Ozzy Osbourne, 76, prepares for emotional final goodbye to Black Sabbath fans
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Ozzy Osbourne is preparing to bid farewell to Black Sabbath fans in what will be his final live performance. At 76 years old, the Prince of Darkness is reuniting with the band for the “Back to the Beginning” concert at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5.
After seven surgeries in five years and a decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease, Ozzy admits this moment is deeply emotional.
Though he intends to keep making music, this show marks his last time on stage—and it means everything to him.
“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,” Ozzy shared.
He admitted that putting his feelings into words is difficult, calling it a deeply emotional and blessed experience. Though he’s done countless shows, he says this goodbye carries a unique weight.
“It’s a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out,” he added. Ozzy grew up in Aston, Birmingham, just miles from Villa Park, where the final show will be held.
The venue choice wasn’t a coincidence—Black Sabbath’s journey began there when they were still known as Earth, playing their first gig at The Crown pub in 1968.
Ozzy said the band had to return to their roots for the farewell, emphasizing how meaningful it is to him. “I couldn’t have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning.”
He also recalled memories of standing outside the football stadium as a boy, asking fans for change so he could watch their cars during games.
These moments, he said, make returning to Villa Park even more significant. The hometown crowd adds an emotional layer to a show already heavy with meaning.
It’s more than just a concert—it’s the closing chapter of a story that started nearly 60 years ago. The concert will be livestreamed for fans around the world beginning two hours after the in-person start time, set for 3pm BST.
Also read: Montreal misstep: A pop star’s fall turns into a standing ovation
Ozzy admitted that the livestream wasn’t part of the original plan but was added due to overwhelming demand.
“I was just surprised how many people we were contacted by to do one,” he said. “it seemed a great chance for people who didn't have the opportunity to get a ticket to be able to see the show.”
Despite his enthusiasm, Ozzy is still dealing with serious health issues behind the scenes. Following years of spinal operations, he said he’s not sure if he’ll be able to perform standing up or will need to sit.
He’s working with a specialized trainer who believes Ozzy can still pull it off physically. “I’m giving it everything I’ve got,” he emphasized.
Ozzy described his current regimen, which includes having his blood pressure taken 15 times a day and wearing a constant heart-rate monitor. “It’s endurance,” he explained.
“The first thing that goes when you’re laid up is your stamina.” Still, he’s determined to do the best he can for the fans who’ve supported him across generations.
The upcoming performance won’t be the end of Ozzy’s music career, just the end of his time on stage. He said he still enjoys making solo music and working on collaborations with other artists.
“For the foreseeable future, I will keep on recording if the projects interest me,” he told Metal Hammer. His 2022 album Patient Number 9 featured a long list of rock legends, and he shows no signs of stopping in the studio.
Also read: Shocking shootout: What really happened to death metal legend Brian Montana?
Ozzy’s legacy with Black Sabbath helped define heavy metal in the early 1970s with songs like Iron Man, Paranoid, and War Pigs.
While the band’s original lineup hasn’t performed together since 2005, this final reunion brings all four founding members—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ozzy himself—back together.
Their influence spans generations, and fans around the world are already preparing for a historic night. This show will mark a definitive end to an era.
The “Back to the Beginning” event isn’t just a reunion—it’s a celebration of the band’s origins and the city that shaped them. And it’s drawing massive talent from across the rock world.
Metallica, Billy Corgan, Duff McKagan, Slash, Fred Durst, Jonathan Davis, and Anthrax are all scheduled to appear. With such a stacked lineup, the concert is poised to be one of the most important rock events in decades.
It’s also a moment for fans to show their appreciation one last time, and for Ozzy to give something back.
His gratitude is clear in every comment he makes about the upcoming show. Ozzy said he wants his fans to “feel appreciated for how much they mean to me.”
Read next: The Doobie Brothers surprise fans with intimate album launch show in New York
Have you been a lifelong fan of Ozzy or Black Sabbath? Will you be watching the final show live or joining the stream? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments — and let us know which song you hope they close the night with.
After seven surgeries in five years and a decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease, Ozzy admits this moment is deeply emotional.
Though he intends to keep making music, this show marks his last time on stage—and it means everything to him.
“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,” Ozzy shared.
He admitted that putting his feelings into words is difficult, calling it a deeply emotional and blessed experience. Though he’s done countless shows, he says this goodbye carries a unique weight.
“It’s a goodbye as far as my live performances go, and what a way to go out,” he added. Ozzy grew up in Aston, Birmingham, just miles from Villa Park, where the final show will be held.
The venue choice wasn’t a coincidence—Black Sabbath’s journey began there when they were still known as Earth, playing their first gig at The Crown pub in 1968.
Ozzy Osbourne, 76, prepares for emotional final goodbye to Black Sabbath fans. Image source: Ozzy Osbourne / YouTube
Ozzy said the band had to return to their roots for the farewell, emphasizing how meaningful it is to him. “I couldn’t have done my final show anywhere else. I had to go back to the beginning.”
He also recalled memories of standing outside the football stadium as a boy, asking fans for change so he could watch their cars during games.
These moments, he said, make returning to Villa Park even more significant. The hometown crowd adds an emotional layer to a show already heavy with meaning.
It’s more than just a concert—it’s the closing chapter of a story that started nearly 60 years ago. The concert will be livestreamed for fans around the world beginning two hours after the in-person start time, set for 3pm BST.
Also read: Montreal misstep: A pop star’s fall turns into a standing ovation
Ozzy admitted that the livestream wasn’t part of the original plan but was added due to overwhelming demand.
“I was just surprised how many people we were contacted by to do one,” he said. “it seemed a great chance for people who didn't have the opportunity to get a ticket to be able to see the show.”
Despite his enthusiasm, Ozzy is still dealing with serious health issues behind the scenes. Following years of spinal operations, he said he’s not sure if he’ll be able to perform standing up or will need to sit.
He’s working with a specialized trainer who believes Ozzy can still pull it off physically. “I’m giving it everything I’ve got,” he emphasized.
Ozzy described his current regimen, which includes having his blood pressure taken 15 times a day and wearing a constant heart-rate monitor. “It’s endurance,” he explained.
“The first thing that goes when you’re laid up is your stamina.” Still, he’s determined to do the best he can for the fans who’ve supported him across generations.
The upcoming performance won’t be the end of Ozzy’s music career, just the end of his time on stage. He said he still enjoys making solo music and working on collaborations with other artists.
“For the foreseeable future, I will keep on recording if the projects interest me,” he told Metal Hammer. His 2022 album Patient Number 9 featured a long list of rock legends, and he shows no signs of stopping in the studio.
Also read: Shocking shootout: What really happened to death metal legend Brian Montana?
Ozzy’s legacy with Black Sabbath helped define heavy metal in the early 1970s with songs like Iron Man, Paranoid, and War Pigs.
While the band’s original lineup hasn’t performed together since 2005, this final reunion brings all four founding members—Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ozzy himself—back together.
Their influence spans generations, and fans around the world are already preparing for a historic night. This show will mark a definitive end to an era.
The “Back to the Beginning” event isn’t just a reunion—it’s a celebration of the band’s origins and the city that shaped them. And it’s drawing massive talent from across the rock world.
Metallica, Billy Corgan, Duff McKagan, Slash, Fred Durst, Jonathan Davis, and Anthrax are all scheduled to appear. With such a stacked lineup, the concert is poised to be one of the most important rock events in decades.
It’s also a moment for fans to show their appreciation one last time, and for Ozzy to give something back.
His gratitude is clear in every comment he makes about the upcoming show. Ozzy said he wants his fans to “feel appreciated for how much they mean to me.”
Read next: The Doobie Brothers surprise fans with intimate album launch show in New York
