Ozzy Osbourne has admitted he’s always been a bundle of nerves, even before he takes the stage.
With Black Sabbath’s final-ever show set for July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, the 76-year-old rock icon says he’s both anxious and deeply grateful for the moment.
“Even if it was a regular gig, I would be a nervous wreck. I was born nervous,” Ozzy told Mojo magazine. “Right now, I’m feeling grateful and proud, and I’m sure I’ll be feeling dozens more emotions on the day of the show.”
This performance won’t just be another concert, it’s the definitive end for Black Sabbath. The show, titled Back To The Beginning, brings together Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for the first time in 20 years. It’s also being held at Villa Park, the stadium of Ozzy’s beloved Aston Villa, where he spent his youth hustling for coins by offering to mind cars during matches.
“Aston made me who I am,” Ozzy said. “Being born there taught me so many things about life. It gave me ambition. I grew up close to Villa Park, and when the Villa were playing home matches, me and my mates would go down to the ground and offer to mind people’s cars for a shilling.”
Eventually, the young Ozzy even tried car washing, though not with the best technique.
“The first car I washed was with a Brillo pad, so you can imagine the outcome,” he laughed. “That was a clue that it was my time to move on to other things.”
Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, Ozzy is determined to take the stage one last time with the full original lineup, including drummer Bill Ward, who had been left out of their 2016 farewell EP The End.
“It’s very important that Bill is a part of this show,” Ozzy said. “My career started with Bill, and I’d really like to finish with Bill by my side.”
As for what comes after the concert, Ozzy isn’t shy about calling time on his legendary career.
“After this show, I’m going home, closing the door and will look back upon the great career I’ve had. But I’m done, done, done!” he said. “You gotta know when to call it quits.”
Fans lucky enough to be at Villa Park will witness history: the final curtain call for the godfathers of heavy metal, on the very ground where their journey began. For Ozzy Osbourne, the final Black Sabbath show isn’t just an end, it’s a full circle moment, soaked in nostalgia, gratitude, and a whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll.
