by: Alana Brown-Davis.
This weekend, English singer Ozzy Osbourne had his final curtain call. The “Prince of Darkness” joined Black Sabbath for their farewell tour, closing the prolific heavy metal band’s nearly sixty year history. For the first time in twenty years, Osbourne and the original members of Black Sabbath, bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and guitarist Tony Iommi. Osbourne performed sitting in a matte black bat-themed throne, a perfect design for the singers last hurrah. Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, affecting his ability to walk.
The concert event was called ‘Back to the Beginning’, held in Birmingham, England and hosted by actor Jason Momoa. Proceeds from the event and livestream were donated to Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorns Children’s Hospice. “Back to the Beginning” featured a wealth of rock and heavy metal royalty. Acts like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Alice in Chains made appearances throughout the concert. Other special appearances included Aersosmith’s Steven Tyler, Blink-182 drummer Travis barker, and Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello.
Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath Bid Farewell
Black Sabbath’s impact is a force to be reckoned with. The band has sold over 70 million records worldwide. Their 1970 album ‘Paranoid’ is said to have set the foundation for heavy metal acts to come, introducing the world to the genre. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and have won two Grammys.
Black Sabbath’s reunion set was a sweet goodbye to the fans who’ve supported them. In the hours-long concert, the band performed their greatest hits including the signature song ‘Crazy Train’, and others like ‘War Pigs’, ‘Iron Man’, and ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’.
Before closing with ‘Paranoid’, Osbourne gave the audience a touching message. “Your support over the years has made it all possible for us to live the lifestyle we live,” Osbourne told fans. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you. We love you.”