Greater than 50 years after they first fashioned, the unique lineup of Black Sabbath reunited to bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne.

The legendary rocker took the stage Saturday for his final efficiency earlier than a crowd of some 40,000 at England’s Villa Park. Titled Again to the Starting, the 10-hour occasion was an ode to heavy steel, held simply miles away from the place Osbourne and his bandmates grew up in Birmingham, and featured a stellar lineup of rock n’ roll greats.

Early within the present, Osbourne emerged from beneath the stage, sitting atop a winged throne. “Let the insanity start,” he introduced, per the Associated Press.

Later he paid tribute to the gang of hundreds: “I don’t know what to say, man, I’ve been laid up for like six years,” he stated. “You don’t have any thought how I really feel — thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. You’re all particular. Let’s go loopy, come on.”

Osbourne, who stepped again from dwell efficiency after his skill to face and stroll had been impacted by well being points together with Parkinson’s illness and emphysema, performed solo for the primary time in almost seven years. The musician then welcomed to the stage the founding members of his Seventies heavy steel band: guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Terence Butler (referred to as Geezer), and drummer Invoice Ward. They kicked issues off with “Battle Pigs,” earlier than singing  “NIB,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.” The four-song set marked their first time performing collectively since 2005.

Forward of Black Sabbath’s fourth track, Osbourne warned the gang, “Sadly, we’ve come to our final track — ever.”

After a pause, he then expressed additional gratitude, including, “I simply wish to say to you on behalf of the fellows in Black Sabbath and myself, your help through the years has made all of it attainable for us to dwell the life-style that we do. Thanks from the underside of my coronary heart. I really like you. We love you.”

The Black Sabbath set was preceded by a full day’s value of steel and hard-rock legends taking the stage for brief units which every included not less than one Sabbath or Osbourne cowl. Aquaman star Jason Momoa served because the occasion’s host and among the many performing acts had been  Metallica, Slayer, Weapons N’ Roses, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax, and Mastodon.

After Black Sabbath concluded the festivities, Osbourne was offered with a cake as fireworks went off over Villa Park.

Shaped in 1968, Black Sabbath is likely one of the most revered heavy steel bands of all time, with over 75 million albums bought, three Grammy wins to their names, and a number of extra accolades, together with induction into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2006. (Osbourne was additionally inducted as a solo artist final 12 months.)

Osbourne introduced the farewell concert earlier this 12 months, after beforehand opening up about his well being points and resolution to step again from performing. The singer has been recovering from spinal surgical procedures in recent times and was identified with Parkinson’s illness in 2019. Forward of the present, Osbourne instructed The Guardian that not like outdated performances, he did not anticipate to be lively onstage.

“I don’t suppose I’ll be doing a lot leaping or operating round this time,” he admitted. “I could also be sitting down, however the level is I’ll be there, and I’ll do the most effective I can. So all I can do is flip up.”

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Osbourne additionally affirmed that Again to the Starting actually marks his final dwell efficiency. “I’d like to say ‘by no means say by no means’, however after the final six years or so, it’s time,” he stated. “I lived on the highway for 50-odd years, and I’ve type of bought used to not selecting up my baggage and getting on the bus once more. I don’t smoke dope or do any of the rock star life-style any extra. I’m type of like a homebody. I by no means exit. I by no means hand around in bars — I don’t drink. So what the f— is on the market for me?”

He added, “It’s time for me to spend a while with my grandkids, I don’t wish to die in a lodge room someplace. I wish to spend the remainder of my life with my household.”