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The shattering news of Ozzy Osbournes received the public on Tuesday afternoon, And the rock world is still in shock. The metal pioneer had been healthy for years, but still appeared 17 days ago at the All-Star tribute “Back to the Beginning” by Black Sabbath-and was in the best atmosphere that evening.
Black Sabbath farewell in Birmingham
So far there is no information on the cause of death. “It is with more grief than expressing words that we have to tell that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne died this morning,” said his family in a statement. “He was surrounded by his family and love. We ask everyone to respect our privacy during this time.”
A small consolation in this tragedy is that the heavy metal and hard rock community Osbourne was still showing how much it loved it at the “back to the starting” concert in Birmingham, England at the beginning of the month. The incredible line-up included Metallica, Guns N ‘Roses, Pantera, Slayer, Tool, Lamb of God, Billy Corgan, Steven Tyler, Tom Morello, Sammy Hagar, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Zakk Wylde and many others. Each band played some of their own songs and classics by Black Sabbath.
Towards the end of the evening, Osbourne appeared in a leather armchair on stage and sang “I don’t know”, “Mr. Crowley”, “Suicide Solution”, “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “Crazy Train” with long -time members of his solo band. In advance there were concerns about his voice due to his health problems, but Osbourne prepared intensively for the evening – and sounded great.
An epic farewell with Black Sabbath
The concert ended with a joint appearance of Osbourne and the original line -up of Black Sabbath – the first time in 20 years. A moment that many metal fans no longer considered possible, in the face of earlier conflicts with drummer Bill Ward and the fact that Sabbath had already said goodbye to the stage with a farewell concert in 2017. But the Sabbath legend without ending all four founding members would never have really felt.
Sabbath played “War Pigs”, “Nib”, “Iron Man” and “Paranoid”, while all other artists of the evening watch from the side platforms. You couldn’t have come up with a better farewell concert for Ozzy.
The concert was streamed live worldwide and will come to cinemas in early 2026. It is the “Last Waltz” of the Heavy Metal – and we can count ourselves lucky that it took place.