Music
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath Unite for a Memorable Final Concert
Ozzy Osbourne will reunite with all of Black Sabbath’s original members for the first time in 20 years in what promoters call the “greatest” heavy metal show ever.
The band, one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, will headline “The Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5 at Villa Park, the home of the Aston Villa Football Club in Birmingham, England.
“It’s time to restart from the beginning…” “It’s time for me to give back to the community where I was born,” Osbourne said. “How fortunate I am to do it with the assistance of people I adore. Birmingham is the real home of metal. Birmingham’s forever.”
Osbourne, the band’s frontman during its peak period in the 1970s and widely known as the “Prince of Darkness,” will perform a short set before Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward join him for the first time in two decades.
The all-day event will feature major metal bands such as Metallica, Slayer, and Alice In Chains, with more names to be announced soon.
“This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever,” music director Tom Morello declared.
Osbourne revealed in 2020 that he had Parkinson’s disease, and he announced that he would stop touring in 2023 following extensive spinal surgery.
He has been dealing with health issues since 2003, following a near-fatal quad bike crash, and his injuries were exacerbated in 2019 when he fell at home.
Black Sabbath’s story began in Birmingham in 1968, when the four founding members sought to escape a life of factory work.
Their eponymous debut album reached the top ten in the United Kingdom in 1970, paving the way for a string of hit albums, including “Master of Reality” in 1971 and “Vol. 4” a year later.
They became one of the most influential and successful metal bands ever, with over 75 million albums sold worldwide.
Osbourne rose to prominence in the early 2000s when he appeared alongside his wife, Sharon Osbourne and two of their children on the hugely successful MTV reality TV show “The Osbournes.”
All proceeds from the July 5 show will benefit charities such as Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, which Aston Villa supports. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Ozzy Osbourne is a Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer
Ozzy Osbourne has achieved a rare honour by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the second time.
Previously recognized as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, Ozzy now receives individual recognition for his solo work. Known as the “Prince of Darkness,” his impact on rock and heavy metal lasted decades, with songs like “Crazy Train” and “Bark at the Moon” becoming iconic.
His work defied conventions, fusing theatrical performances with raw energy to shape the genre.
This second induction emphasizes his lasting impact, demonstrating that a single chapter does not define his career. Fans and musicians celebrate this milestone, solidifying Ozzy’s legacy beyond his band and demonstrating his role as a solo powerhouse in music history.