Ozzy Osbourne Says Goodbye in an Unforgettable Farewell at Black Sabbath’s ‘Back to the Beginning’ Concert – See the Emotional Moments from Villa Park
On Saturday, July 5th, Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, said goodbye to live performance in the most unforgettable way imaginable—on stage at Villa Park, the sacred home of his hometown football club, Aston Villa, surrounded by family, friends, bandmates, and a sea of fans who’ve followed his wild, glorious career for more than five decades.
Billed as “Back to the Beginning”, the all-day mega-concert brought together the original lineup of Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—for one final, earth-shaking performance in the very city where it all began. But it was Ozzy’s emotional farewell that turned the event into something far more than a concert—it became a moment of music history.
Taking his place on stage seated in his custom bat throne, Ozzy greeted the crowd with an emotional message:
“It’s so good to be on this stage… You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Those words hit hard. For fans packed into the stadium and millions watching around the world via livestream, the reality was clear: this was Ozzy’s final live show. A true curtain call for one of the greatest frontmen in rock history.
He began with a powerful solo set, performing five of his classic tracks—each delivered with passion, grit, and gratitude:
- “I Don’t Know” blasted off with electrifying energy, showing Ozzy still had fire in his voice.
- “Mr. Crowley” gave fans the dark, theatrical flair they’d come to love, complete with haunting keys and searing guitar work.
- “Suicide Solution” pushed boundaries, as ever, with Ozzy’s signature defiance on full display.
- “Mama, I’m Coming Home” was the emotional high point, drawing tears from fans and even the man himself.
- “Crazy Train” closed the set in explosive fashion, with fans singing every word as fireworks lit the sky.
But the real magic came next: for the first time in years, Black Sabbath reunited in full. Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward joined Ozzy on stage for one last thunderous ride through the classics that made them the godfathers of heavy metal.
The crowd roared as they launched into:
- “War Pigs” – a soaring, anti-war anthem that hit as hard in 2025 as it did in 1970.
- “N.I.B.” – with Geezer’s iconic bass intro sending chills through the stands.
- “Iron Man” – the riff that launched a genre, met with massive cheers and fists in the air.
- “Paranoid” – the grand finale, bringing the crowd to an emotional high as confetti and flames rained down.
As the last notes of “Paranoid” rang out and the stage faded to black, the band stood side by side, arms around each other. Ozzy looked out at the stadium filled with fans chanting his name, tears in his eyes, and whispered one final thank you.
“This is for Birmingham… This is for you all. I love you. Forever.”
Photos from the concert capture everything: Ozzy’s silhouette lit in firelight, fans with tears streaming down their faces, and the original Black Sabbath reunited one last time in the city that gave them to the world.
The entire event was a love letter—to the music, the fans, and the city of Birmingham. From start to finish, “Back to the Beginning” was not just a concert; it was a legacy being sealed with one last, mighty roar.
See more unforgettable photos from the incredible day at Villa Park—behind-the-scenes moments, guest appearances, and Ozzy’s final bow. Relive every electrifying second now.
