OZZY OSBOURNE Confirms Live Retirement: 'It’s A Goodbye As Far As My Live Performances Go'

Summary

• Ozzy Osbourne confirms final live performance at Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham.
• The sold-out event features Black Sabbath’s original lineup and a star-studded metal roster.
• Fans worldwide can watch the global livestream and replay via backtothebeginning.com for 48 hours.

In a new interview promoting this weekend’s Back to the Beginning event, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman confirmed that his upcoming concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, will be his final time performing live.

“It’s a goodbye as far as my live performances go,” Osbourne said. “And what a way to go out.”

The July 5 concert marks the first time the original Black Sabbath lineup, Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, will play together in 20 years. The event is being called Ozzy’s Final Bow, and it’s already sold out.

Fans around the world who can’t attend in person will still have a chance to watch. The show will stream globally at www.backtothebeginning.com, starting at 3 p.m. local time. A replay will be available for 48 hours.

The concert will also include performances from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, and many more. Actor Jason Momoa will host the event, which is being produced by Live Nation.

Osbourne, 75, has dealt with several health issues in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease, spinal surgeries, and complications from a 2003 ATV accident. Despite these challenges, he says his voice is still strong.

“My singing voice is as good as it’s ever been,” said his wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne. “He’s very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.”

Sharon added that this show will give Ozzy the closure he’s been seeking after years of postponed and canceled tours.

“He didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his friends and fans,” she said. “This is his full stop.”

The event will also raise money for Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

Osbourne, often called the “Prince of Darkness,” became a rock icon in the 1970s with Black Sabbath and later launched a hugely successful solo career. Known for his wild stage antics and unforgettable voice, he helped define heavy metal.

Although he’ll no longer perform live, Osbourne hasn’t ruled out making new music in the future. For now, though, he says this show is the end of his time on stage.

“It’s my final encore,” he said. “It’s my chance to say thank you.”

A Historic Lineup Joins Ozzy Onstage

Ozzy Osbourne won’t be saying goodbye alone. The Back to the Beginning event features one of the biggest lineups in heavy metal history.

Alongside Black Sabbath’s original members, the concert includes performances by Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, and Rival Sons.

A special “supergroup” of musicians will also perform a mix of Ozzy and Black Sabbath songs.

That group includes Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, K.K. Downing of Judas Priest, Jake E. Lee, and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.

The show will be hosted by actor Jason Momoa, a longtime rock and metal fan.

A Career That Changed Rock Forever

Ozzy’s retirement from the stage closes a chapter on one of the most influential careers in rock history.

After rising to fame in the late 1960s with Black Sabbath, he helped shape the sound and image of heavy metal. Songs like Paranoid, War Pigs, and Iron Man became genre staples. His solo career in the 1980s brought more hits like Crazy Train and Bark at the Moon.

Osbourne also became a pop culture figure in the 2000s with the success of The Osbournes, a reality TV show that aired on MTV and introduced him to a new generation.

Villa Park, the location of Saturday’s concert, is a personal landmark.

Osbourne grew up nearby in Aston and has spoken about hanging around the venue as a child, offering to watch cars during match days. Holding his final concert there adds a personal, full-circle moment to his goodbye.

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