• Ozzy Osbourne performs his final concert with Black Sabbath in Birmingham.
• The show features appearances from over a dozen major rock acts.
• All profits will benefit charities, including Cure Parkinson's.
• Osbourne's performance marks a historic moment in heavy metal music.
• The concert achieves sell-out status in just 16 minutes.

In a remarkable culmination of his musical journey, Ozzy Osbourne performed his final show with Black Sabbath in Birmingham, the band’s birthplace, on July 5. The concert, titled "Back to the Beginning," attracted tens of thousands of fans to Aston Villa's Villa Park, and was supported by numerous other rock icons including Metallica and Guns N' Roses. This event has been touted as Ozzy's last performance, following his revelation in 2020 about living with Parkinson's disease, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

Osbourne, 76, reunited with the original lineup of Black Sabbath—guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward—for the first time in two decades. Their set included classic hits like “Paranoid” and “War Pigs,” with Tom Morello, music director for the event, aiming to create “the greatest day in the history of heavy metal,” according to Bangkok Post.

The concert saw tickets sold out in just 16 minutes, a testament to the band's enduring legacy and popularity. Fans, many traveling from afar, are expected to contribute to a significant economic boost for Birmingham, with hotel occupancy reported to rise sharply. “The eyes of the world will be on Birmingham,” remarked John Cotton, leader of the city council, emphasizing the historic significance of the event, as highlighted by both Le Monde and Bangkok Post.

Osbourne took the stage from a lavish throne and thanked fans for their support. His wife, Sharon, noted that this concert serves as his “full stop” to a career that has profoundly influenced the heavy metal genre. The concert's profits are slated for charitable causes including Cure Parkinson's, reflecting Osbourne’s commitment to giving back after a lifetime of music, according to The Jakarta Post and Bangkok Post.

The atmosphere at Villa Park, filled with fervent fans donned in heavy metal attire, marked a homecoming celebration for the genre. This event is not just a concert but a significant element in the historical tapestry of rock music, underscoring the cultural impact of Black Sabbath and their music that laid the groundwork for heavy metal, as discussed further in Reuters and Bangkok Post.