‘It’s My Final Encore’: Ozzy Osbourne to Perform for Last Time at Birmingham Show — View Now
In a moment that will echo through the annals of rock history, legendary Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has announced that his upcoming performance at Birmingham’s Villa Park on Saturday, July 5th will be his final live appearance — a farewell to the stage after more than five decades of iconic music, chaos, and charisma.
Titled “Back to the Beginning,” the concert is more than just a reunion. It’s a homecoming. It’s a closing chapter. It’s a love letter to Birmingham, the very city where four working-class musicians sparked a revolution and birthed the genre now known as heavy metal.
For Ozzy, this isn’t just another gig — it’s a deeply personal moment. “It’s my final encore,” Osbourne revealed in a heartfelt video message earlier this week. “I started here in Birmingham, and now I’ll end it here. There’s no better place for me to say goodbye to the stage.”
The 75-year-old Prince of Darkness has long been battling health issues, including a spinal injury, Parkinson’s disease, and complications from a 2019 fall. Yet despite setbacks and tour cancellations, Ozzy’s determination to perform one final time — in his hometown, surrounded by friends and fans — never wavered.
The Back to the Beginning show will see Ozzy joined by an elite cast of rock and metal icons, including his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, reuniting for a symbolic full-circle moment. Also on the bill are members of Metallica, Pantera, Ghost, Aerosmith, and more — a hand-picked lineup that reflects the legacy Ozzy helped build and the lives he’s touched across generations.
Among the names set to appear alongside Ozzy are:
- James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo (Metallica)
- Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)
- Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo (Pantera)
- Tobias Forge (Ghost)
- David Draiman (Disturbed)
- Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Pantera)
- Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
- Mike Inez (Alice in Chains)
- Sammy Hagar (ex–Van Halen, Chickenfoot)
As anticipation builds, fans around the world are scrambling to witness history — with global livestreams being arranged for those unable to attend in person. Villa Park is expected to be filled with over 40,000 fans, many of whom have followed Ozzy’s career since the earliest Sabbath days of 1968.
Osbourne’s final set is expected to include classics like “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” “War Pigs,” and “No More Tears,” along with emotional tributes, duets, and surprise appearances. Sources close to the production suggest there will be never-before-seen visuals and a massive firework send-off to close the night.
For fans, it’s bittersweet. Ozzy Osbourne has always been more than a rockstar. He’s a cultural icon, a survivor, a rebel, and a symbol of unfiltered creativity. From biting the head off a bat to starring in reality TV to pioneering an entire genre, Ozzy has done it all — and done it his way.
In his farewell message, he left fans with one last note of gratitude:
“Thank you for sticking with me through all the madness. This isn’t goodbye forever. It’s just goodbye to the stage. You’ll always be in my heart, and I’ll always be part of yours.”
So, whether you’re in the crowd at Villa Park or watching from across the globe, don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime moment. Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance promises to be as unforgettable as the man himself.
