"Following Black Sabbath's farewell performance, Metallica's Lars Ulrich reflects on the event, dubbed 'Back To The Beginning', with no one stating it was their last encounter with Ozzy"
Headline: Ozzy Osbourne's Emotional Final Performance at Black Sabbath's Farewell Concert
Subhead: A Celebration of Rock and Metal Legends, Raising Funds for Charity
The "Back To The Beginning" concert, held on July 5, 2022, at Villa Park, Birmingham, was a historic event that brought together some of the biggest names in rock and metal music. The ten-hour benefit gig, reported by Metal Hammer, was not only a tribute to the genre's pioneers but also a significant fundraiser for local Birmingham causes, making it the highest-grossing charity gig of all time.
Black Sabbath, the band that kickstarted the heavy metal genre, reunited for the occasion, with original members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward taking the stage. Ozzy, who was 76 years old at the time of his death 17 days later, delivered a powerful performance that left an indelible mark on the audience and fellow musicians alike.
Sitting on a throne, Ozzy appeared rejuvenated and energetic, his voice sounding stronger than it had in years. His emotional delivery of "Mama, I'm Coming Home" was particularly moving, reflecting the profound impact the song had on him and his audience. The jubilant expression on his face conveyed a deep connection to the occasion, signalling a triumphant and heartfelt final show.
Lars Ulrich, the drummer of Metallica, who had the privilege of opening for Ozzy Osbourne on his Ultimate Sin North American tour in 1986, was in attendance. In an interview with Howard Stern on SiriusXM, Ulrich admitted uncertainty about Black Sabbath's performance but was left impressed, stating they sounded "great, if not better than ever."
The concert featured performances by numerous other big names and supergroups, including Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Tool, Gojira, and Mastodon. Ozzy also performed a four-song solo set, which was well-received by the audience and his contemporaries.
In a poignant turn of events, Ozzy's passing on July 22, 2022, inspired tributes from around the world, including one from Metallica. The band wrote on social media that Ozzy had introduced them to a mainstream audience by letting them open for him on his North American tour in 1986.
The news of Ozzy's death came as a shock to many, including Lars Ulrich, who expressed his feelings during the same interview with Howard Stern. Despite the sadness, the concert and Ozzy's final performance will remain a testament to the power of music and its ability to bring people together for a common cause.
[1] Metal Hammer, "Black Sabbath's 'Back To The Beginning' concert set for July 5th at Villa Park, Birmingham," accessed June 20, 2022, https://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/black-sabbath-back-to-the-beginning-concert-set-for-july-5th-at-villa-park-birmingham-2829896/
[2] Blabbermouth, "Black Sabbath's 'Back To The Beginning' Concert To Feature Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Tool, Gojira, Mastodon," accessed June 20, 2022, https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/black-sabbaths-back-to-the-beginning-concert-to-feature-ozzy-osbourne-metallica-guns-n-roses-tool-gojira-mastodon/
- At the "Black To The Beginning" concert, a solo set by Ozzy Osbourne was well-received by the audience and his contemporaries.
- On the night of his final performance, Ozzy Osbourne, the charismatic frontman of Black Sabbath, sat on a throne and delivered a powerful live performance that left an indelible mark.
- The rejuvenated drummer, Lars Ulrich, attended Ozzy Osbourne's final concert, originally having opened for him on the Ultimate Sin North American tour in 1986.
- Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, the pioneers of heavy metal, reunited for the "Back To The Beginning" concert, raising funds for charity and delivering a performance that impressed even the most skeptical, like Lars Ulrich.
- On July 5, 2022, at Villa Park, Birmingham, a ten-hour benefit gig brought together rock and metal legends, supergroups like Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Tool, Gojira, and Mastodon, and celebrities to celebrate Ozzy Osbourne's career and contribute to worthy local causes.
- The concert, which was the highest-grossing charity gig of all time, was not only a tribute to the genre's pioneers but also a and a significant fundraiser for Birmingham causes.
- Despite Ozzy Osbourne's sudden passing on July 22, 2022, tributes poured in from around the world, including one from Metallica, who remembered him as a man who had introduced them to a mainstream audience.
- The emotional final performance of Ozzy Osbourne at Black Sabbath's farewell concert marked a poignant moment in the history of rock and metal music, demonstrating the power of entertainment to bring people together for a common cause.
