Ozzy Osbourne's farewell Black Sabbath concert draws 40,000+ fans
What's the story
The legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath reunited for a historic farewell concert, Back to the Beginning, in Birmingham on Saturday, July 5, 2025. The event was held in honor of their frontman Ozzy Osbourne (76) and drew an impressive crowd of 42,000 fans. This was the first time in two decades that the original members performed together. The concert also featured performances from other rock legends such as Metallica, Guns N' Roses, and Alice In Chains.
Concert highlights
Medley performances by supergroups
Osbourne, who has been battling Parkinson's disease since 2003 and publicly announced it in 2020, performed a five-song solo set before joining his former bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler for four of Black Sabbath's songs. The concert also featured supergroups performing medleys, including notable musicians such as Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, Travis Barker of Blink-182, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Sammy Hagar, and Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine.
Emotional farewell
Osbourne thanked fans: 'It's the last song ever...'
After the last song, Osbourne expressed his gratitude to the audience. "It's the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I love you," he said. The concert also featured recorded video tributes from music icons such as Dolly Parton, Elton John, Jonathan Davis of Korn, and Jack Black.
Event details
Concert streamed worldwide
The star-studded event was hosted by Jason Momoa and Adria Arjona. The concert was streamed worldwide with a two-hour delay, allowing fans from all over the globe to join in on the historic farewell. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorns Children's Hospice.
Health battles
Osbourne's health issues
Osbourne, who last appeared at the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, had to cancel his scheduled performance at the 2023 Power Trip festival due to health issues. In November 2023, he revealed that he has "at best 10 years left" to live. The Prince of Darkness finally got a chance to bid his fans goodbye with this historic farewell concert.