Ozzy Osbourne's final video captures emotional farewell to fans
The iconic singer's last onstage words resonated deeply: 'It's the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.' The powerful moment was followed by a message displayed on screen: 'Thank you for everything, you guys are f***ing amazing. Birmingham Forever,' accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky.
Seated on a black throne adorned with a bat—a symbol synonymous with his career—Ozzy performed his greatest hits one last time, delivering a heartfelt goodbye to over 42,000 fans packed into the stadium for the historic event titled Back to the Beginning. The concert marked his final live performance and a reunion with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.
In interviews ahead of the show, Ozzy expressed his desire to continue recording music despite retiring from live performances. Speaking to Metal Hammer magazine, he shared, 'I still enjoy doing my own work, I also enjoy singing on other people's work. For the foreseeable future, I will keep on recording if the projects interest me, it's very important.'
His last solo album, Patient Number 9 (2022), featured collaborations with celebrated artists including Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready.
Ozzy's final performance was a deeply emotional moment not just for the rock star himself but also for the thousands of fans who celebrated his decades-long contribution to heavy metal. The event symbolized a closing chapter on a legendary career that helped define an entire genre.
Following the concert, a message of gratitude and farewell was etched into the hearts of fans worldwide, immortalizing Ozzy's spirit and his enduring connection to Birmingham—the city where it all began.
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Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Tributes flood in for Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne
Tributes poured in Wednesday for hell-raiser singer Ozzy Osbourne as Black Sabbath bandmates mourned the death of their legendary frontman and tearful fans laid flowers in his hometown Birmingham, just weeks after he played an epic reunion concert there. Osbourne, nicknamed the 'Prince of Darkness' who famously once bit off the head of a bat while on stage, died on Tuesday at the age of 76, his family said. The heavy metal star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, passed away just over a fortnight after playing the final gig before a sold-out crowd in his home city of Birmingham, England. Fans there laid floral tributes in memory of the singer at a mural honoring the band. 'There are no words, truly. Thank you for everything, for all the music,' read one. 'Even recently at your last gig you brought us so much happiness, it's unreal,' added another. Bandmates' tributes Original bandmates led the tributes on social media, with guitarist Tony Iommi saying, 'there won't be another like him'. Bassist Geezer Butler added: 'So glad we got to do it one last time, back in Aston. Love you.' And drummer Bill Ward said Osbourne would forever be in his heart, signing off his post with 'Never goodbye. Thank you forever.' Band co-founder Iommi said Osbourne's death so soon after the well-received musical reunion - their first in 20 years - had been a 'terrible shock'. The concert had been 'brilliant for Ozzy because he really wanted to do that, you know, he felt at home there (in Birmingham) and it was really good for him', he told BBC radio. 'It was good for all of us... we didn't realize it was going to be this final,' he added. British singer Ozzy Osbourne (left) and wife British television personality Sharon Osbourne present the award for Best Rap/Sung Performance during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020.--AFP photos British singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne (left) and his daughter Kelly Osbourne arrive for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. British singer Ozzy Osbourne poses for pictures backstage after he was awarded the title of 'Global Icon' during the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 9, 2014. British rocker Ozzy Osbourne (center) poses with friends and musicians Marilyn Manson (left) and Robbie Williams (right) during a ceremony unveiling his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 12 April, 2002 in Hollywood, CA. Inductees Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath gesture after being inducted during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York 13 March 2006. Kelly (left), Ozzy (center) and Sharon Osbourne arrive for the Recording Academy and Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 25, 2020. Flowers are left at Ozzy Osbourne's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. A person sells t-shirts next to the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of late British singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2025, in Los Angeles. Flowers, candles and photos are left at a makeshift memorial on Black Sabbath Bridge, in memory of late British singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, in Birmingham, central England on July 23, 2025. A photograph taken on July 23, 2025 shows flowers, candles and drawings left at a makeshift memorial on Black Sabbath Bridge, in tribute of late British singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, in Birmingham, central England, a day after his death. Fans gather in front of a makeshift memorial on Black Sabbath Bridge, in tribute of late British singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, in Birmingham, central England, on July 23, 2025, a day after his death. 'So much more than metal' US rocker Alice Cooper hailed Osbourne on Instagram as 'an unmatched showman and cultural icon'. Music icon Elton John praised him as 'a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend'. 'He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly,' John wrote on Instagram. Osbourne was instrumental in pioneering heavy metal - an offshoot of hard rock - as Black Sabbath enjoyed huge commercial success in the 1970s and 80s after forming in Birmingham in 1968. Black Sabbath's eponymous 1970 debut album made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records, including their most famous song 'Paranoid'. Black Sabbath went on to sell more than 75 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Osbourne was added for a second time last year as a solo artist. Rabies shots He gained huge notoriety along the way for his outlandish stunts, many of them fueled by his hard-living style, which included the lavish use of drugs and alcohol. His 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 off a bat on stage. Osbourne said he thought a fan had thrown a fake rubber bat onstage, and it was not until he took a bite that he realized 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. His public persona took a new turn with the reality television series 'The Osbournes' in the 2000s, which followed the ups and downs of his family life alongside wife Sharon, whom he married in 1982, and their three children. Osbourne, who had been battling ill health for over 20 years, went public with his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2020. He reportedly died at his mansion in Buckinghamshire, northwest of London. Caroline Rassell, chief executive of the charity Parkinson's UK, said by 'speaking openly' about his diagnosis he and his family had helped many in the same situation. 'They normalized tough conversations and made others feel less alone with a condition that's on the rise,' she said. Osbourne brought the curtain down on a wild career on July 5, when Black Sabbath rattled through their most iconic songs in front of 40,000 adoring fans at Villa Park, home of Premier League football club Aston Villa. Stylish to the very end, he held court from a giant leather throne, topped with a bat. — AFP
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Ozzy Osbourne's final video captures emotional farewell to fans
LONDON, July 24: Just weeks before his passing, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne delivered a poignant final message to his loyal fans during his farewell concert at Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham. The iconic singer's last onstage words resonated deeply: 'It's the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.' The powerful moment was followed by a message displayed on screen: 'Thank you for everything, you guys are f***ing amazing. Birmingham Forever,' accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky. Seated on a black throne adorned with a bat—a symbol synonymous with his career—Ozzy performed his greatest hits one last time, delivering a heartfelt goodbye to over 42,000 fans packed into the stadium for the historic event titled Back to the Beginning. The concert marked his final live performance and a reunion with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. In interviews ahead of the show, Ozzy expressed his desire to continue recording music despite retiring from live performances. Speaking to Metal Hammer magazine, he shared, 'I still enjoy doing my own work, I also enjoy singing on other people's work. For the foreseeable future, I will keep on recording if the projects interest me, it's very important.' His last solo album, Patient Number 9 (2022), featured collaborations with celebrated artists including Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready. Ozzy's final performance was a deeply emotional moment not just for the rock star himself but also for the thousands of fans who celebrated his decades-long contribution to heavy metal. The event symbolized a closing chapter on a legendary career that helped define an entire genre. Following the concert, a message of gratitude and farewell was etched into the hearts of fans worldwide, immortalizing Ozzy's spirit and his enduring connection to Birmingham—the city where it all began.
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Arab Times
'The Osbournes' changed Ozzy's image from grisly to cuddly, and changed reality TV
LOS ANGELES, July 23, (AP): There was Ozzy before "The Osbournes' and Ozzy after "The Osbournes.' For much of his life, the Black Sabbath founder and legendary heavy metal frontman who died at 76 on Tuesday was known to much of the public as a dark purveyor of deeds ranging from decadent to downright Satanic. Wild stories followed him. Clergy condemned him. Parents sued him. But with the debut of his family reality show on MTV, the world learned what those who'd been paying closer attention already knew: Ozzy Osbourne was soft and fuzzy under the darkness. During its relatively short run from 2002 to 2005, "The Osbournes' became a runaway hit and made stars of his wife Sharon and kids Jack and Kelly. But more than that, it made a star of the domesticated version of Ozzy Osbourne, and in the process changed reality TV. In 2025, when virtually every variety of celebrity has had a reality show, it's hard to see what a novelty the series was. MTV sold it as television's first "reality sitcom." "Just the idea of the Black Sabbath founder, who will forever be known for biting the head off a bat during a 1982 concert, as a family man seems strange,' Associated Press Media Writer David Bauder wrote on the eve of "The Osbournes' premiere. But on the show, Osbourne was "sweetly funny - and under everything a lot like the put-upon dads you've been seeing in television sitcoms for generations.' Danny Deraney, a publicist who worked with Osbourne and was a lifelong fan, said of the show, "You saw some guy who was curious. You saw some guy who was being funny. You just saw pretty much the real thing.' "He's not the guy that everyone associates with the 'Prince of Darkness' and all this craziness,' Deraney said. "And people loved him. He became so affable to so many people because of that show. As metal fans, we knew it. We knew that's who he was. But now everyone knew.' Reality shows at the time, especially the popular competition shows like "Survivor,' thrived on heightened circumstances. For "The Osbournes,' no stakes were too low. They sat on the couch. They ate dinner. The now-sober Ozzy sipped Diet Cokes, and urged his kids not to indulge in alcohol or drugs when they went out. He struggled to find the History Channel on his satellite TV. They feuded with the neighbors because, of all things, their loud music was driving the Osbournes crazy. "You were seeing this really fascinating, appealing, bizarre tension between the public persona of a celebrity and their mundane experiences at home,' said Kathryn VanArendonk, a critic for Vulture and New York Magazine. The sitcom tone was apparent from its first moments. "You turn on this show and you get this like little jazzy cover theme song of the song 'Crazy Train,' and there's all these bright colors and fancy editing, and we just got to see this like totally 180-degree different side of Ozzy which was just surprising and incredible to watch," said Nick Caruso, staff editor at TVLine. Like family sitcoms, the affection its leads clearly had for each other was essential to its appeal. "For some reason, we kind of just fell in love with them the same way that we grew to love Ozzy and Sharon as like a marital unit," Caruso said. What was maybe strangest about the show was how not-strange it felt. The two Ozzies seemed seamless rather than contradictory. "You're realizing that these things are personas and that all personas are these like elaborate complex mosaics of like who a person is,' VanArendonk said. "The Osbournes' had both an immediate and a long-term affect on the genre. Both Caruso and VanArendonk said shows like "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,' which followed then-pop stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey after they married, was clearly a descendant. And countless other shows felt its influence, from "The Kardashians' to "The Baldwins' - the recently debuted reality series on Alec Baldwin, his wife Hilaria and their seven kids. "'The Baldwins' as a reality show is explicitly modeled on 'The Osbournes,' VanArendonk said. 'It's like you have these famous people and now you get to see what their home lives are like, what they are like as parents, what they're eating, what they are taking on with them on vacation, who their pets are, and they are these sort of cuddly, warm, eccentric figures.'
