Ozzy Osbourne, 76, performed his final show with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday, leaving fans conflicted over his visibly frail health. The legendary rocker sang five songs from a throne, as he had warned last month he might need to sit due to his ongoing health battles.
While some fans celebrated the end of an era, others expressed discomfort. Rakkan, who travelled from Saudi Arabia to London for the show, said: 'I'm conflicted. He's obviously enjoying himself but it's sad to see him in this physical state. It feels like an end of an era.' On social media, one user wrote: 'Feel a bit sorry for Ozzy being wheeled out like that. He clearly isn't fit and well.' Another commented: 'Very sad, Ozzy in a goth wheel chair.'
However, not all reactions were negative. One fan noted: 'the videos I've seen ... Ozzy sounds a lot better than I expected.' The performance was part of the Back to the Beginning farewell gig, conceived by Ozzy's wife Sharon.
Earlier in the weekend, the four founding members of Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terence 'Geezer' Butler, and Bill Ward—were awarded the Freedom of the City of Birmingham. The honour recognised their cultural and musical impact as pioneers of heavy metal. Osbourne said at the ceremony: 'I'm a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham forever!'
The band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, have sold over 75 million albums worldwide and received numerous accolades, including induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Each member received a scroll and a medal, designed by local businesses and a student from Birmingham City University.
