Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath go out on a high at farewell gig

Ian YoungsCulture reporterRoss HalfinOzzy Osbourne carried out whereas seated on an elaborate black throneOzzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath have gone out with a bang at what they are saying shall be their last gig, in entrance of 40,000 followers and supported by an all-star line-up of rock legends who’ve been influenced by the founding fathers of heavy metallic.Ozzy, 76, who has Parkinson’s illness, sang whereas seated on a black throne – clapping, waving his arms and pulling wild-eyed seems, similar to outdated occasions.He appeared overwhelmed at some moments. “You don’t have any thought how I really feel. Thanks from the underside of my coronary heart,” he advised the group at Villa Park in Birmingham.He was joined by the total authentic Sabbath line-up for the primary time in 20 years.The present’s invoice additionally included fellow rock gods Metallica, Weapons N’ Roses, Slayer, the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wooden and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.Ross HalfinMetallica had been among the many different bands who rocked Villa ParkGetty ImagesAnthrax Carrying a leather-based overcoat and gold armband bearing his title, Ozzy rose from under the stage in his throne to an enormous roar from the group.”Are you prepared? Let the insanity start,” he known as.”It is so good to be on this stage. You don’t have any thought,” he advised the group, who responded by chanting his title.After enjoying 5 songs from his solo profession, Ozzy was joined by his Sabbath bandmates – guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Invoice Ward – for 4 extra, ending with 1970 traditional Paranoid.The Parkinson’s, different well being issues and age have taken their toll, that means he carried out sitting down all through. His voice wavered a bit however nonetheless packed a good punch.Ross HalfinThe Rolling Stones’ Ronnie WoodRoss HalfinRage In opposition to the Machine’s Tom Morello and Aerosmith’s Steven TylerFans got here from everywhere in the world – if they might get tickets – for the all-day Again to the Starting gig at Aston Villa’s soccer stadium, a stone’s throw from Ozzy’s childhood residence.The star-studded present was dubbed the “heavy metallic Reside Help”, and income will go to charity.The pitch was a sea of Black Sabbath T-shirts and rock hand indicators, with some areas changing into a melee of moshing. One particular person waved an inflatable bat, a reference to the notorious 1982 incident when Ozzy bit the pinnacle off a stay bat on stage – probably the most infamous second of many within the rock star’s wild profession.Getty ImagesThe day’s different performers paid homage to him and the opposite band members.”With out Sabbath there can be no Metallica,” the US group’s frontman James Hetfield advised the group throughout their set. “Thanks for giving us a function in life.”Weapons N’ Roses’ look included a canopy of Sabbath’s 1978 music By no means Say Die, with frontman Axl Rose ending with the cry: “Birmingham! Ozzy! Sabbath! Thanks!”A collection of star-studded supergroups noticed Tyler, who has suffered severe vocal issues lately, sound again on kind as a part of a band together with Ronnie Wooden, Blink-182’s Travis Barker and Rage In opposition to the Machine’s Tom Morello.One other model of the band included Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan and KK Downing from Judas Priest, one other of the West Midlands’ authentic metallic heroes.Ross HalfinOzzy Osbourne (centre) pictured earlier than the present with a few of the stars who had been additionally on the billBattle of the drummersYounger performers included Yungblud, who sang one in all Sabbath’s extra tender songs, Adjustments, initially launched in 1972, and which Ozzy took to primary as a duet with daughter Kelly in 2003.Yungblud was a part of one other supergroup whose revolving forged of musicians included members of Megadeth, Religion No Extra and Anthrax.There was additionally a titanic battle of three drummers in a “drum-off” between Barker, Chad Smith from the Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers and Danny Carey of Instrument.Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo advised the group the artists on the invoice “would all be totally different folks” with out Black Sabbath. “That is the reality. I would not be up right here with this microphone in my hand with out Black Sabbath. The best of all time.”Momoa within the moshpitHollywood actor Jason Momoa was the present’s compere and whereas introducing Pantera, advised followers he was becoming a member of the moshpit, saying: “Make some house for me, I am coming in.”At one other level, he advised the group: “The historical past of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne is to look again at one of the best who’ve ever completed it. We now have a few of the best rock and metallic musicians ever right here right now on this stage.”Momoa’s Minecraft Film co-star Jack Black despatched a video message, as did different large names starting from Billy Idol to Dolly Parton.Ross HalfinLeeft-right: Invoice Ward, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi carried out collectively for the primary time since 2005″Black Sabbath actually type of began all this, the metallic period,” former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar advised BBC Information backstage. “Everybody seems at them just like the kings, and if the kings are going to exit then we’ll go honour them.”Everybody that was requested to do that, shoot, you drop the whole lot and do that. That is going to go down in historical past as the best metallic occasion of all of all time.”Ozzy mentioned beforehand that the present can be “a goodbye so far as my stay performances go, and what a technique to exit”.The road-up of legends “means the whole lot”, he mentioned in an interview offered by organisers.”I’m eternally of their debt for exhibiting up for me and the followers. I can not fairly put it into phrases, however I really feel very emotional and blessed.”Ticket costs ranged from about £200 to £2,000, with income being shared between Treatment Parkinson’s, Birmingham Kids’s Hospital and Acorn Kids’s Hospice.Again to the Starting line-up:Black SabbathOzzy Osbourne soloMetallicaGuns N’ RosesSlayerToolPanteraSupergroup together with Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Ronnie Wooden (the Rolling Stones), Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Adam Jones (Instrument), KK Downing (Judas Priest), Vernon Reid (Dwelling Color), Chad Smith (Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers), Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), Tom Morello (Rage In opposition to the Machine), Travis Barker (Blink-182) and Tobias Forge (Ghost)Drum-off – Chad Smith (Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers), Travis Barker (Blink-182) and Danny Carey (Instrument)GojiraAlice in ChainsAnthraxSupergroup together with Lizzy Hale (Halestorm), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Mike Bordin (Religion No Extra), David Draiman (Disturbed), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Yungblud and Nuno Bettencourt (Excessive)Lamb of GodHalestormRival SonsMastodon