Ozzy and Black Sabbath delight adoring fans in emotional farewell gig

Heavy metal icons Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath recently delivered an emotional and thrilling farewell performance for tens of thousands of devoted fans in their hometown of Birmingham. The historic concert on Saturday followed a full day of tribute acts celebrating the band's legacy.

Returning to Aston, the neighborhood where it all began, Black Sabbath played the "Back to the Beginning" gig at Villa Park stadium. This one-off event, held nearly six decades after they pioneered the heavy metal genre with their groundbreaking sound, saw proceeds dedicated to charity.

The concert was notably billed as Ozzy Osbourne's final performance. The 76-year-old frontman, known as the "Prince of Darkness," revealed five years ago that he is battling Parkinson's disease, which has affected his mobility. Despite this, he captivated the audience while performing from a black throne, visibly moved at times.

Ozzy treated the adoring crowd to his hits, including "Crazy Train." Expressing his deep gratitude, he told the fans, "You've got no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Earlier in the day, over a dozen prominent bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Tool, and Guns N’ Roses paid homage to Black Sabbath. A vast audience, clad in black band shirts, engaged in headbanging, moshing, and crowd-surfing throughout the lengthy rock and metal showcase.

Metallica frontman James Hetfield articulated the sentiment of many, stating, "Without Sabbath there would be no Metallica. Thank you, boys, for giving us a purpose in life." The event also featured appearances from major figures in rock music like Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, with Tom Morello serving as musical director aiming to create "the greatest day in the history of heavy metal."

A highlight for many was the reunion of Black Sabbath's original lineup – Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi, and drummer Bill Ward – performing together for the first time in two decades.

The atmosphere was thick with emotion for fans, some openly weeping. One dedicated fan, Runo Gokdemir, a teacher from London, shared that he sold his car for 400 pounds ($546) just to afford a ticket, emphasizing, "I love Ozzy that much. When I had a tough time in my teenage years, I listened to Black Sabbath, and Ozzy has got me through a lot."

Lisa Meyer, co-founder of the Home of Metal project and organizer of a 2019 Black Sabbath exhibition, commented on the band's lasting impact. She noted how they offered a heavier sound that resonated deeply with fans in the 1960s, providing a voice for feelings of rage, anger, and frustration in a truly cathartic way.

Following Ozzy's solo set, he returned with Black Sabbath, including a shirtless Bill Ward, to deliver a powerful four-song finale featuring iconic hits like "War Pigs," "Paranoid," and "Iron Man." Tom Mould, an engineering apprentice who held a front-row spot for 12 hours, enthusiastically confirmed that Ozzy "still got it" during his performance.