Ozzy Osbourne’s Farewell Gig: A Prince of Darkness’s Last Stand or a ‘Modern Miracle’?
Is **Ozzy Osbourne's** final concert really happening? The upcoming Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park in Birmingham is shrouded in uncertainty, with some raising doubts about the Prince of Darkness's ability to perform a full set. As the date looms, fans and fellow musicians alike are holding their breath, hoping for a memorable farewell.
Sammy Hagar, one of the many support acts slated to perform before Osbourne and the original Black Sabbath lineup, has reported that Ozzy intends to sing only five solo songs. 'I chose to do No More Tears [during my set that day] and Tom goes, ‘Oh, that would be great,’' Hagar recounted in an interview with Loudwire Nights. 'And then he comes back and says, ‘Guess what? Ozzy’s going to try and sing five songs and he wants to sing No More Tears.’' This revelation raises questions about the extent of Osbourne's participation and what fans can realistically expect.
Adding to the apprehension, Tool's Maynard James Keenan voiced concerns about Osbourne's health, stating: 'I don't know what kind of modern miracles we'll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them.' Keenan's cautious optimism reflects the reality of Osbourne's physical struggles following years of health complications, including Parkinson's disease and multiple surgeries.
Despite the doubts, Osbourne himself remains determined to perform, telling The Guardian: 'I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.' He’s been undergoing rigorous training, including weights, bike riding, and vocal coaching, to prepare for the show. 'It’s tough – I’ve been laid up for such a long time,' Osbourne admitted. 'I’ve been lying on my back doing nothing and the first thing to go is your strength. It’s like starting all over again.'
The Back to the Beginning concert aims to reunite Osbourne with his original Black Sabbath bandmates – Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – for the first time in 20 years. While Osbourne has said he won't be doing a full set, 'We're only playing a couple of songs each… a sample, you're going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath,' he explained. The concert will also feature legendary support acts like Metallica, Slayer, and Tool, making it a star-studded event irrespective of Osbourne's physical capacity.
Originally, Tool passed at the chance to perform at the event. 'Initially we passed because I was like, I don’t know how this is going to go. So when it came back up, I was like, OK, I guess I can hop on a plane and go over and do the song with a couple of guys on site, rather than dragging the whole band and going through all that.' Eventually the bandmates agreed that they would do the show.
Ultimately, the concert on July 5th will benefit three charities: Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorns Children's Hospice. Regardless of the challenges and uncertainties, the event promises to be a significant moment in music history.
Will Ozzy Osbourne's final show be a glorious triumph or a bittersweet farewell? What songs are you hoping to hear him perform? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
