In just three weeks, Ozzy Osbourne will reunite with Black Sabbath for one final and special performance in Birmingham, a city which has long been a special place for the band. With many fond memories made in the West Midlands region, including the formation of the band, a number of never-before-seen photos of the quartet from the late 70s have been released ahead of their show.
At the time, the band was enjoying success following the release of their hit singles War Pigs, Paranoid, Supernaut, and Fairies Wear Boots. They enjoyed lavish new homes, which were a far cry from their working-class upbringing in Aston. During the 70s, the group, comprised of Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler, invited the Mirror to their homes and in previously unreleased photos, the band members look near unrecognisable.
In the old throwbacks, Tony posed in a plush and luxurious 70s-decorated living room, while seated on a vintage armchair. Elsewhere, Ozzy could be seen with an ammunition belt around him and breaking open his double-barrelled shotgun, according to the publication.
He was known to have had an interest in guns, particularly air rifles, during the 1970s and in a 2023 interview admitted to owning 23 air rifles and shooting 10,000 pellets a week.
In another photo released by the outlet, the rock group also mucked around in some water on the river in the scenic Wye Valley, with Ozzy and Geezer completely soaked.
The cover of Black Sabbath’s 1970 self-titled debut album, also features a striking image of a woman in a black cloak standing in front of a 15th-century watermill, Mapledurham Watermill, on the River Thames in Oxfordshire.
The heavy metal legends will play their farewell gig at hometown Birmingham’s Villa Park on July 5, with the original line-up reuniting on stage for the first time in more than 20 years. They will be supported by a stellar cast of rock and roll A-listers, including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and Gojira.
This performance will also mark Ozzy’s final performance, with a short solo set preceding Black Sabbath’s gig, with many songs from his critically acclaimed solo career. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Ozzy revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019 and publicly announced it the following year. He has been open about living with the condition.
That year, during an interview on Good Morning America, the singer said: “It’s been terribly challenging for us all … I’m no good with secrets. I cannot walk around with it any more because it’s like I’m running out of excuses, you know?”