Ozzy Osbourne returns home for final Black Sabbath gig in Birmingham
Millions are also expected to follow online after fans snapped up tickets for the show, starring the original line-up, in just 16 minutes.
Osbourne, 76, who revealed in 2020 that he has Parkinson's disease, will join Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the all-day "Back To The Beginning" show in Birmingham, central England, where the heavy metal giants formed in 1968.
The gig at Aston Villa Football Club's Villa Park stadium will also feature sets by US rockers Metallica, Guns N'Roses, Tool and Slayer among others, as well as a short solo set by Osbourne.
Around 40,000 fans are expected to watch the original line-up's first show together in 20 years and Osbourne's swansong.
The show comes as 1990s Britpop band Oasis play in Cardiff in the second of two concerts as part of another highly anticipated reunion.
"Birmingham is a city which means so much to Ozzy. When it comes to heavy metal music, Black Sabbath forming and his love of Aston Villa – it all started here," his wife Sharon said in comments released by West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), the region's investment and promotion body.
Black Sabbath have sold over 75 million albums worldwide and are widely recognised as one of the pioneers of heavy metal.
All profits from the show will go to charities including Cure Parkinson's and Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Osbourne's diagnosis led to him pausing touring. But Sharon told the BBC the Villa Park gig would be his last. "This is his full stop," she was quoted as saying.
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, musical director for the concert, said he plans "to make it the greatest day, the most important day in the history of heavy metal music."
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who will also perform, added that "this might be the greatest one-day lineup in the history of rock 'n' roll."
The show is expected to deliver the area a multi-million pound boost, with hotel occupancy in Birmingham city centre expected to surge close to 90 percent, according to WMGC.
"The eyes of the world will be on Birmingham," said John Cotton, leader of the city council. "There is always such a special atmosphere in the city on major event days."
Osbourne's live performances at the height of his hedonism have gone down in rock folklore, particularly a 1982 gig in Des Moines, Iowa, when he bit the head of a bat on stage.
Osbourne says he thought a fan had thrown a fake rubber bat onstage, and it wasn't until he took a bite that he realised it was real.
"I can assure you the rabies shots I went through afterwards aren't fun," he told US TV host David Letterman in 1982.
But there are unlikely to be any repeat performances on Saturday, with the rocker mellowing in his old age.
To coincide with the concert, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition in honour of the city's famous son, displaying his awards, memorabilia and photographs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
10 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Oasis mania returns: Kuching exhibition pays homage to Britpop legend
(From left) Ahmad Shafizan, Saiful and Ahmad Bahtia show rare Oasis collector's items during the event. – Photo by Matthew Umpang KUCHING (July 5): A group of dedicated fans in Kuching are celebrating the long-awaited reunion of Oasis – the iconic British rock band known for defining the Britpop era of the 1990s – with a month-long tribute exhibition at Brew Crew Coffee Club, located at Wisma Hopoh. The exhibition, which opened today, coincides with the launch of Oasis' 'Live '25 Tour' at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales in the UK. Organised by die-hard local fans, the exhibition is the passion project of Ahmad Shafizan Mohd Ghazali, 40, his wife Nur Liyana Razali, 36, along with friends Ahmad Bahtia Hamdan, 42, and Saiful Bahari Abdul Ghani, 40. Adding to the nostalgic vibe at the press conference launch, the three men arrived in classic Liam Gallagher-style parkas. Ahmad Shafizan and Nur Liyana even named their son Liam, a nod to the band's iconic frontman. 'Oasis is very special to me because of the attitude, the song-writing, and Liam Gallagher's voice. It's pure rock and roll,' said Ahmad Shafizan. His impressive collection of memorabilia, much of which is on display, includes rare box sets, vinyl records, and even a pair of Clarks LG Desert Rain shoes – a limited collaboration with Gallagher. 'Some of the items, like the Time Flies vinyl box set, are special to us as a couple as we even made it one of our wedding gifts,' Ahmad Shafizan added. He estimated having spent over RM5,000 on Oasis memorabilia over the years. 'After the band broke up in 2009, it was quite a frustrating time. But when they announced their reunion in August last year, we were shocked and beyond excited. 'That's when we decided to start collecting more seriously again,' he said. One of the exhibition's highlights is a tambourine used by Liam Gallagher during a solo concert in Bangkok – caught by a fan and loaned for display by a fellow collector known as Mr Arap or 'Rock'n'Roll Kid'. Ahmad Bahtia, who once flew with Saiful Bahari to Japan to catch Liam Gallagher live, said the exhibition is a heartfelt tribute to the band's return. 'It's such a great thing to see Oasis make a comeback. Even seeing Liam alone was already amazing, so I can't imagine the energy when it's the full band again,' he said. For Saiful, the exhibition is also about honouring the loyalty of the local fanbase. 'We're holding this to show our love for Oasis. Many Sarawakians, especially those who grew up in the 1990s, know and love Oasis. 'You can't grow up in that era and not know 'Wonderwall' or 'Don't Look Back in Anger',' he said. Nur Liyana described Oasis as the soundtrack of her youth and relationship. 'We first discovered Oasis back in high school. From 'Wonderwall' to 'Live Forever', their songs tell the story of our lives,' she said, recalling how Live Forever played during their wedding ceremony. The organisers said more memorabilia from fans across Malaysia is expected to arrive soon, including from a Sarawakian collector based in Kuala Lumpur. Visitors can look forward to a rich array of items – from cassette tapes and CDs to rare promotional materials, concert merchandise, and heartfelt personal tributes that echo the spirit of Britpop's golden age. Fans are also encouraged to contribute their own items to the exhibition. 'It is more than just an exhibition; it's a gathering of the faithful and a celebration of a band that defined an era,' said Ahmad Shafizan. britpop exhibition Kuching Oasis
Malay Mail
12 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Ozzy Osbourne bids farewell with final Black Sabbath show in Birmingham
LONDON, July 5 — Birmingham braced today for wildman rocker Ozzy Osbourne's final ever gig as Black Sabbath's frontman, with thousands flocking to his UK hometown for a celebration of the heavy metal genre he helped to create. Millions are also expected to follow online after fans snapped up tickets for the show, starring the original line-up, in just 16 minutes. Osbourne, 76, who revealed in 2020 that he has Parkinson's disease, will join Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the all-day 'Back To The Beginning' show in Birmingham, central England, where the heavy metal giants formed in 1968. The gig at Aston Villa Football Club's Villa Park stadium will also feature sets by US rockers Metallica, Guns N'Roses, Tool and Slayer among others, as well as a short solo set by Osbourne. Around 40,000 fans are expected to watch the original line-up's first show together in 20 years and Osbourne's swansong. The show comes as 1990s Britpop band Oasis play in Cardiff in the second of two concerts as part of another highly anticipated reunion. 'Birmingham is a city which means so much to Ozzy. When it comes to heavy metal music, Black Sabbath forming and his love of Aston Villa—it all started here,' his wife Sharon said in comments released by West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), the region's investment and promotion body. Black Sabbath have sold over 75 million albums worldwide and are widely recognised as one of the pioneers of heavy metal. All profits from the show will go to charities including Cure Parkinson's and Birmingham Children's Hospital. Osbourne's diagnosis led to him pausing touring. But Sharon told the BBC the Villa Park gig would be his last. 'This is his full stop,' she was quoted as saying. Greatest day Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, musical director for the concert, said he plans 'to make it the greatest day, the most important day in the history of heavy metal music'. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who will also perform, added that 'this might be the greatest one-day lineup in the history of rock 'n' roll'. The show is expected to deliver the area a multi-million pound boost, with hotel occupancy in Birmingham city centre expected to surge close to 90 percent, according to WMGC. 'The eyes of the world will be on Birmingham,' said John Cotton, leader of the city council. 'There is always such a special atmosphere in the city on major event days.' Osbourne's live performances at the height of his hedonism have gone down in rock folklore, particularly a 1982 gig in Des Moines, Iowa, when he bit the head of a bat on stage. Osbourne says he thought a fan had thrown a fake rubber bat onstage, and it wasn't until he took a bite that he realised it was real. 'I can assure you the rabies shots I went through afterwards aren't fun,' he told US TV host David Letterman in 1982. But there are unlikely to be any repeat performances on Saturday, with the rocker mellowing in his old age. To coincide with the concert, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition in honour of the city's famous son, displaying his awards, memorabilia and photographs. The local police force also got in the mood, naming a litter of new puppies Ozzy, Toni, Geezer and Billie. — AFP
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Ozzy Osbourne returns home for final Black Sabbath gig in Birmingham
LONDON: Birmingham braced Saturday for wildman rocker Ozzy Osbourne's final ever gig as Black Sabbath's frontman, with thousands flocking to his UK hometown for a celebration of the heavy metal genre he helped to create. Millions are also expected to follow online after fans snapped up tickets for the show, starring the original line-up, in just 16 minutes. Osbourne, 76, who revealed in 2020 that he has Parkinson's disease, will join Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the all-day "Back To The Beginning" show in Birmingham, central England, where the heavy metal giants formed in 1968. The gig at Aston Villa Football Club's Villa Park stadium will also feature sets by US rockers Metallica, Guns N'Roses, Tool and Slayer among others, as well as a short solo set by Osbourne. Around 40,000 fans are expected to watch the original line-up's first show together in 20 years and Osbourne's swansong. The show comes as 1990s Britpop band Oasis play in Cardiff in the second of two concerts as part of another highly anticipated reunion. "Birmingham is a city which means so much to Ozzy. When it comes to heavy metal music, Black Sabbath forming and his love of Aston Villa – it all started here," his wife Sharon said in comments released by West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), the region's investment and promotion body. Black Sabbath have sold over 75 million albums worldwide and are widely recognised as one of the pioneers of heavy metal. All profits from the show will go to charities including Cure Parkinson's and Birmingham Children's Hospital. Osbourne's diagnosis led to him pausing touring. But Sharon told the BBC the Villa Park gig would be his last. "This is his full stop," she was quoted as saying. Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, musical director for the concert, said he plans "to make it the greatest day, the most important day in the history of heavy metal music." The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who will also perform, added that "this might be the greatest one-day lineup in the history of rock 'n' roll." The show is expected to deliver the area a multi-million pound boost, with hotel occupancy in Birmingham city centre expected to surge close to 90 percent, according to WMGC. "The eyes of the world will be on Birmingham," said John Cotton, leader of the city council. "There is always such a special atmosphere in the city on major event days." Osbourne's live performances at the height of his hedonism have gone down in rock folklore, particularly a 1982 gig in Des Moines, Iowa, when he bit the head of a bat on stage. Osbourne says he thought a fan had thrown a fake rubber bat onstage, and it wasn't until he took a bite that he realised it was real. "I can assure you the rabies shots I went through afterwards aren't fun," he told US TV host David Letterman in 1982. But there are unlikely to be any repeat performances on Saturday, with the rocker mellowing in his old age. To coincide with the concert, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition in honour of the city's famous son, displaying his awards, memorabilia and photographs.
