Ozzy Osbourne expressed concern about fans feeling shortchanged, promising to give his all during Black Sabbath’s final concert. He acknowledged that the performance would only touch on highlights from both his solo work and the band’s extensive history.
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Ozzy Osbourne is committed to delivering an unforgettable final performance for his fans.
Ozzy Osbourne has shared details about his preparation for the upcoming Back To The Beginning concert this July — a star-studded event that will mark the end of both his solo career and Black Sabbath’s legacy.
In an interview conducted with Black Sabbath and Sharon Osbourne for The Guardian — set to be published in print and online on May 2 — Ozzy reflects on the significance of the July 5 show at Villa Park in Birmingham. He reveals that the idea for the event came from Sharon, who envisioned it as “something to give me a reason to get up in the morning.”
Osbourne, who has faced a series of serious health challenges over the last ten years, acknowledges that his ongoing medical issues have taken a heavy toll on him.
“You wake up the next morning and realize something else has gone wrong,” he says. “It starts to feel like this cycle will never end.”
Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of Tool and one of the guest performers scheduled to pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, recently shared his worries about Osbourne’s condition. “I’m not sure what kind of modern miracles they’ll need to get him on stage, but it’s clearly going to be a real challenge,” he remarked.
Still, Ozzy remains determined. “I’ll show up and give it everything I’ve got,” he says. “That’s all I can promise—just to be there.”
“It’s been rough,” he admits. “I’ve spent so long inactive, mostly bedridden, and the first thing that fades is your physical strength. It feels like I’m starting from scratch.” He adds that he’s currently working with a vocal coach four times a week to stay in shape vocally. “I have trouble walking, and I deal with blood clots in my legs that affect my blood pressure. I used to perform nonstop for two hours, jumping and running around. I don’t think I’ll be doing much of that this time—I might even need to sit.”
Earlier this year on his Ozzy Speaks radio show, the legendary frontman revealed that he’s only planning on performing small segments rather than a full concert.
Speaking with The Guardian, Ozzy clarified: “Each of us will only be doing a couple of tracks. I don’t want anyone to feel shortchanged—it’s more like a sampler. You’ll hear a few songs each from me and Sabbath.”
Announced in February, the Back To The Beginning show will mark the first reunion on stage of the original Black Sabbath members—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—since 2005.
While details about the event’s structure are still under wraps, it’s expected that every artist participating—ranging from Metallica and Pantera to Tool, Mastodon, and Guns N’ Roses—will perform a classic track in honor of Sabbath and Ozzy.
In addition, a special all-star group featuring Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), and others will also perform. Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine is overseeing the event as musical director.
“Our goal is very simple,” Morello said earlier this year. “We want this to be the most unforgettable day in heavy metal history. The setlist you’ve seen is just the beginning—there are some major surprise guests, too. This is about recognizing the legacy of Sabbath in a way the entire world will never forget.”