Just weeks before his death, Ozzy Osbourne performed an epic and emotional farewell concert in his hometown of Birmingham.
The show, titled “Back to the Beginning”, reunited the original lineup of Black Sabbath on stage for the last time, alongside an all-star lineup of rock and metal legends, and became the final live performance of the legendary “Prince of Darkness.”
The event, which took place on July 5, 2025 at the Villa Park stadium, brought together 45,000 fans for a night of tribute and a heartwarming farewell.
Ozzy, who had been struggling with health issues for years, was finally able to say goodbye to his fans in person.
“I was bedridden for six fucking years, you have no idea what this means to me,” he exclaimed from the stage. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The organization of the concert was orchestrated with the help of his wife, Sharon Osbourne, who collaborated to make Ozzy's dream of saying goodbye in a big way possible.
The goal was to reunite the founding members of Black Sabbath"where they belonged, one last time." This is how Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward played together again after 20 years apart.
In addition to Sabbath, the lineup included Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, Mastodon, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Anthrax, Gojira, and Lamb of God, among others.
Every artist performed at least one Black Sabbath song as a tribute, turning the festival into a massive celebration of the band that founded heavy metal.
All proceeds from the show were donated to charities, including Birmingham Children's Hospital, strengthening Ozzy's connection and legacy to the city of his birth.
The return of Ozzy: a fragile but powerful figure
The evening kicked off with Mastodon performing “Supernaut,” accompanied by musicians from Gojira and Tool, setting the collaborative tone for the event.
Moments later, a super band consisting of Chad Smith, Tom Morello and Steven Tyler dazzled with covers of Led Zeppelin's “Whole Lotta Love” and Aerosmith's “Walk This Way.”
Metallica then lit up the stadium with a version of “Hole in the Sky” followed by their classics “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and “Master of Puppets.”
When Ozzy's turn came, the excitement at Villa Park was palpable. The singer appeared seated on a black throne adorned with a giant bat, an iconic symbol of his career.
Although he was unable to stand up due to his ailments, his voice resonated with strength and clarity in songs like “I Don’t Know” and “Crazy Train”, accompanied by his inseparable guitarist Zakk Wylde.
Finally, the night closed with the original Black Sabbath lineup taking the stage for the last time. They played a short but impressive set: “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.”, “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.”
Ozzy, in a firm voice, demanded from the audience: “Fuck off, go crazy!”. The response was immediate: mosh pits formed and the stadium erupted in jubilation.
It was a glorious ending, brief but powerful, according to the Billboard report.
The event was especially moving for those who were familiar with the multiple health problems he had faced in recent years.
Since 2018, Osbourne was diagnosed with staph infections, a serious accident at home that caused spinal injuries, and finally Parkinson's, a condition he publicly announced in 2020.
All this forced him to cancel tours and remain almost retired.
Speaking to Rolling Stone UK in 2023, he explained his motivation for staging a final show.
“That's what angered me the most: I never had the chance to say goodbye or thank you. My fans are everything… They're like my extended family.”
