Ozzy Osbourne Prepares for His Final Bow—With a Little Help from Black Sabbath
The Prince of Darkness is gearing up for his last-ever performance, and fans are buzzing over whether Black Sabbath will join him for one final set. While Ozzy Osbourne has confirmed he won’t be doing a full reunion show with his legendary band, he’s hinted that he’ll be on stage with them for “bits and pieces” of the set.
“I’m not planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath, but I am doing little bits and pieces with them,” Ozzy revealed on a new episode of Ozzy Speaks on SiriusXM. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable.”
The highly anticipated farewell event, “Back to the Beginning,” will take place on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England—Black Sabbath’s hometown. The festival-style lineup is absolutely stacked, featuring Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, and newly announced acts Guns N’ Roses, Tool, and Rival Sons.
Ozzy’s Ongoing Battle and Determination to Perform
Ozzy’s last full-length concert was back in 2018, and in the years since, he’s battled serious health setbacks, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020 and multiple spinal surgeries. However, he remains determined to give fans one last unforgettable performance.
“I am trying to get back on my feet,” he shared on his show. “When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I’m not dead. I’m still actively doing things.”
Despite his health struggles, Ozzy remains incredibly grateful for the road he’s traveled. “For all my complaining, I’m still alive,” he reflected earlier this year. “I may be moaning that I can’t walk, but I look down the road and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it.”
Sharon Osbourne: “His Voice Is as Good as Ever”
Ozzy’s wife and longtime manager Sharon Osbourne has been by his side through it all, and she recently reassured fans that while Ozzy’s mobility has been affected, his legendary voice is still in peak form.
“He’s very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this,” she told The Sun. “Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. It’s not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body, and it’s affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it’s ever been.”
A Farewell for the Ages
As metal fans from around the world prepare to descend on Birmingham for this historic event, the big question remains: Will we see a full-on Black Sabbath reunion, even if it’s just for a song or two? While Ozzy is keeping expectations in check, even a brief appearance with his old bandmates will be a dream come true for fans.
One thing’s for sure—”Back to the Beginning” will be a night for the history books. Get ready for one last wild ride with the Prince of Darkness!
