Thousands of heavy metal fans gathered in Birmingham, England, on Saturday for a 10-hour concert to pay their respects to Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness and Black Sabbath’s iconic frontman. The event, dubbed “Back to the Beginning,” marked what many believed would be the final stage appearance by Osbourne, who has struggled with health issues including Parkinson’s disease.
The sold-out show at Villa Park soccer stadium featured a string of high-profile tributes, including performances by Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and Slayer. Osbourne took center stage to perform a solo set, which included hits like “Crazy Train,” before the reunion of Black Sabbath took place.
Fans from around the world traveled extensively to attend the event, with some maxing out their credit cards for the privilege. Many had personal connections to Osbourne’s music, including photographer Kelly Clark, who planned to scatter her goddaughter’s ashes in the stadium. The atmosphere was electric, with fans clad in black and throwing devil horns in honor of the legendary rocker.
As fireworks lit up the sky, Ozzy Osbourne took his final bow on stage with Black Sabbath, launching into a rapid rendition of “Paranoid” that left the 45,000-strong crowd chanting his name. The emotional conclusion marked a bittersweet end to an unforgettable celebration of music and legacy for Ozzy Osbourne’s devoted fans.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/arts/music/ozzy-osbourne-black-sabbath.html