Legendary Rockstar Announces Retirement

Ozzy Osbourne is officially taking his final bow — and he’s doing it with the band that started it all.

The legendary rocker, 76, will reunite with Black Sabbath for one last performance in his hometown of Birmingham, England on July 5, marking what he says will be the final chapter of his career. “I’d love to say ‘never say never,’ but after the last six years or so … it is time,” Ozzy told The Guardian. “I lived on the road for over 50 years, and I’ve kind of gotten used to not picking up my bags and getting on the bus again.”

The farewell show — dubbed “Back to the Beginning” — will feature Black Sabbath’s original lineup performing together for the first time in two decades. It will also include appearances by rock royalty like Guns N’ Roses, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, members of Judas Priest, Megadeth, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, and Soundgarden. Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello will serve as musical director for the epic send-off.

But for Ozzy, this isn’t just another gig. It’s a curtain call on a wild, influential career — and a shift toward something more personal. “I want to spend the rest of my life with my family,” he said. “I don’t want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to be with my grandkids. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t go out. I’m kind of a homebody now.”

Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy’s wife and longtime manager, supports his decision wholeheartedly. “It’s time to say ‘enough,’” she told The Guardian. “When you’ve given it your all, you can sit back and say: I did it.”

While Ozzy will take the stage with Sabbath one more time, he’s made it clear that this performance will be far from the high-energy shows fans might remember. Years of health battles — including Parkinson’s disease and a spinal injury — have taken a toll.

“I do weights, I bike, I’ve got a guy living at the house working with me. It’s like starting from scratch,” Ozzy admitted. “I’ve got a vocal coach four days a week. I won’t be jumping or running around. I may be sitting down, but I’ll be there. That’s all I can do.”

Despite the challenges, Ozzy still wants to go out on a high note. The concert will raise funds for several charities, including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and the local Acorn Children’s Hospice.

Osbourne was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist last year, after already entering with Black Sabbath in 2006. But it’s clear his heart has come full circle — back to where it all began.

“This isn’t about being a rock star anymore,” he said. “It’s about saying goodbye the right way.”