On Saturday night the Brummie rockers bade farewell to a stunning career, and Guardian readers were united in awe and respect
Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne: Back to the Beginning review – all-star farewell to the gods of metal is epic and emotional
I tried to get tickets when they first went on sale, but there were only £500+ options left, which felt too steep. However, the day before the show, I watched an interview with Tony Iommi and just couldn’t bear the thought of not being there for their final goodbye. I’ve seen them a handful of times before, including their one-off show at the O2 Academy, but as a Brummie and a metal fan, it felt like a pilgrimage I just had to take.
I wasn’t wrong. The whole event felt as though it was lifted from my childhood iPod library. A whirlwind of bands I’d grown up listening to, blasting out their greatest hits and exclusive Sabbath covers. I really felt connected to the thousands of others who had all been touched by the eclectic lineup. Then there were the supergroups. Listening to Steven Tyler jam with Tom Morello, Travis Barker and Ronnie Wood was just madness.
It was very emotional. I cried through his entire solo set. It’s always devastating to see the effects of Parkinson’s take their toll on somebody’s body, but it hits that much harder when the person was so full of life. It was a testament to pushing through the limits your body sets on you and doing what you love regardless.
