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Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ozzy Osbourne could make surprise return to the stage after huge farewell gig
Black Sabbath star played his final gig at special Birmingham show at the weekend - but we can reveal exciting move which could see him perform again Ozzy Osbourne may have bowed out at his farewell show but it might not be the last time you see the Black Sabbath star perform. The band have trademarked their name in virtual reality, which means they could return on stage as holograms. ABBA have already used avatars for their London show, Voyage, which has been running since 2022 and features younger versions of themselves. Black Sabbath filed documents 20 years ago and could do the same. These papers trademark use of 'production and presentation of animation and other special effects'. A number of other artists have taken similar action. Ozzy, 76, who has Parkinson's, performed his final gig with Black Sabbath in Birmingham on Saturday. The singer had to sit on the stage at Villa Park, a stone's throw from his terraced childhood home, as he ran through five solo hits including Mr Crowley and Crazy Train. Then he was joined by the original Sabbath line-up of guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. The group – credited with inventing heavy metal after forming in 1968 – played together for the first time in 20 years for the Back To The Beginning concert. They finished with War Pigs, N.I.B, Iron Man and Paranoid. An emotional Ozzy said: 'You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' This week, one of his pals said Ozzy was plotting a new album and in April wife Sharon, 72, when asked if she would consider an ABBA-style return for him, said: 'Sure I would, yeah. ' Technology keeps moving on and on. You can do incredible things now, so what you could do in five years will be even better. You never know what the opportunities are.' The show features avatars of a young Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Falt- skog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson performing hits like Dancing Queen and Waterloo. It launched in 2022, but is still one of the capital's top attractions. KISS have unveiled digital versions to replace them when they stop touring. The estates of late stars George Michael, Freddie Mercury and Tina Turner have also filed papers with digital plans. Queen guitarist Brian May said his band has talked "very seriously" about holograms of Freddie - but he won't be an avatar while the rest of the group is having the days of their lives. He said: "While we're here I want to play live. I don't want to be a hologram. I want to be me." Last year Oasis filed paperwork to secure trademarks that would cover "virtual music group" and "avatars". Noel Gallagher previously said he'd up for the band returning as holograms after being amazed by ABBA's avatars. He said: "It was great - an hour-and-a-half gig. The holograms looked that real I thought they were actors. The way they walk to the stage is so realistic." He told pal Matt Morgan's podcast: "If anybody wants to do an Oasis one, give us a shout. I would be bang up for it. Come up with a figure and I'll say yes or no."
Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ozzy Osbourne will never retire because 'performing is 'in his DNA'
He bowed out with a massive gig at his beloved Villa Park this weekend but pals reckon Ozzy won't stop making music amid fears he'll die if he retires Ozzy Osbourne is plotting to continue working despite his huge Birmingham gig being declared his farewell night, a pal has revealed. The Black Sabbath frontman has told friends he sees a future for him in the music industry even though the Back To The Beginning gig at Villa Park was promoted as the Brummie's career finale. The 76-year-old cannot see himself retiring despite his neck, back and Parkinson's issues - because of what happened to his dad when he retired. One friend - who has known Ozzy for several decades - said he 'always thinks about his dad when it comes to retirement' because his father died just a few days after giving up work. READ MORE: Bob Geldof tells why Live Aid's rock 'n' roll romance wouldn't work 40 years on Already, Ozzy is said to be secretly plotting a new album for later in the year and is hoping to reunite with award-winning producer Andrew Watt. His old friend teased: "I would not be surprised if, knowing Ozzy, he would do something around a stage to promote that. "Oz has made it clear many many times that he doesn't want to simply retire and stop making music or feeling the love from live audiences. "He feels that he will wither away and pass if he stops altogether. His biggest worry - and he has said this often - is that the same thing happens to him as his father. That haunts him. "He has told us many times about how his father told him, 'I have always wanted to dig the garden'. Ozzy then revealed he dug up the garden and died. Working is what keeps Ozzy going. "There is a sense that he needs to be in the spotlight no matter how challenging his medical conditions. He loves the buzz of getting love from his fans - it's in his DNA." That insight comes as the self-styled Prince Of Darkness wowed fans after reuniting with the original Black Sabbath members for the first time in 20 years at the weekend, also performing five solo songs during his star-studded Back To The Beginning. The supershow included sets from Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer and Tool. Ozzy belted out solo hits including Mr Crowley, Mama I'm Coming Home and Crazy Train plus War Pigs, Iron Man and Paranoid with Black Sabbath, as the fans went wild. He was sent a video message from Sir Elton John, played out on the giant screens, in which he told Ozzy: '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.' Fans saw the reality of Ozzy's medical woes as he performed on stage while seated on a winged throne. He had spent months working with physios and trainers to be able to stand fully, but "just could not make it.' Speaking a few months ago, the rocker said he was struggling to walk more than a few feet unaided, explaining: 'I am 70 f***ing six and even being over 70 is f***ing doing my brains in."
ITV News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath play final set in Back to the Beginning show
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath have played their final set together for the Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park. Sitting on a leather throne, the Prince of Darkness became the King of the city as he performed in front of his hometown crowd. Dressed in black with a gold armband, his tunes boomed out across the stadium, in what was an emotional performance. The full concert began at around 1pm today and was dubbed the "greatest heavy metal show ever", with performances from some of the world's best rock and heavy metal bands including Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Alice in Chains, Pantera and a whole host of heavy metal artists. The main event though got underway just after 9pm, when Ozzy completed his own solo set, before Black Sabbath took to the stage shortly after. It's the first time icons Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward will have played together in 20 years and now they've been back on the stage for the final time together. Following Metallica, Ozzy took the stage playing an array of songs, including Mr Crowley, Mama I'm coming home and Crazy Train. There was a slight break before he was joined by the rest of the band, just after 10pm. The four of them then belted out a four-song set, including the classics War Pigs, N.I.B, Iron Man and ending with Paranoid. The show then finished with a fireworks display. Thousands of people descended on the city and the stadium in preparation for the event. Some had come from around the corner, others from across the world. They've been all over Birmingham today ahead of the gig. A huge queue was building up next to the bench on the Black Sabbath Bridge in the city centre. Others have been scooping up the merchandise. Artists who played during the concert included: Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns 'n Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde. Speaking ahead of the show, Ozzy Osbourne said: "It's my final encore; it's my chance to say thank you to my fans for always supporting me and being there for me. "I couldn't have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning. I hope they feel appreciated for how much they mean to me. "We never meant to have a livestream; it wasn't in our plan. "I was just surprised how many people we were contacted by to do one, and so it seemed a great chance for people who didn't have the opportunity to get a ticket to be able to see the show. "My memories of Villa Park when I was growing up were: Every Saturday when there was a match, I would go out with my friends and stand outside the Villa asking people for a shilling to watch their car. "It means everything, I am forever in their debt for showing up for me and the fans. I can't quite put it into words, but I feel very emotional and blessed. "It's a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out." DID YOU KNOW? 1. They Were Originally Called "Earth" Before adopting the name Black Sabbath, the band went by the name Earth and played blues-influenced rock. They changed it to avoid confusion with another band of the same name. 2. Their Name Was Inspired by a Horror Movie The band got the name "Black Sabbath" from a 1963 Boris Karloff horror film. Geezer Butler noted how people pay to be scared, so they decided to create music that evoked fear and darkness. 3. Tony Iommi Lost Fingertips Before Sabbath Took Off Guitarist Tony Iommi lost the tips of two fingers in an industrial accident on his last day at a sheet metal factory. He forged his own prosthetic tips and detuned his guitar, helping to shape Sabbath's heavy, sludgy sound. 4. Ozzy Osbourne's Real Name Isn't Ozzy Ozzy's birth name is John Michael Osbourne. "Ozzy" was a nickname given to him in school that just stuck. 5. Bill Ward Sang Lead on a Few Tracks Though primarily the drummer, Bill Ward actually sang lead vocals on songs like "It's Alright" (from Technical Ecstasy) and "Swinging the Chain" (from Never Say Die!). 6. "Paranoid" Was a Last-Minute Filler Track The band wrote the iconic song "Paranoid" in about 25 minutes to fill space on the album of the same name. It went on to become their biggest hit. 7. Their First Album Was Recorded in a Single Day The band recorded their self-titled debut album, Black Sabbath (1970), in just one 12-hour session, with virtually no overdubs. 8. They Created Heavy Metal Without Knowing How to Read Music None of the original members were classically trained musicians. Tony Iommi especially relied on improvisation and feeling, which contributed to their raw, unpolished, and revolutionary sound. 9. They Have a Blue Plaque in Birmingham In 2019, the city of Birmingham unveiled a Black Sabbath "heavy metal bench" with statues of the original lineup and a blue heritage plaque, officially recognizing the band's role in the city's cultural legacy — just likethe Beatles in Liverpool. 10. They Have a Bridge Named After Them In 2019, Birmingham officially renamed a bridge 'Black Sabbath Bridge' near Broad Street. It's part of a walk of fame route where fans can visit a bench with statues of the original lineup. It's a full-on metal pilgrimage site.
