Ozzy Osbourne closed out his final ever live performance with some emotional words at Birmingham‘s Villa Park Stadium on Saturday night.
The rocker, 76, reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for their first performance in their original line-up since 2005 – and their final ever show as a band.
Ozzy has spoken openly about his health in recent years after undergoing seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal operation in 2023.
Ozzy, who has also been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2003, plans to keep recording music but said farewell to live performing as 42,000 loyal fans watched on.
And the heavy metal singer had some poignant words for Villa Park as he brought the show to an emotional close in his hometown, Birmingham – where Black Sabbath formed some 56 years ago.
Closing the band’s final gig, Ozzy said: ‘It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’
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Ozzy Osbourne (pictured in October) closed out his final ever live performance with some emotional words at Birmingham ‘s Villa Park Stadium on Saturday night
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Ozzy, who has also been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2003, had some poignant words for Villa Park as he brought the show to an emotional close in his hometown, Birmingham
A message on screen then read: ‘Thank you for everything, you guys are f***ing amazing. Birmingham Forever,’ before the sky lit up with fireworks.
The band’s final performance was overwhelming for frontman Ozzy, who repeatedly thanked fans for their ongoing support over his five decades in the music industry.
As the 42,000-strong crowd cheered him on, Ozzy admitted at one point: ‘You have no idea how I feel.’
And it was quite the moment as Ozzy – who is married to Sharon Osbourne – walked out on stage for his solo set as deafening cheers could be heard all around the jam-packed stadium.
Ozzy previously said he was unsure whether he was going to stand or sit down to perform due to his spinal operations, and he made an epic arrival on stage in a black quilted throne with a huge bat on top.
With his band putting on a rocking performance around him, Ozzy proved his vocals are as strong as ever as he belted out some of their best-known heavy metal hits.
Rocking his signature eyeliner and black nails, the ‘Prince of Darkness’ wore a leather ensemble and hyped up the crowds as he put his hand to his ear while listening to them scream.
‘It’s so good to be on this f***ing stage,’ Ozzy admitted, before adding: ‘Let the madness begin’ as his wife Sharon and daughter Kelly proudly watched on.
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As the 42,000-strong crowd cheered him on, Ozzy admitted at one point: ‘You have no idea how I feel’
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The rocker, 76, reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for their first performance in their original line-up since 2005 (pictured that year)
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The anticipation was palpable in Ozzy’s hometown before his epic show as a string of legendary rock bands took to the stage for the Back to The Beginning concert
He appeared overwhelmed with emotional at one point as he thanked the crowd for their steadfast support during his five decades in music.
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart,’ he gushed after finishing Suicide Solution.
Ozzy kicked off his solo set with hits including I Don’t Know, and Blizzard of Ozz as he got the crowds dancing and cheering from the start.
Ozzy appeared to be having the time of his life on stage as he soaked up every moment of his final show, egging fans on and wildly waving his arms in the air.
He looked completely overwhelmed with the crowd as he finished his short-and-sweet solo set with Crazy Train, with confetti blasting into the air as the music stopped.
The audience chanted ‘Ozzy, Ozzy’ as he left the stage before a touching tribute to Diogo Jota flashed up on screen as a picture of the Liverpool footballer giving a heart sign with his back turned was shown.
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre, 26 – also a footballer, who played for Portuguese second division side Penafiel – both died on Thursday following a tragic car crash in Spain.
His Lamborghini Huracan had a tyre blow out while he attempted to overtake another vehicle on the A-52 at Cernadilla near Zamora – just ten miles over the border from Portugal.
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‘It’s so good to be on this f***ing stage,’ Ozzy admitted on-stage as his wife Sharon and daughter Kelly proudly watched on (Kelly is pictured with support act Yungblud)
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Excited Black Sabbath fans crammed into Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday for Ozzy’s final ever show
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Ozzy (pictured in 2014) has undergone seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal operation in September 2023, and has been battling Parkinson’s disease
After Ozzy finished up his solo set, he returned with his band Black Sabbath in their first full reunion since 2005, bringing the epic 10-hour long concert to a rocking finish.
Before they began, a video of the band played where they reflected on the miracle of their own survival given their crazed lifestyles particularly in their 70s and 80s heyday.
The band kicked off their 25-minute set with War Pigs before launching into N.I.B and Iron Man, with the crowds shouting, before they closed the milestone occasion with Paranoid.
Guitarist Geezer produced an Aston Villa bass guitar for the final two tracks, while drummer Bill Ward went shirtless at the back of the stage.
Closing their last ever gig together, Ozzy said: ‘It’s the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’
A message on screen then read: ‘Thank you for everything, you guys are f***ing amazing. Birmingham Forever,’ before the sky lit up with fireworks.
The 10-hour long concert also saw sets from other major rock bands including Metallica, Guns N Roses, Aerosmith and Slash as fans came from all over the world to watch – while many more watched via an online stream.
Black Sabbath pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man.
