Ozzy Osbourne’s Heartfelt Farewell at Final Concert Takes on Tragic Weight After His Death
The heavy metal world is reeling from the loss of Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, just weeks after delivering an emotional farewell to fans at his final concert. The “Back to the Beginning” show on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham, England, marked the first performance in 20 years by Black Sabbath’s original lineup—Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Osbourne’s poignant words to the 42,000 fans in attendance now carry a haunting resonance in light of his sudden passing.
Osbourne, battling Parkinson’s disease and severe spinal issues that left him unable to walk, performed seated on a bat-adorned throne, a fitting image for the self-styled “Prince of Darkness.” Despite his physical limitations, his voice retained its raw power, delivering solo hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” followed by Black Sabbath classics including “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.” Before the final song, Osbourne rallied the crowd, shouting, “Go fing crazy, it’s the last song!” A message displayed on the stadium’s screens encapsulated his gratitude and grit: “Thank you for everything, you guys are fing amazing. Birmingham Forever.”
Speaking to the audience, Osbourne reflected on his struggles, saying, “I don’t know what to say, man, I’ve been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.” His candid admission of his health battles, coupled with his determination to perform one last time in his hometown, struck a deep chord with fans. “It’s so good to be on this f***ing stage,” he added, acknowledging the efforts of his wife, Sharon, and musical director Tom Morello in making the event possible.
The “Back to the Beginning” concert, a 10-hour celebration dubbed the “heavy metal Live Aid,” featured performances by rock titans like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, all paying tribute to Osbourne’s influence. Proceeds, totaling approximately $190 million, were donated to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice. The event, streamed to 5.8 million viewers worldwide, was a testament to Osbourne’s enduring legacy as a pioneer of heavy metal.
Osbourne’s family confirmed his death in a statement: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love.” While the cause of death has not been disclosed, Osbourne’s health had deteriorated significantly since his 2019 Parkinson’s diagnosis and a serious fall that same year, which exacerbated his mobility issues.
Tributes have flooded in from across the music world. Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi wrote, “My dear friend Ozzy has passed away… there won’t ever be another like him.” Metallica shared, “It’s impossible to put into words what Ozzy Osbourne has meant to Metallica. Hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and, most of all, friend.” Fans on X echoed the sentiment, with one noting, “Ozzy wanted to say goodbye to his fans and he did… people were crying and singing, filled with emotion.”
Osbourne’s final Instagram post, shared just a day before his death, featured a promotional image for the concert with the words “The Final Show,” serving as an unwitting epitaph. The concert, now being edited into a 2026 theatrical release titled Back to the Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow, will immortalize his last performance.
As the music world mourns, Osbourne’s words from the stage linger: “Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” For fans, his final show was not just a farewell but a powerful reminder of his resilience, heart, and unbreakable bond with the city of Birmingham and the genre he helped create.
