Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, just weeks after his final performance at Villa Park. The rock legend, who had Parkinson's disease, sang from a black throne in front of 40,000 fans, supported by an all-star line-up including Metallica, Guns N' Roses, and Slayer.
In an emotional moment, Osbourne told the crowd: “I don’t know what to say, man, I’ve been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel – thank you from the bottom of my heart.” The concert, arranged with help from his wife Sharon, marked the first time the original Black Sabbath line-up had played together in 20 years.
Days after the gig, Osbourne attended Comic Con Midlands for a meet-and-greet with fans. Singer Pip Marsh, who met him there, said: “I've just seen the news, I'm devastated. It doesn't feel real, I'm numb.”
Before his death, Osbourne had told Metal Hammer magazine he hoped to continue recording: “I still enjoy doing my own work. For the foreseeable future, I will keep on recording if the projects interest me.”
