“Back To The Beginning” Is A Livestream Success
A livestream of Ozzy Osbourne’s last-ever live performance (7/ 5) at the “Back To The Beginning” event at the Villa Park in Birmingham, U, K. was viewed by more than five million fans worldwide.
Ozzy’s solo set, with backing by guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos, consisted of “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution” and “Crazy Train” from 1980’s “Blizzard Of Ozz” — along with the “No More Tears” ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
“Blizzard Of Ozz” was Ozzy’s debut solo album following his firing from Black Sabbath in 1979.
It was also the first of two studio albums Osbourne recorded with guitarist Randy Rhoads (who died in a plane crash in1982 while on tour with Ozzy).
Blizzard Of Ozz
Black Sabbath
Ozzy was then joined by fellow original Black Sabbath members, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler) and drummer Bill Ward for “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid.”
More than 40,000 fans attended the event, which also saw performances by Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Guns N’ Roses, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God and Anthrax, among others. They played covers of Ozzy/Sabbath songs in addition to their own material.
Profits from the show will be shared equally between the charities Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
A livestream of the daylong event was announced in June. While it was called a livestream, the video was delayed two hours from the in-arena start time.
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