Heartfelt Goodbye from Ozzy Osbourne - Farewell speech from Ozzy Osbourne, filled with emotion
In a poignant and star-studded celebration, heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath said their final goodbyes to fans worldwide on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park Stadium in their hometown of Birmingham. The concert, aptly titled "Back to the Beginning," marked the last-ever live performance for Ozzy Osbourne, who is 76 years old.
The event was a memorable reunion for the original lineup of Black Sabbath - Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums) - playing together for the first time since 2005 and their first show with Ward in 20 years. This historic gathering brought together the musicians who defined the heavy metal genre over five decades ago.
Black Sabbath performed a brief but powerful four-song set, closing the event with their iconic hits. The setlist included "War Pigs," "Iron Man," "N.I.B.," and "Paranoid." The final song was accompanied by fireworks and confetti as Ozzy Osbourne expressed his love to the crowd.
Ozzy Osbourne, who had just completed his final solo performance minutes before joining Black Sabbath on stage, has faced health challenges in recent years. However, he appeared on stage to close his Black Sabbath chapter with this iconic performance, a significant moment for fans and the music industry alike.
The concert was part of a massive day-long rock and metal festival, featuring a legendary lineup of bands and supergroups. Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Anthrax, Halestorm, Rival Sons, and two "Supergroups" made up of rock and metal icons like Slash, Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, and Jonathan Davis performed collaborative sets. Tom Morello served as the musical director, and actor Jason Momoa hosted the event, which was described as potentially "the greatest heavy metal show ever."
All profits from the event were donated equally to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, giving an important charitable dimension to the farewell. The concert was streamed live and continued to be available on video on demand through July 7, 2025, allowing fans worldwide to witness this historic event.
Throughout the concert, Ozzy Osbourne wore his signature eyeliner, black nails, and leather outfit. A video was shown reflecting on Black Sabbath's long career and the lifestyle associated with it. Ozzy Osbourne repeatedly thanked the audience for their support over his five decades in the music industry. As the concert ended with a performance of "Paranoid," a message on the screen read: "Thank you for everything, you're bloody brilliant. Birmingham forever."
Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne were present in the audience during the concert, adding an emotional touch to the historic event. The concert concluded with a fireworks display, marking the end of an era for heavy metal music. Black Sabbath's final concert was a historic, emotional, and star-studded celebration of their legacy, defining hits, and the contributions they made to the music industry.
In the realm of entertainment, celebrities like Ozzy Osbourne, a heavy metal icon, met at the intersection of pop-culture and music, creating a significant moment in Birmingham's pop-culture landscape during the farewell concert of Black Sabbath. This event, filled with iconic performances by bands such as Guns N' Roses, Metallica, and Aerosmith, marked not just the end of Black Sabbath, but also a pivotal point in the annals of music history.
