Sharon Osbourne: ‘Back To The Beginning’ celebrated music industry bastards
The history of heavy metal is not just a collection of riffs and solos; it is a defiant, roaring testament to a community that has continually redefined boundaries. This truth was powerfully celebrated last summer at Villa Park in Birmingham during the epic ‘Back To The Beginning’ show, an event that served as both a monumental farewell and a triumphant declaration of legacy.
The mammoth performance marked two historic milestones: it was Ozzy Osbourne’s final solo show and the last performance by the original lineup of Black Sabbath.
Organized by Sharon Osbourne, the event brought together a constellation of musical titans. The stage was set for a truly historic gathering, featuring acts like Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Tool, Slayer, Pantera, and Alice In Chains, alongside powerhouse guests including Ghost’s Tobias Forge, Billy Corgan, and drummer Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The performance featured Ozzy and his Sabbath bandmates playing iconic tracks such as ‘War Pigs’ and ‘Iron Man’, showcasing the raw power of the music they championed for decades.
Beyond the spectacle, Sharon Osbourne shared how the night transcended a simple concert. She viewed it as a celebration of the entire genre, reflecting on how heavy metal has moved from the fringes to a place where it is genuinely accepted. “It represents a genre of music, a community, and these people have been considered the bastards of the music industry for so long,” she explained. “It’s wonderful to see artist after artist filling stadiums now with this music.”
She noted that for a long time, the genre faced skepticism, but it has solidified its place. “We have seen genres come and go, but this stayed, and it will continue to stay. ‘Back To The Beginning’ is a celebration of that,” she added.
The emotional core of the night, however, was rooted in Ozzy’s personal journey. Despite the immense stage presence, the performance was deeply personal. Just ten days before the event, doctors had warned Ozzy that he would be unable to perform live due to his emphysema. Despite this, Ozzy approached the stage with fierce determination. “He was just praying that his lungs would work and that he could sing,” Sharon recounted. “He was so determined mentally to do it, that he just did it somehow.”
The setlist was carefully chosen to reflect his physical limits, focusing on what he could deliver vocally that day. He performed tracks like ‘I Don’t Know’ and ‘Crazy Train’, showcasing his talent even while navigating severe health challenges.
The event also had a profound impact, successfully raising approximately £11 million for charity. The celebration has now been immortalized, with the event being transformed into a concert film that will arrive in cinemas worldwide on October 28.
The event also served as a poignant reminder of the deep connections within the music world. Tony Iommi was present for the premiere, recalling a final conversation with Osbourne just days before his passing, a memory that underscores the powerful, complex relationship between the artists and the music they created.
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