In an unforgettable farewell that marked the end of an era, Ozzy Osbourne and the original members of BLACK SABBATH performed together one final time on Saturday, July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK — the birthplace of heavy metal. The historic concert, part of the “Back To The Beginning” event, was livestreamed to more than five million fans around the world, according to The Guardian.
Ozzy, 76, delivered a powerful five-song solo set to kick off the night, supported by his longtime bandmates Zakk Wylde (guitar), Mike Inez (bass), Adam Wakeman (keyboards), and Tommy Clufetos (drums). Performing seated on a black throne due to ongoing health issues, including Parkinson’s disease, Ozzy opened with hits from his 1980 solo debut Blizzard Of Ozz — including “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” and “Crazy Train.” He also performed the emotional fan favorite “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
Then came the moment that fans had been waiting decades for: Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward joined Ozzy on stage for a final BLACK SABBATH reunion. Together, they tore through four of the band’s most iconic tracks — “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.,” and “Paranoid” — in what Ozzy called “the last song ever.”
“You have no idea how I feel,” he told the crowd. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
At the end of the set, Ozzy was presented with a cake while fireworks lit up the sky over the stadium. A final message beamed across the screens: “Thank you for everything, you guys are f**king amazing. Birmingham Forever.”
Over 40,000 fans attended the sold-out event, which also featured performances by heavy metal titans including METALLICA, SLAYER, PANTERA, LAMB OF GOD, and ANTHRAX. The show was not only a celebration of metal history but also a charitable endeavor — with proceeds being donated to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
An online charity auction accompanied the event, offering rare and autographed memorabilia including Gibson guitars signed by performers, a GUNS N’ ROSES pinball machine, and gold record plaques from BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN, and METALLICA.
Adding another emotional layer to the night, Sharon Osbourne announced her retirement from the music industry, following decades of managing Ozzy’s legendary solo career and helping guide BLACK SABBATH through critical years. Speaking to Billboard, Sharon, 72, reflected on her decision: “I’ve been doing this since I was 15, and I’m done. We just want to live our life and do what we want to do and not have to follow an itinerary any more.”
Sharon revealed that this performance was Ozzy’s final wish: “He kept saying, ‘It’s my one regret,’ and ‘I want a chance to really say thank you.’ And this is what we thought would be the best way to do it.”
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.