This summer’s newly announced farewell show for pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath will also serve as the final planned live solo performance for the group’s storied frontman Ozzy Osbourne. The 76-year-old metal superstar, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for a second time last October (previously with Black Sabbath,) has been struggling with health issues for a number of years now.
Back in the early months of 2019, the ‘Prince Of Darkness’ himself was seriously injured as a result of falling during a late night trip to the bathroom. That tumble aggravated steel rods previously surgically inserted in him to correct the injuries he suffered in a 2003 ATV accident.
The damage done in that 2019 fall, and the subsequent side effects of surgeries to correct it, left him suffering various nerve damage and associated complications in regards to his balance and mobility. Amid it all, Osbourne was also diagnosed with PRKN 2 (a form of Parkinson’s disease) back in the early 2000s and has continued to manage that condition since.
In the fall of 2023, after exhausting options for alternative treatments and more, Osbourne underwent what he described as his final neck surgery. Unfortunately for Osbourne, the results of that surgery weren’t as positive has he had hoped for.
While Osbourne has since managed to return to the stage in a limited capacity with the aid of a floor-mounted brace to keep him balanced, he has regularly communicated his wishes to perform at least one last time in his hometown of Birmingham, UK.
This newly announced all-star concert, which will reunite Black Sabbath‘s original lineup of Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward, will find Ozzy pulling double duty, delivering what is also expected to be his final solo live performance.
An announcement for that show earlier this morning mentioned that his time onstage celebrating his solo material would be a “short set.” Now, comments made today (February 05th) to the BBC by his wife and longtime manager Sharon Osbourne, have seemingly confirmed that this will be Ozzy‘s last proper live show. She stated, “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. This is his full stop.”
This farewell show will take place at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK on July 05th, with all proceeds to go towards Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice. Black Sabbath have also seemingly had no trouble in getting various metal and hard rock royalty sign on for the event, with the following artists having also been announced:
Metallica
Slayer
Pantera
Gojira
Halestorm
Alice In Chains
Lamb Of God
Anthrax
Mastodon
Beyond that, an all-star jam led by Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello will also be held, with the following initial guests set to take part:
Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
David Draiman (Disturbed)
Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses)
Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit)
Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
Jake E. Lee (Red Dragon Cartel, ex-Ozzy Osbourne)
Jonathan Davis (Korn)
KK Downing (KK’s Priest, ex-Judas Priest)
Mike Bordin (Faith No More/Ozzy Osbourne)
Papa V Perpetua (Ghost)
Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, etc.)
Sammy Hagar (ex-Van Halen)
Slash (Guns N’ Roses)
II (Sleep Token)
Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
Wolfgang Van Halen (Mammoth WVH, ex-Van Halen)
Sharon gave the BBC some clarity on what to expect from that collective, which is due to expand with even more performers in the weeks and months to come. She stated of it, “It’s an endless amount of people. They’re going to be doing some Sabbath songs, some Ozzy songs, and they’ll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they’re all icons.”
Unlike Sabbath‘s 2017 farewell tour, this final show will find original drummer Bill Ward returning to the stage with the group, having seemingly buried the hatchet over past contractual disputes and other personal grievances.
Several members of Black Sabbath have also taken to social media to comment on this sendoff, with guitarist Tony Iommi stating:
“It’s been an incredible journey, but it’s only fitting that it ends here, where it all began in Aston. It’s great to be honoured by your fellow musicians and at the same time support good causes. None of this would’ve been possible without Ozzy, Geezer, and Bill. What we created together was bigger than any one of us, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Bassist Geezer Butler opted for the below video statement:
Tickets for this event will be available Friday, February 14th at 10:00am GMT.
