STORY: Heavy metal fans at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday (July 5) out seeing 'Back to the Beginning' - billed as Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne's final gig, get emotional and heap praise on the ‘Prince of Darkness’.

Since forming in 1968, Black Sabbath have won several Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement prize, while other accolades include being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and recently getting the Freedom of the City of Birmingham.

The festival will feature the band's original line-up - guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — who along with charismatic frontman Osbourne, pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as "War Pigs", "Paranoid" and "Iron Man”.

''It means a lot...Black Sabbath were my favourite band growing up. So it's nice to be able to come to a last gig,'' said 28-year-old roofer Tom Ashbrook.

Meanwhile 48-year-old teacher Runo Gokedmir said he sold his old car to get tickets.

Reflecting on what Ozzy Osbourne means to him, fan Vlad Zakadov said he ''taught'' him how to ''be energized'' and ''overcome all the difficulties in your life''.

''Just whenever you have some sudden problems in your life, you just put on Ozzy Osbourne in your ears and it just goes away, it's just nuts, it's so good.'' He said.

The day-long celebration of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne also features Metallica and Pantera, amongst an impressive line-up.

The one-off gig, with profits going to charity, has been billed as Osbourne's last performance, five years after the 76-year-old "Prince of Darkness" revealed he had Parkinson's disease.

Atlanta-based rockers Mastodon kicked off the music, followed by Anthrax, Halestorm and Lamb of God. Black Sabbath are due on stage later.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1.VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF ASTON VILLA STADIUM

2.VARIOUS OF 'BACK TO THE BEGINNING' MERCHANDISE BEING SOLD

3. BACK OF SHIRT READING (English): ''Back to the Beginning/ The Final Show/ Saturday 5 July/ Villa Park, Birmingham"

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 28-YEAR-OLD ROOFER FROM WOLVERHAMPTON, TOM ASHBROOK, SAYING:

''It means a lot, he was probably, Black Sabbath were my favourite band growing up. So it's nice to be able to come to a last gig. Yeah.''

5. VARIOUS OF FANS TOM ASHBROOK AND GREG JONES SHOWING T-SHIRTS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 27-YEAR-OLD AIR CON ENGINEER FROM WOLVERHAMPTON, GREG JONES AND TOM ASHBROOK, SAYING:

GREG JONES: (on how Ozzy will be remembered) ''As a legend as he should be, yeah. He's done so much for rock and roll. He's the Prince of Darkness man, he's amazing.''

TOM ASHBROOK: ''The King of heavy metal, can't see him any other way.''

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 48-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL TEACHER, FROM LONDON, RUNO GOKDEMIR, SAYING:

''So what I did, I actually sold my banger of a car to come here because Ozzy mean's that much. So I sold a car and with the funds I bought a ticket and it goes to charity as well. So it's two birds with one stone and I've got rid of the bloody car as well. So all good.''

8. GOKDEMIR'S T-SHIRT

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 48-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL TEACHER, FROM LONDON, RUNO GOKDEMIR, SAYING:

''I think it will be his last gig. I wish him the best of health or whatever he wants to do. He's deserved it, but if it is his last gigs this is the right place to finish off. I've come from London just to see him. See all of Black Sabbath actually I love all of them, obviously with Metallica and Guns with big names like that it helps, but yeah, he deserves a good send off, bloody deserves it.''

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 32-YEAR-OLD FAN WHO WORKS IN BANKING, FROM LONDON, VLAD ZAKADOV, SAYING:

''The first photo in my Instagram is of Ozzy Osbourne and the second one is of my wife. So it means a lot.''

11. VARIOUS OF VLAD ZAKADOV SHOWING T-SHIRTS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 32-YEAR-OLD FAN WHO WORKS IN BANKING, FROM LONDON, VLAD ZAKADOV, SAYING:

''And then it's just about like, energy, that's life. I was growing up with this music and it just meant, he taught me he taught me how to be energized to overcome all the difficulties in your life. Just whenever you have some sudden problems in your life, you just put on Ozzy Osbourne in your ears and it just goes away, it's just nuts, it's so good. I mean, Ozzy is just, I'll miss him. Like, I really hope it's not going to be his last concert because it's really, really, really emotional for me. I'd been there for like five times already and these were by far the best shows I've ever seen. And Ozzy, is a great man, he's seen the loss. And I wish him, I wish him to be like, here forever. I mean, it means a lot to me. And I am a bit tearful.''

13.(SOUNDBITE) (English) 67-YEAR-OLD, FROM FOREST OF DEAN, MARTIN CATT, SAYING:

''Well, he's kind of the father or the grandfather either of metal.''

14. VARIOUS MAN'S JACKET

15. VARIOUS FANS INSIDE ASTON VILLA WATCHING

16. VARIOUS OF THE STAGE