Black Sabbath To Reunite For Ozzy’s Last Show For Life

It’s Ozzy Osbourne’s big comeback and final goodbye to the stage. The Prince of Darkness will perform one final, spectacular show with Black Sabbath’s original lineup after years of fighting health issues. Back to the Beginning, the eagerly awaited event, will take place on July 5 at Birmingham, England’s Villa Park, the city where the iconic band was formed.

This epic reunion is Osbourne’s first full-length performance since his most recent appearance at Ozzfest in Los Angeles in 2018. He has only made sporadic performances since, such as a quick NFL kickoff performance and a 2022 Commonwealth Games set with Tony Iommi. However, things are different this time. This event is Ozzy’s “full stop,” his way of finally bidding fans farewell on his own terms, according to his wife Sharon.

“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,” Sharon said. “This is his full stop.”

A Heavy Metal Spectacle

It looks like the Back to the Beginning concert will rank among the greatest rock gatherings ever. In addition to the reunion of Black Sabbath, the lineup includes some of the biggest names in metal, including Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, and Mastodon. As if that weren’t enough, a legendary supergroup including Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Slash and Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), David Draiman (Disturbed), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), and Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) will also perform. They claim that this will be “the greatest heavy metal show ever.”

The last time Black Sabbath performed was in 2017, however owing to contract issues, drummer Bill Ward was not there. Now, all four of the original members—Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, and Ozzy Osbourne—will take the stage together for the first time since 2005. Butler said:

“And he suggested, at his very final concert, for the four of us to get up on stage and maybe do three or four songs together. And that would be it, finished.”

Ward also expressed his readiness to reunite:

“I’m in for playing some of everyone’s old favorites. Loved playing them then, I’d love to play them one last time.”

Iommi shared a similar sentiment:

“Because it wasn’t Black Sabbath that finished it. It’s unfinished. If they wanted to do one more gig with Bill, I would jump at the chance.”

A Goodbye Worth Waiting For

Ozzy’s farewell has been a long time coming. After canceling his No More Tours 2 due to health issues, he never got the chance to properly say goodbye. Now, despite the years and the struggles, he’s ready to end his career on a high note.

“I’m not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy. What’s the fucking point in that?” Osbourne told Rolling Stone UK. “I’m not going up there in a fucking wheelchair.”

Tickets for Back to the Beginning go on sale February 14 through LiveNation UK, with all proceeds going to charities like Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

For Ozzy and Black Sabbath fans, it’s history in the making. One final night of heavy metal mayhem before the curtain closes on an era. If this truly is the end, what a way to go out.