BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath delivered an epic farewell concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park on Saturday, July 5, marking the end of an era for the legendary heavy metal band.
The event, titled “Back to Beginning,” paid tribute to Osbourne and Black Sabbath, who originated in Birmingham in 1968. The concert was organized by Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife and longtime manager, in collaboration with Live Nation.
Saturday’s performance served as a retirement for Osbourne and his Black Sabbath bandmates, as the 76-year-old rock icon has faced several health challenges over the years. Diagnosed with advanced Parkinson’s disease, Osbourne has limited mobility but continues to sing and perform live. The concert’s proceeds were divided among Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, which is supported by Aston Villa.
The lineup, which began at 1 p.m. BST, featured a stellar roster of performers. In addition to Black Sabbath, the event included performances by Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Pantera, Anthrax, and more.
Throughout the day, artists performed covers of Black Sabbath songs. British rocker Yungblud teamed up with an all-star band for a rendition of “Changes,” Anthrax covered “Electric Funeral” from Black Sabbath’s 1970 album “Paranoid,” and Guns N’ Roses performed “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.”
The 11-hour production, hosted by actor Jason Momoa, was streamed globally on pay-per-view, reaching hundreds of thousands of fans. Access to the live stream was priced at £25 ($34).
Prominent figures paid tribute to Osbourne and Black Sabbath, acknowledging their profound influence. Metallica’s James Hetfield said, “Without Sabbath, there would be no Metallica. Thank you, boys, for giving us purpose in life.” Elton John sent a message to Osbourne, stating, “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 in the last few years. I hope this is the best day of your life so far.”
The event concluded with two sets from Osbourne in the final hour. The first set featured five songs from his solo career, performed with members of his touring band, with Osbourne seated on a throne.
For the closing performance, Osbourne reunited with original Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi (guitar), Bill Ward (drums), and Geezer Butler (bass), marking Ward’s first performance with the band since 2005.
