the ex-Wolves football player. Read more: Black Sabbath live updates as thousands descend on Villa Park today for Back to the Beginning gig Read more: Black Sabbath at Villa Park - line-up, times, set list, tickets and how to get there @andyhecks posted: "In bits here... @yungblud dedicating Changes to Diogo Jota." In a separate set, Nuno Bettencourt was offered the mic and used it as an opportunity to pay tribute to the fellow Portuguese star, who left behind a wife and three children. Don't miss our glossy Black Sabbath - End of an Era magazine celebrating their final show! Read more here. Join our Black Sabbath WhatsApp group for the latest updates so you don't miss a single thing this weekend. If you're going to the Black Sabbath gig, we hope you have an amazing time! Please share your photos and comments with us by emailing - we'd love to share them.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Young Rock Star Leaves Fans in Tears with Powerful Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: 'The Torch Has Been Passed'
Young Rock Star Leaves Fans in Tears with Powerful Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: 'The Torch Has Been Passed' originally appeared on Parade. Back to the Beginning has been one of the greatest celebrations the music world has ever seen. For those of you unaware, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath gave their final performance this past weekend, as Osbourne is stepping away from the music world amidst increasing health struggles. The celebration included loads of tribute acts, all coming out to support and show love to the Prince of Darkness. One performer, however, has been garnering a ton of attention, and that's Yungblud. Yungblud has been steadily climbing to superstardom. With a sound that combines pop, rock, hip hop, metal, and punk, he has been a rock star adapted for this generation. Recently, he has become pretty well known within the context of the Osbourne family, as he was taken in as one of their own after Ozzy and the rest of the family have been publicly bonding with the star. It was clear he'd be at this tribute performance, but people were shocked at just how good he was with his performance of "Changes." The performance rocked all in attendance, with emotions running high and tears flowing. Many commenters were shocked by the young star's talent, with many claiming that the torch has been passed. "He did Ozzy proud today." "I was at the concert, and this was the best performance of the day for me. Imagine 40.000 people singing back in unison. Was truly emotional." "Ozzy passed the torch to him." It's a beautiful moment. The music world is going to be a very different place without Ozzy Osbourne, but it's a comfort to know his legacy is safe with Yungblud. It's a lot of pressure to be seen as the successor to someone so revered, but I'm sure he's ready for the challenge.🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Young Rock Star Leaves Fans in Tears with Powerful Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: 'The Torch Has Been Passed' first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
