Ozzy Osbourne, the 'prince of darkness', will bring his performing career to an end with a final concert at Birmingham's Villa Park on Saturday. The 76-year-old heavy metal icon described the show as his 'final encore' and a chance to thank fans for their support.
The event, titled 'Back to the Beginning', will reunite the original Black Sabbath lineup for the first time in 20 years. The band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, transformed rock music with their darker, heavier sound and are credited with creating the heavy metal genre.
The 10-hour concert will feature performances from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and other metal bands. Profits will go to Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorns Children's Hospice. Tickets for the 42,000-capacity show sold out in 16 minutes.
Osbourne, who has faced health challenges including Parkinson's disease and spinal surgeries, said he wanted to end his career in the city where it began. 'I couldn't have done my final show anywhere else,' he stated.
