Ozzy Osbourne has graced the Villa Park stage for his final ever live performance – at the Black Sabbath Back to the Beginning gig tonight.
The Prince of Darkness has taken to the stage, after a day-long gig, for his farewell show – and it’s a moment the audience has been anticipating.
He emerged from beneath the stage on a black winged throne, prompting deafening screams from the masses.
Our correspondent Kirsty Bosley is at the concert and reported: “Ozzy looks emotional and the crowd is too. His body might be frail but his voice is NOT.
“He’s pausing to drink water and spray his mouth between songs but he’s incredible.”, reports Birmingham Live.
“The crowd is at his feet and he’s wild eyed and determined!”.
“Mr Crowley in particular got a giant sing-along. I haven’t felt energy like this before at a gig.
“It’s like everyone in Birmingham is channelling their energy into the Prince of Darkness and he’s hurling it right back.
“This is where he belongs. This is where he has lived and where he will always live: under the lights with his people.
“What’s more, if the other performers tonight are proof of anything, it’s that the power of Ozzy and of Black Sabbath live on through them, and heavy metal musicians all around the world.
“Few things are eternal, but Ozzy Osbourne is!”.
Our correspondent Robson McCallister is also amongst the crowd tonight. He said: “From intro to the intermissions, he’s keeping it short and sweet but his performance remains unmissable. He’s still giving one hundred percent to what he can.
“The phone cameras are lighting up like fireflies for Ozzy’s farewell set, nobody wants to forget a moment as history is made.
“Ozzy is joined on stage by his lead guitarist for many years Zakk Wylde. It wouldn’t be a farewell show without Wylde’s inclusion”.
Kirsty added: “Torch lights up across the arena for Mama I’m Comin Home, tears, snuggles. Sharon has said in the past this was one of her favourite songs. I wonder how she feels in this moment.”
At the end she said: “Man that was the BEST set.
“After the tears of Mama, we got Crazy Train, pure celebration! Ozzy couldn’t have looked happier, he grinned from ear to ear any time his clap inspired 40k other claps, any time he raised his arms and got 40k screams!”.
“It was incredible. Ticker tape cannons for a celebratory finish. What a superb time. We couldn’t have asked for more. Time hasn’t taken his spirit, his sense of humour or his determination to entertain and put on a show.
“This will surely give him the renewed energy he needs. But I don’t feel he needs it. He isn’t ailing, he’s ROCKING THE F*****G PLACE.”