Ozzy Osbourne plays final concert sitting on black throne amid Parkinson's battle
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.
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