Just 17 days before the world lost one of rock’s most iconic voices, Ozzy Osbourne took the stage one final time — not with a whisper, but with the roar of a legacy that rewired rock forever.
On July 5, in their hometown of Birmingham, England, the original lineup of Black Sabbath reunited for a concert aptly named Back to the Beginning. The show marked not just a return, but a farewell. A closing chapter to a story that helped define heavy metal for generations.
Ozzy, 76, was unable to walk due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, which he had been battling since his diagnosis in 2003. But that didn’t stop him. Rising from a skull-and-bat-adorned throne — part stage prop, part necessity — the Prince of Darkness delivered an emotional, unforgettable performance. His body was failing, but the fire remained.
For Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, the moment was surreal.
“Seeing Ozzy on that throne… it was weird,” Iommi told BBC Radio 4 on July 23. “It’s the last thing Ozzy would’ve wanted. Normally, he’s bouncing around the stage, pulling faces, messing with me and Geezer [Butler]. That’s just who he was — always full of life.”
Though seated, Ozzy’s presence still loomed large. The audience — tens of thousands strong — didn’t see a man weakened by illness. They saw a legend defying the odds, one last time.
“We Didn’t Know It Would Be This Final”
While Ozzy had made it clear the July 5 show would be his last, no one expected how final that promise would become. He passed away just over two weeks later, on July 22.
“It was brilliant to be with all the guys again,” Iommi said. “It meant so much to Ozzy. He felt at home there. It was good for all of us. A beautiful way to close that chapter. But none of us thought it would be… this final. Still, he hadn’t looked well for a while.”
For those who witnessed the performance, it was more than a concert. It was history. It was goodbye.
Ozzy didn’t go out quietly — he went out exactly as he lived: on stage, surrounded by friends, fans, and the music that made him immortal.
From Crazy Train to War Pigs, his voice became the anthem of rebellion, chaos, and dark brilliance. And on that final night in Birmingham, even from a throne, he reminded the world why he was — and always will be — the Prince of Darkness.
