Ozzy Osbourne’s Hidden Struggle During Black Sabbath’s Farewell Show
New York Post reports that Ozzy Osbourne was visibly frail and suffering during Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham in 2017, according to his authorized biographer Joel McIver. Sage Matthews here, ready to unpack the health battles and hidden anguish that defined one of rock’s most dramatic final acts.
McIver’s new book traces the legendary frontman’s journey back to the stage after a string of crippling injuries and a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Fans witnessed Ozzy’s trademark wild energy begin to falter when he gripped his microphone stand like an anchor, his balance unsteady and his voice rasping with each verse of “War Pigs.” Rolling Stone noted that at times he paused mid-song to catch his breath, while People Magazine highlighted Sharon Osbourne’s constant presence, whispering encouragement into his ear.
Behind the scenes, McIver reveals that Ozzy arrived at the 2017 European leg of the farewell tour fresh off neck fusion surgery and still recovering from a broken femur sustained in a brutal ATV crash. Despite intense pain and months of physical therapy, the singer insisted on returning to Birmingham’s Genting Arena—both to honor the city that launched Black Sabbath and to deliver a proper goodbye to lifelong fans.
“He was determined to finish what he started,” McIver writes, but admits the effort nearly broke him. Sound engineers reportedly held cushioned mats at the edge of the stage in case he fell, and road crew members rushed forward whenever he staggered. In one striking moment captured in backstage footage, Ozzy leans heavily on guitarist Tony Iommi’s shoulder between tracks, visibly shaking from pain medication.
Critics and admirers alike praised his resolve. A fan-captured video of the final encore shows him lifting his head when “Paranoid” began, rallying both the crowd and himself. After the show, Sharon Osbourne told Variety that her husband “gave everything he had left that night.”
McIver’s biography contextualizes this frailty within decades of substance abuse, relentless touring and the emotional toll of losing close friends and bandmates. It underscores a career defined equally by triumph and sacrifice, drawing a portrait of a rock star who refused to bow out quietly.
Looking ahead, Ozzy has hinted at more solo work and documentary projects that might chart the next chapter of his life. Fans can expect him to remain as outspoken and unpredictable offstage as he ever was on it.
And that’s the final note.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Rolling Stone, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
