SHARON OSBOURNE Talks OZZY’s Farewell Show: 'He Didn't Get To Say Goodbye'
Ozzy Osbourne’s last performance will be livestreamed globally with guest stars and charity support.
Summary
- Rehearsals have started for Black Sabbath’s final show with Ozzy Osbourne, set for July 5 at Villa Park, Birmingham.
- A global livestream of Back To The Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow will be available via backtothebeginning.com.
- Guest artists like Slash, Billy Corgan, and Tom Morello will join for a mix of Sabbath and Ozzy songs in this farewell event.
Black Sabbath is officially preparing for its final show with original singer Ozzy Osbourne.
The band shared a new photo of Ozzy, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward in a rehearsal studio (See the photo at the end of the article).
Related:
The post confirmed rehearsals are underway for their upcoming concert, Back To The Beginning: Ozzy’s Final Bow.
The special performance is scheduled for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, U.K. The show is already sold out, but fans around the world can still watch.
A global livestream will be available at www.backtothebeginning.com, starting at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the concert. Fans will also be able to rewatch the event for 48 hours after it airs.
Ozzy says goodbye
This will be the final performance for Osbourne, who is retiring from live shows due to health issues.
He was diagnosed with a rare genetic form of Parkinson’s disease in 2003. He also underwent major spinal surgery and faced other health challenges in recent years.
Ozzy’s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, said he’s emotional but excited.
“This is his full stop,” she explained. “Ozzy didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his fans, and he feels like this show gives him that moment.”
Sharon added that while Ozzy’s Parkinson’s affects his legs, his voice remains strong.
Big names, big night
The concert is more than just a farewell. It’s a celebration featuring not only the original Black Sabbath lineup, Ozzy, Butler, Ward, and guitarist Tony Iommi, but also a star-studded list of guest performers.
Musicians expected to appear include:
- Slash and Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses
- Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins
- Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit
- K.K. Downing from Judas Priest
- Jake E. Lee, former Ozzy guitarist
- Wolfgang Van Halen
- Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine
The event will be hosted by actor Jason Momoa.
Some guest musicians will play Black Sabbath songs, others will perform Ozzy’s solo tracks. “They’re all icons,” said Sharon.
How to watch
The show will be livestreamed globally and produced by Mercury Studios, known for music documentaries like Metallica Saved My Life.
Streaming will be handled by Kiswe, the platform that powered BTS’s massive livestream events.
Kelly Sweeney of Mercury Studios said the company is proud to be part of such a historic night.
“Our aim is to deliver this moment to fans worldwide, wherever they are,” she said.
The final show will be available via backtothebeginning.com website.
Charity support
The concert will also raise money for three organizations:
- Cure Parkinson’s
- Birmingham Children’s Hospital
- Acorn Children’s Hospice
These charities are close to the Osbourne family’s heart and connected to Ozzy’s hometown.
A long road to goodbye
Ozzy has had to cancel multiple tours in recent years, including his “No More Tours 2” tour and a European run with Judas Priest. Illness, injuries, and the pandemic delayed many of his plans.
Despite the setbacks, Ozzy managed a few appearances, including the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and an NFL halftime show in Los Angeles.
Now fans around the world will have a chance to see him take the stage one last time, in the city where Black Sabbath began.
Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]
A new exhibition honoring Ozzy Osbourne is now open in his hometown of Birmingham, England. The “Working Class Hero” exhibit launched …
