Ozzy Osbourne is preparing to head on stage as the Prince of Darkness for one final time this evening. The rock icon will be joining his fellow Black Sabbath bandmates at Villa Park in one of the most epic farewell shows in music history.
He will grace the stage alongside Bill Ward, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler as well as the world’s best heavy metal bands for the mega show. It marks a very rare appearance for Ozzy, who first retired from live singing in 2023 because of his numerous surgeries and his Parkinson’s Disease.
However, it didn’t put off his desire to get back on stage for his thousands of fans. “As you may all know, four years ago, this month, I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine,” he said on social media.
“My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently, groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak. ”
The Back To The Beginning supershow will include sets from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Gojira, Anthrax, Lamb Of God, Halestorm, Mastodon and Rival Sons.
An all-star super-group will be playing, with The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, Megadeth’s David Ellefson, and Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst taking to the stage.
Ozzy’s health struggles
Ozzy has been through it in the past few decades and after fully embracing the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle in his earlier years, his health has taken a hit.
It began more than 20 years ago, when in 2003, he broke his neck after falling off a quad bike leading to some extensive back surgery and metal rods being put down his spine. In 2020, the singer also announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s around a year before.
But despite his setbacks, and his worsening condition, wife Sharon claims his voice is as good as ever. Read more here.
‘A way to say thank you’
Ozzy revealed the reasons behind doing today’s show stemmed from him wanting to give back to his fans. In an interview with Premier Comms before the show, the rocker said he viewed the set as a chance to “say thank you to my fans for always supporting me and being there for me”.
Jack Black makes cameo
Pint prices revealed…
Oasis fans may not be happy, but the rockers have got a much better deal when it comes to the prices they’re paying for their pints.
A pint of Carlsberg or Somersby Apple Cider is setting back Black Sabbath fans £6. 50, which is slightly better than the eye-watering £8. 20 at Oasis’ reunion show in Cardiff this weekend.
Pre-mixed spirits are coming in at £7. 50 while Coke Zero, Sprite Zero and Fanta Zero are setting fans back £4. 50. Wine, with the options of white, red or rose, are £7.
Diogo Jota tribute
Yungblud’s guitarist has paid tribute to footballer Diogo Jota by wearing a number 20 Liverpool shirt on stage. In a touching moment, the guitarist showed the number 20 shirt, which Jota wore.
The Premier League footballer and his younger brother Andre Silva both died in a devastating car crash near Zamora close to Spain’s north-west border with Portugal. The tragic incident occurred just days after Jota’s marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso – who had to identify her husband and his brother after the crash.
Fans flock from around the world for final show
Black Sabbath fans from around the world managed to secure tickets for the sell-out show in Birmingham to bid farewell to Ozzy.
A Brazilian fan travelled in from Stockholm to be part of the historic gig and told the Mirror: “We flew here to see Black Sabbath. Sabbath and Ozzy is my favourite. It was my first concert in my life so have the nostalgia feeling. “
Another woman, who is from Estonia and now living in Chesterfield, added: “I saw Ozzy 10 years ago for the first time at Hellfest in France. It’s the first time for my mum. Can’t wait to have a blast. “
Source: Mirror
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