'I went to Ozzy Osbourne's last gig - it was the perfect send off that was written in the stars'

Ozzy Osbourne's death has shockedthe world, but for those of us lucky enough to be at Back to the Beginning the sad news feels like it was written in the stars. The 76-year-old rocker's last gig just weeks ago saw him leave it all on stage for one last time.

While the effect of the final show may never truly sink in, it was clearly a real end of an era as the Prince of Darkness took it back to the beginning for one last time. There was a strange anticipation in the crowds that this would be his farewell - it was like attending a funeral with the centre of the emotion still in the arena with us. And it appears today though, sadly, it was exactly that.

Seeing the legendary singer front and centre where he belonged is something that will stick with me and the 45,000 at Villa Park on July 5 forever.

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When it came to his performance, the emotion in Ozzy's trembling voice, the sincerity in his thank you messages, and the sparkle in his eye as his frail body took centre stage; you could see how much it meant to him. It was a moment many would never have expected after years of struggles, with his advanced Parkinson's disease visibly limiting the rocker.

He clearly knew this was it. No more hints at a comeback. No more what ifs. At the time, it was obvious that was sure to be his last send off - and he was determined to give it his all.

Despite his health issues being clear from his bat-adorned chair, he was prepared to go out with a bang and leave everything on the stage that has seen him rightly idolised for over five decades.

After rising from beneath in the gothic throne, which also had skulls on the arm rests, he went out in style, starting with a quartet of his solo songs. After each song, you could see how much it was sapping his energy, with water and throat sprays on hand during every short break.

But that wasn't going to stop him. Of course, it was far from a flawless display. But he continued to urge the crowd to get louder in his usual expletive way - and his smiling and stereotypical demonic stares will long live in the memory. Shouts of "come on" and "I can't f***ing hear you" bellowed out as he whipped the crowd into a frenzy after he had told everyone to "let the madness begin".

Add in the clapping and swaying while he was confined to the chair and this was as close as it was going to get to the Ozzy of old. War Pigs, N.I.B, Iron Man, and Paranoid were belted out for one last time with bandmates Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, and bassist Geezer Butler.

What had followed before Ozzy's entrance was nothing short of sensational. So many icons and legends of the genre coming together for the perfect send off for a true great. With Ronnie Wood, Steven Tyler, YungBlud, Guns N' Roses, Metallica and Pantera to name just few in the send off, it's clear how much he meant to the world of music and hinted they knew this was the end.

And that's exactly how you go out. Under the fireworks (with a cake to match). The curtain was called on Ozzy's career, but he didn't fade away under a shadow of ill health. He gave everyone one last day to remember in what had a strange sensation of a funeral and wake celebration for a loved one who was still with us.

Rest in peace, Ozzy. Thanks for the memories.

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