Ozzy Osbourne plays final concert sitting on black throne amid Parkinson’s battle

British rock star Ozzy Osbourne has played his final concert, reuniting metal legends Black Sabbath, for the 40,000-strong show in his home town of Birmingham at the weekend.

The 76-year-old took to the stage for the first time in two years on Saturday night (Sunday AEST), performing the entire set seated on a dark, bat-winged throne, as he struggles with Parkinson’s disease.

Ozzy Osbourne performing on his bat-winged throne during his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Dressed in a quintessential all-black ensemble, Osbourne, also a former reality star, rose from the ground seated on an enormous black throne and urged the crowd to “let the madness begin”. He later paid tribute to his fans.

“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,” Osbourne said. “You’re all … special. Let’s go crazy, come on.”

Osbourne performed several songs solo before being joined on stage, for the first time in 20 years, by Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward. The band ended a four-song set with Paranoid, one of their best known songs.

The throne Osbourne performed on — a black armchair adorned with skulls and a giant bat with outstretched wings — appeared to be the same one the rock star performed on during his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in October last year.

Black Sabbath band members had earlier flagged that the set would be short, indicating that age-related stamina issues were keeping them from a longer offering. The band was presented a cake at the end of their set, which would serve as their last concert as a group.

It capped a day-long metal festival that included performances from the likes of Anthrax, Metallica and Guns N’Roses. Hollywood star Jason Momoa and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler were watching from the crowd while other artists – including Jack Black, Dolly Parton and Elton John – sent plaudits and well wishes.

“You are one of the most remarkable singers of our time,” John said. “You are the king, you are the legend.”

Daughter Kelly Osbourne posted to Instagram following the concert, saying: “Thank you to everyone who came to support my dad. Thank you to the fans who without we are nothing! My dad got his moment in the sun! He was able to say thank you and good bye in the most beautiful way!”

The singer has struggled with health issues since 2003 following a near-fatal quad bike crash. In 2019, he cancelled Europe and North America concerts due to health issues including a “bad fall” during which he said he had injured vertebrae in his neck.

He revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020, leading to the cancellation of several concerts and a pause to touring in 2023 after spinal surgery.

Crowds wait in anticipation of Black Sabbath’s final concert. Credit: AFP

Appearing on Good Morning America at the time of his diagnosis, Osbourne said: I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves and I found out that I have a mild form [of Parkinson’s].

“I’m on a host of medications, mainly for the surgery. I got a numbness down this arm for the surgery, my legs keep going cold,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s the Parkinson’s or what, you know, but that’s the problem. Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. I’d never heard of nerve pain, and it’s a weird feeling.”

His wife Sharon Osbourne, who is also his manager as a solo artist, said: “There’s so many different types of Parkinson’s, it’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it’s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day.”

In 2023, he released a statement on a tour cancellation saying “in all good conscience, I have now come to the realisation that I’m not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/UK tour dates, as I know I couldn’t deal with the travel required”.

“Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way … my team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country,” Osbourne said.

In recent years, Osbourne has been spotted walking with a cane, often with the help of family or assistants.

Osbourne formed Black Sabbath in 1968 in Birmingham, a city then known for its heavy industry that became the crucible of the British metal scene. Black Sabbath’s devil imagery and thunderous sound made them one of the era’s most influential – and parent-scaring – metal acts. Both the band and Osbourne as a solo artist have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Osbourne’s fame expanded into the mainstream in the early 2000s, when he joined his wifeand two of their children in the MTV reality TV show The Osbournes.

With AP

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.