Ozzy Osbourne's Emotional Farewell: Goodbye to Black Sabbath and Live Performances
THE FINAL CURTAIN FALLS: OZZY OSBOURNE'S EMOTIONAL GOODBYE TO BLACK SABBATH FANS
In a bittersweet moment, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has announced that his upcoming show will be his final live performance with Black Sabbath. The 76-year-old music icon has been battling Parkinson's disease and undergoing seven surgeries in the past five years, including a recent spinal operation in September 2023.
Despite his health struggles, Ozzy is determined to give his fans an unforgettable experience at the Back To The Beginning concert on July 5 at Birmingham's Villa Park. The show will mark a poignant moment for the Prince of Darkness as he says goodbye to Black Sabbath and takes one last bow.
"I'm not sure if I'll be standing up or sitting down," Ozzy revealed in an exclusive interview with Metal Hammer magazine. "My trainer is trying to get me back on my feet, but it's tough going." He added that he has a device attached to his finger 24/7 to monitor his blood pressure and heart rate, which can fluctuate drastically.
The concert will feature special guests including Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns 'N Roses, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Korn star Jonathan Davis, and Anthrax. Despite the impressive lineup, Ozzy confessed that he was initially hesitant about streaming the event.
"We never planned to stream it," he shared with The Scholarly Note.com. "But we were bombarded with requests from fans around the world who couldn't get tickets. We thought, 'Why not? Let's give them a chance to experience this special moment.'"
Ozzy's love affair with Birmingham dates back to his childhood when he would often watch Aston Villa matches at Villa Park. "Those Saturdays are etched in my memory forever," he reminisced. "I'd stand outside the stadium asking people for a shilling to watch their car, and now I'll be performing on that same stage."
The Back To The Beginning concert will be Ozzy's chance to express his gratitude to fans who have stood by him throughout the years. "It means everything," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I feel like I'm saying goodbye to my friends, and it's going to be a tough day for me."
As he prepares for his final show, Ozzy is determined to give it his all. "I'll do the best I can," he vowed. Despite stepping back from live performances, Ozzy will continue to record music in the future.
"I still enjoy making my own music," he said. "And I love singing on other people's projects too." His last solo album, Patient Number 9 (2022), featured an impressive array of guest artists including Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Zakk Wylde, and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready.
Black Sabbath pioneered the heavy metal genre in the early 1970s with iconic hits like "War Pigs," "Paranoid," and "Iron Man." Since their last gig together in 2005, the band has reunited in partial form but never with their original lineup.
The Back To The Beginning concert will be streamed two hours after the in-arena start time on July 5 at 3 pm BST, giving fans around the world a chance to experience Ozzy's emotional farewell. Don't miss this unforgettable moment as the Prince of Darkness says goodbye to Black Sabbath and takes one last bow.
When: July 5, 2024 Where: Birmingham's Villa Park Time: In-arena start time (streamed two hours later) Special Guests: Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns 'N Roses, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Korn star Jonathan Davis, and Anthrax.
This article has been written by [Your Name] for The Scholarly Note.com.