A year on from the death of Ozzy Osbourne, his Back to The Beginning show at Villa Park remains an unforgettable memory. The all-day event on July 5, 2025, was billed as Ozzy's farewell performance, with 40,000 fans cramming into the stadium to witness history.
Thankfully, I was one of the lucky ones to enjoy the epic event that lasted over 10 hours. While we knew it was to serve as the final live performance for both the original Black Sabbath and frontman Ozzy Osbourne, little did we know the legendary rocker would leave the world mere weeks later.
I said at the time that it "was like watching his wake while he was still alive". And sadly, that turned out to be the case. He gave it his all on that momentous day. While he was strictly bound to his bat-adorned chair, it was clear he wanted to give as much back as he could to those who had supported him over the years.
A star-studded farewell
Bringing the curtain down on an outrageous career that spanned five decades is no mean feat. And to do so with so many legends of the industry supporting the way is something that will likely never happen again. But that's what happened for Ozzy. Super bands strummed, Jason Momoa moshed, and Jack Black even gave a video tribute. But it was all about the Ozzy Osbourne show.
With his proud family in attendance, including daughter Kelly, who looked fabulous backstage before the show, Ozzy readied himself for a moment nobody actually expected would have been possible just weeks earlier.
Raw emotion on stage
What he offered up was a physical shell of what he once was. But that didn't matter. He was prepared to leave it all out there on the stage. Of course, it wasn't a flawless performance, but the rawness and realness was what made it even more special - especially with the tragic news that was to follow.
The emotion in his trembling voice onstage, the sincerity in his thank you messages, and the glint in his eye as his frail body took centre stage. You could really see just how much it meant to him to be back out there for one last time and it's something I'll never forget.
A year on and this one moment is still clear as day in my mind - and I actually believe it always will be. While there was so much else going on that day, the image of a clearly struggling Ozzy still being the iconic performer that he was born to be was great to see. He loved it. The fans loved it. The world loved it.
Final songs and fireworks
It didn't matter that he wasn't parading the stage. His proud face painted a thousand pictures. There was a pure happiness in his performance. War Pigs, N.I.B, Iron Man, and Paranoid bellowed out into the Birmingham skies by Ozzy for the final time as he was flanked by bandmates Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler.
Fireworks then lit up the dark surroundings as his adoring crowd cheered him off the stage in an end of an era moment. That's how you go out. With a bang - quite literally.
He didn't fade away without a final goodbye, though. He treated the world to a day like no other. And he did so in the way he best knew how. By putting on one helluva show.
A legacy celebrated
The list of those chomping at the bit to be a part of his day would have no doubt been endless. But for the likes of Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Anthrax, Pantera, Yungblud, Steven Tyler, Travis Barker, Chad Smith and Danny Carey, Osbourne's legacy received its just rewards.
Sadly, the Prince of Darkness died weeks later on July 22 aged 76. Surrounded by his loved ones, the Black Sabbath frontman died peacefully at home after suffering cardiac arrest, with contributing factors including coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.
But a year on from his death, the memory of that day is still strong in the memory. It's a day I will never forget and it's a moment that truly encapsulated just how much the music icon meant to the world. One year on. But Ozzy continues to touch the world in his own unique way.
