Just weeks before his passing at age 76, Ozzy Osbourne took to the stage one last time — and gave fans a goodbye that felt more like a soul-stirring send-off to life itself.
The Black Sabbath frontman returned to his hometown of Birmingham on July 5, 2025, for what would become his final concert. Fittingly titled “Back to the Beginning,” the show at Villa Park Stadium was both a reunion and a reckoning. For one night only, Ozzy stood under the lights with his original bandmates — Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward — and bared everything.
His voice cracked not just from age or Parkinson’s, but from the emotional weight of it all. This wasn’t just a final encore. It was a curtain call on a life lived without compromise.
A Night of Music, Magic… and a Surprise Engagement
More than 42,000 fans watched in awe as Ozzy, seated on a custom throne due to his declining health, delivered a set filled with Sabbath classics — “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “Paranoid” — and raw gratitude.
“It’s the last song ever,” Ozzy said to the crowd, his voice thick with emotion. “Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
And just when the night couldn’t get more emotional, it did. From the side of the stage, Ozzy watched as his daughter Kelly said yes to a surprise proposal from her longtime partner, Slipknot DJ Sid Wilson. The moment felt like fate — a closing chapter for Ozzy, and a beautiful new beginning for the next generation of Osbournes.
Sid proposed with a custom 18K yellow gold ring, set with white and yellow diamonds and citrine — and a crowd of family, friends, and fans witnessed the magical moment.
A Message from Ozzy to Birmingham — and the World
As the final song ended, a message lit up the massive screen above the stage:
“Thank you for everything. You guys are f**ing amazing. Birmingham Forever.”*
Then came the fireworks — a brilliant display lighting up the very sky that once inspired a teenage John Michael Osbourne to dream of something bigger.\
Fighting to the End
Ozzy’s health had been declining for years. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2003 and recovering from multiple spinal surgeries — including his fourth in 2023 — he faced every battle with grit, humor, and the drive to return to the stage one last time.
He revealed earlier this year that he could barely walk and required constant monitoring. But that didn’t stop him.
“I’m giving it everything I’ve got,” he said in a final interview. “It’s endurance. It’s pain. But I want this. I owe it to them — the fans.”
From Birmingham to the World
Born in 1948, Ozzy Osbourne’s story is pure rock and roll mythology. After serving time for burglary at 17, he poured himself into music — and in 1968, helped form Black Sabbath. What followed was a revolution.
Together, they invented heavy metal. With haunting riffs, dark themes, and a sound unlike anything before, Sabbath’s early albums (Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality) became instant classics.
Ozzy later carved out a wildly successful solo career with hits like “Crazy Train” and “No More Tears.” With Sharon by his side — as wife, manager, and lifeline — he became a global icon.
From music to MTV, from bats to ballads, Ozzy Osbourne defined what it meant to live out loud. And he did it all his way.
A Legend Remembered
On the morning of July 24, 2025, the Osbourne family confirmed the heartbreaking news: Ozzy had died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
“He was with his family and surrounded by love,” the family shared in a statement. “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we announce the passing of our beloved Ozzy Osbourne.”
He is survived by Sharon, his five children — Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack — and millions of fans who will never forget the sound, the showmanship, and the spirit.
The Final Word
Ozzy’s death marks the end of an era — the final note in a career that spanned over five decades, shaped a genre, and inspired generations.
He may be gone, but the echo of his voice — raw, wild, and impossibly human — will live on forever in the amps, the anthems, and the hearts of those who still headbang to “Iron Man.”
Rest in power, Ozzy. Birmingham — and the world — will never forget you.
