By Antone Hempstock – Punk Rock Press
The world just got a little quieter. Ozzy Osbourne, the man who helped birth heavy metal, is gone. But let’s be clear—he’ll never really be gone. Not from our playlists. Not from our stories. Not from the soul of rock ‘n’ roll.
Less than a month ago, Ozzy and Black Sabbath played their final show together in Birmingham, the city where it all started. The event, called Back To The Beginning, was announced by Sharon Osbourne on February 5th as a benefit show, with all proceeds going to Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Cure Parkinson’s. Ozzy, who had been battling Parkinson’s since 2019, was losing his ability to walk—but that didn’t stop him from giving one last unforgettable performance to the city that raised him.
The lineup was insane: Metallica, Tool, Slayer, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, Lamb of God, Mastodon, and more, including supergroups made up of Sleep Token members and Yungblud. The show raised over $190 million for charity and somehow still felt personal—like one big family reunion for the entire metal community.
Ozzy’s solo set was raw, heartfelt, and heavy: “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” and, of course, “Crazy Train.” Black Sabbath closed it out with a thunderous run of “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid.” It was the perfect goodbye—or so we thought.
Just a few days after the concert, on July 10th, Ozzy announced his upcoming memoir Last Rites, scheduled for release in October. Word is, it even covers Back To The Beginning. That makes you wonder how finished it really was—because on July 22nd, Ozzy passed away peacefully in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by his loved ones.
What followed was an outpouring unlike anything I’ve seen. Fans flooded the internet with stories, art, clips, and tributes. Birmingham, already decorated in Sabbath memorabilia for the concert, transformed into a living memorial—bouquets, candles, murals, and notes lining the streets. It wasn’t just grief—it was reverence.
Pantera rescheduled tour dates to mourn him properly. Zakk Wylde, who’s been Ozzy’s right-hand man for decades, was reportedly wrecked. You could feel the weight of the moment across the metal world.
Then, on July 30th, Birmingham gave him one last send-off. Ozzy’s funeral procession rolled past his childhood home, the Black Sabbath Bridge, the mural, and The Crown venue before reaching his final resting place at Welders House. Tens of thousands lined the streets. There were brass bands. People sang Sabbath songs. The whole damn city became a cathedral of distortion and love.
The following day, his family held a private ceremony in Buckinghamshire. About 110 people were there—his bandmates, friends, longtime collaborators like Zakk and Elton John, and artists like Corey Taylor and Yungblud.
And now here we are. It’s August 2nd. The first August since 1948 without Ozzy in the world. That’s surreal.
No word yet on if Last Rites will release as planned, but Back To The Beginning was filmed and will hit Paramount+ later this year as part of a documentary about Ozzy’s final years. So yeah, Ozzy’s not disappearing. He’ll be there every time we crank the volume. Every time a kid hears “Iron Man” for the first time. Every time someone screams into a mic because Sabbath made it okay to do so.
Yungblud said he’ll play his cover of “Changes” every night for the rest of his life. That’s the kind of imprint Ozzy left.
We may be without him now, but he’s not gone. Not really. Not ever.
Rest easy, Ozzy. And thank you.
