Black Sabbath’s final show set to be Ozzy Osbourne’s last stand

The legendary Prince of Darkness is preparing for what appears to be his final curtain call. In a recent BBC interview, Sharon Osbourne revealed that the upcoming Black Sabbath reunion will serve as her husband’s definitive farewell to performing.

The historic gathering is scheduled for July 5th at Birmingham’s Villa Park, where an impressive lineup of metal’s finest will join forces for the Back to the Beginning event. The festival-style show boasts an unprecedented collection of metal royalty, including Metallica, Slayer, and Pantera, among other heavyweight acts. Osbourne will also take the stage for a solo performance during the event.

This performance will break a significant drought for the 76-year-old icon, who hasn’t delivered a full concert since his 2018 Ozzfest appearance in California. Recent years have seen the metal pioneer battling various health challenges, leading to the cancellation of his planned farewell tour and his withdrawal from 2023’s Power Trip festival.

In the past six years, fans have only glimpsed Osbourne performing twice – brief two-song appearances at the 2022 Commonwealth Games with Tony Iommi and at an NFL event in Los Angeles.

Sharon told the BBC: “He’s doing great. He’s doing really great. He’s so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It’s exciting for everyone.“

She emphasized the significance of this final performance, stating: “Ozzy didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there’s no been no full stop. This is his full stop.“

Ozzy himself addressed his comeback requirements in a 2023 Rolling Stone UK interview: “I’m not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy. What’s the fucking point in that? I’m not going up there in a fucking wheelchair.“