Sharon Osbourne Reveals She Disinvited “Greedy” Band From Ozzy’s Black Sabbath Farewell: “It’s Not the Time to Make a Profit”
Sharon Osbourne said she disinvited a greedy band from her husband Ozzy Osbourne’s Black Sabbath farewell concert. During an interview with Billboard ahead of the show Saturday, the former “Talk” co-host said the unnamed group “wanted to make a profit, and it’s not the time to make a profit.” Sharon, 72, added, “After the show, I’ll let everybody know who it was. I think people will be shocked.” The manager of the unnamed band insisted on payment for their appearance, which led to what Sharon described as one of the worst conflicts she’s experienced in years. Sharon also clarified that the band in question was not Iron Maiden, stating, “Ozzy only has respect for the guys in Maiden,” and she dismissed any speculation that it was them.
On Saturday, Ozzy, 76, performed his final show with his Black Sabbath bandmates, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, at the Villa Park Stadium in Birmingham, England, where the band was formed in the late ’60s. The 10-hour show featured stellar performances from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Jack Black and more and was hosted by “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa. The event brought together generations of metal fans, uniting them for a historic night of celebration and music that honored the legacy of Black Sabbath. Every act on the bill contributed to an atmosphere of camaraderie and tribute, with Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Jack Black delivering electrifying performances to an emotional crowd.
In February, the rockstar announced that he would be taking the stage for a final time with the group amid his health ailments. “It’s my time to go back to the beginning … time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” he said in a statement at the time. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham forever.” Ozzy’s words echoed throughout the arena as fans reflected on the impact that Black Sabbath and Ozzy himself have had on the history of music, especially in the city that gave birth to heavy metal.
In 2020, Ozzy revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Three years later, the dad of five paused touring after undergoing an extensive spinal surgery in 2022. In November 2023, Ozzy shared that he only had “10 years left” to live after his back surgery left him “virtually crippled.” “‘How long do you want me to f–king live for?!’” he shared with Rolling Stone UK about a conversation he had with Sharon. “‘At best, I’ve got 10 years left and when you’re older, time picks up speed.’” Ozzy, who has an assisted suicide pact in place with Sharon, also told the outlet that he doesn’t “want to have a long, painful and miserable existence.” “I like the idea that if you have a terminal illness, you can go to a place in Switzerland and get it done quickly,” he added. “I saw my father die of cancer.”
Ozzy’s reflections gave the final concert a deeper, more poignant meaning. Every word he sang and every moment on stage was charged with gratitude, vulnerability, and a sense of closure. The crowd responded with overwhelming support, sending Ozzy off with the kind of love and energy that defined his career. As the night came to an end, fireworks filled the Birmingham sky, and Ozzy thanked the audience for decades of support, closing out not only a concert but a defining era in music history.
