<div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">They came by the thousands.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">They dressed in black, with T-shirts featuring crucifixes, dragons and demons.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">They gathered on Saturday in Birmingham, England, to pay their respects to a figure of almost religious significance in the heavy metal world: Ozzy Osbourne, the <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://loudwire.com/why-ozzy-osbourne-called-prince-of-darkness/" title="" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prince of Darkness</a>.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Since Osbourne and his bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, formed Black Sabbath in Birmingham in 1968, they have been regarded as the fathers of heavy metal.</p></div>

<div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">On Saturday, Osbourne, 76, was at the center of “Back to the Beginning,” a 10-hour concert at the Villa Park soccer stadium that he had said would culminate in Black Sabbath’s final stage appearance.</p></div>

<div class="css-q3z82y e73j0it0"><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz- css-13wylk3 e1g7ppur0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 erfvjey0" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><span class="css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0">Image</span><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-fpbvhh ewdxa0s0"><span class="css-jevhma e13ogyst0">Chris Hopkins from Birmingham showing his Black Sabbath tribute tattoo.</span><span class="css-14fe1uy e1z0qqy90"><span class="css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0">Credit...</span><span><span aria-hidden="false">Ellie Smith for The New York Times</span></span></span></figcaption></figure></div><div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz- css-13wylk3 e1g7ppur0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 erfvjey0" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><span class="css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0">Image</span><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-fpbvhh ewdxa0s0"><span class="css-jevhma e13ogyst0">Ozzy Osbourne masks.</span><span class="css-14fe1uy e1z0qqy90"><span class="css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0">Credit...</span><span><span aria-hidden="false">Ellie Smith for The New York Times</span></span></span></figcaption></figure></div></div>

<div data-testid="imageblock-wrapper"><figure class="img-sz-large css-hxpw2c e1g7ppur0" aria-label="media" role="group"><div class="css-1xdhyk6 erfvjey0" data-testid="photoviewer-children-figure"><span class="css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0">Image</span><div class="css-nwd8t8" data-testid="lazy-image"></div></div><figcaption data-testid="photoviewer-children-caption" class="css-1g9ic6e ewdxa0s0"><span class="css-jevhma e13ogyst0">Anshul Doshi, center with beard, who lives in England, and an entourage that traveled from India for the concert.</span><span class="css-14fe1uy e1z0qqy90"><span class="css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0">Credit...</span><span><span aria-hidden="false">Ellie Smith for The New York Times</span></span></span></figcaption></figure></div>

<div class="css-kbghgg"><div class="css-121kum4"><div class="css-asuuk5"><noscript><div class="css-7axq9l" data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" class="css-1b5b8u1"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M2.5 12a9.5 9.5 0 1 1 19 0 9.5 9.5 0 0 1-19 0Zm8.5 1.75v-7.5h2v7.5h-2Zm0 2v2h2v-2h-2Z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><div data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript-message" class="css-6yo1no"><p class="css-3kpklk" data-tpl="t">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.</p><p class="css-3kpklk" data-tpl="t">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.</p></div></div></noscript><div class="css-1dv1kvn" tabindex="-1"><hr><p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and&nbsp;<a href="https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F07%2F06%2Farts%2Fmusic%2Fozzy-osbourne-black-sabbath.html&amp;asset=opttrunc">log into</a>&nbsp;your Times account, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F07%2F06%2Farts%2Fmusic%2Fozzy-osbourne-black-sabbath.html">subscribe</a>&nbsp;for all of The Times.</p><hr></div><div class="css-1g71tqy"><div data-testid="optimistic-truncator-message" class="css-6yo1no"><p class="css-3kpklk" data-tpl="t">Thank you for your patience while we verify access.</p><p class="css-3kpklk" data-tpl="t">Already a subscriber?&nbsp;<a data-testid="log-in-link" class="css-z5ryv4" href="https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F07%2F06%2Farts%2Fmusic%2Fozzy-osbourne-black-sabbath.html&amp;asset=opttrunc">Log in</a>.</p><p class="css-3kpklk" data-tpl="t">Want all of The Times?&nbsp;<a data-testid="subscribe-link" class="css-z5ryv4" href="https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F07%2F06%2Farts%2Fmusic%2Fozzy-osbourne-black-sabbath.html">Subscribe</a>.</p></div></div></div></div></div>

Heavy metal fans crossed continents to converge on Birmingham, England, and throw devil horns in honor of the Prince of Darkness and Black Sabbath.{ai:summary}<p>Thousands gathered in Birmingham, England, to honor Ozzy Osbourne at a 10-hour concert titled "Back to the Beginning." The event celebrated Osbourne and his band Black Sabbath, credited as the pioneers of heavy metal since their formation in 1968.</p><p>Fans, many dressed in themed attire, paid tribute to the iconic musician, marking what Osbourne indicated would be the band's final performance. #culture</p>

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath Play Final Shows in Birmingham, England

Loading...