Ozzy Osbourne Returns to the Spotlight in Netflix’s Back to the Beginning – A Heavy Metal Farewell Like No Other
BIRMINGHAM, England – Ozzy Osbourne, the godfather of heavy metal, reclaimed centre stage at Villa Park on July 5 in Back to the Beginning—a spectacle captured by Netflix’s new documentary. The emotionally charged, star-studded event marked Osbourne’s final performance and Black Sabbath’s last stand, reuniting the original lineup in a homecoming heavy metal triumph.
At 76 and managing advanced Parkinson’s disease, Osbourne delivered a powerful seated set from a gothic throne built just for the occasion . He performed solo hits before joining Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for Sabbath classics—“War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “Paranoid”—to thunderous applause before 40,000 in the stadium and nearly 6 million livestream viewers .
Netflix’s documentary delves deep behind the scenes, offering emotional moments of Ozzy’s health challenges, family support, and farewell screams, framing the event as both a celebration and testament to his resilience. Fans and critics alike have praised the film’s raw honesty and cinematic scope, calling it a fitting capstone to a legendary career.
The concert, directed musically by Tom Morello and featuring performances from Metallica, Slayer, Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, Tool, and more, raised a staggering £140 million for charity—supporting Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice . Netflix secured exclusive rights, promising a global streaming release this autumn that will reach millions of metal fans worldwide.
With Back to the Beginning, Ozzy and Black Sabbath provided the ultimate farewell: raw, unapologetic, and unforgettable. It stands not only as a powerful send-off but as a cinematic ode to the roots of heavy metal, honoring its origins in Birmingham and its cultural legacy.