Thank you and goodnight

Yesterday saw the release of the film chronicling the back to the beginning concert , held last year in Birmingham. The concert was held so that Ozzy Osbourne could say one last goodbye, similarly there would be the last Black Sabbath concert with the 4 main members. Ozzy died, surrounded by family just 17 days later. In part due to having to cut back on his medication so that he could perform.

The actual concert had around 44,000 people in the Villa park stadium, many more paid for a live stream of the concert. There were a mix of bands , the cream of heavy metal. They came to Birmingham , to play just 3 or 4 songs, one which had to be a cover of either an Ozzy song or a Sabbath song. In order to stop the film being too long there were only the covers from the bands included, and then some of them were cut back.

Yungblud performing changes was a definite highlight among the covers. The energy and delivery was perfect . Various versions of a metal supergroup had a mix of members, they also had a rotation of singers performing covers. Many relied on written note or an autocue, though some knew the songs . Whitfield Crane covering believer was a high point among high points. I wont mention any names, but 1 singing drummer appeared to have the lyrics to his song on a drum skin.

Apparently during the 10 hours of music there were tributes from people who couldn't attend, all sharing their love for Ozzy and Black Sabbath. Many bands stated that their influence was the reason they were in a band. Many had grown up listening to either Ozzy or Sabbeth, or often both. Many of the bands had already recorded covers within their normal repertoire. The first time I saw Pantera , they covered Planet Caravan .

Ozzy was my first proper concert, tickets bought with my own money. July 10th 1988, a room off from a night club, hot and sweaty. A few buckets of water were chucked and much fun was had by all. On lead guitar that night was an unassuming young blonde kid, white t-shirt and jeans. Seemed nervous but had so much fun he had to be pulled off stage at the end. He became know as Zakk Wylde. During the back to the beginning show Zakk played with both Ozzy and Pantera, 2 very different bands.

Then it was time for the last 2 performances of the day, Ozzy followed by original Sabbath. Due to his failing health and affects of his Parkinson's Ozzy performed from a black throne, with added bats on display. He was loving every second, the biggest smile he has had in many years. Even though he was hurting, although he was shaking , he sung pretty much the same as ever. The same call and response, the same statements of love and thanks to the crowd.

The camera often panned to the crowd, many a big heavy metal man in floods of tears, and to be fair I am a big heavy metal fan and broke down twice. Ozzy played 5 of his best known solo tracks, Suicide solution being a highlight. They showed all but one of those songs, the evil producers saved one song for the end.

Then it was time for arguably the first heavy metal band to play for the last time. There have been many members over the years but this is the proper one. A very nervous Bill Ward was back on drums after a very long absence, Geezer Butler played his bass with the passion of a 2o year old, Tony Iommi is just a guitar master. Then the was Ozzy on his throne, looking just as manic and mad as ever, mixing songs with some impressive face pulling.

The film included them playing 4 tracks, inevitably finishing with Paranoid. With floods of tears and cheers that was it for the concert. A final message from Ozzy and then a 55 year career came to a fitting end. Though not the end of the film, there was one more tug on the heartstrings. Even thou I knew what was going to be the final song I still broke down when it started, "mama I'm coming home" is the perfect emotional exit. My wife and I took it in turns to cry, sing or air drum throughout the film.

As the end credits begun there were photos from all of Ozzy's years performing, then the final tear jerker arrived. Ozzy and a very young Jack standing on a stage, facing an empty auditorium . Ozzy was teaching Jack how to finish a show properly. Bowing twice and then the usual refrain of " we love you all". Then it was all over, the lights came up and it was time to go. My wife and I looked at each other, both of us looking deflated but happy and sad at the same time.

The perhaps best explanation of the legacy of Ozzy was that my wife and I came at the film from very different starting points, yet got equally upset. She is much younger than me and knew Ozzy more for the Osbournes MTV series. Where as I had been given bootlegs of his solo records aged around 13. I had got into Sabbath by working backwards, I was lucky to see them together. at 2 festivals. In fact I wore a 30 year old shirt bought when Ozzy played the monsters of rock that year.

I owe Ozzy and Sabbath for the music I listen to, constant listening for 34 years. Many times I have put Sabbath or Ozzy is my music streamer as the play list subject. I can have the music playing for hours and never get bored. In fact he's playing as I write, I had to stop when changes was played.

The concert and subsequent film are a celebration of 55 years in the public eye, a chance for a proper goodbye. Ozzy knew he was near his end and wanted to go out on his terms.

Ozzy, thankyou and goodnight.