Ozzy’s Last Concert Raked in $200 Million for Charity—Highest Grossing Charitable Concert of All Time

Ozzy’s farewell concert is now the highest-grossing charitable concert of all time, raising over $200 million for Parkinson’s research and more.

Ozzy Osbourne’s “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert on July 5 is already legendary. The Prince of Darkness performed from a throne both as a solo artist and with his Black Sabbath bandmates in their hometown of Birmingham, featuring appearances from many of the biggest names in metal and hard rock.

Now, musical director Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello has revealed just how incredible the show actually was, raising more than $200 million for charity. That makes “Back to the Beginning” the highest-grossing charity concert of all time.

Last week, Morello posted on Instagram that the show had raised $190 million in charitable donations—a significant increase from his earlier projection of $140 million. However, tickets for the show were also raffled off to benefit charity, which pushed the total earnings beyond $200 million. Not only does that make the event the highest-grossing charity concert of all time, but it also far surpasses the $100 million raised by this year’s FireAid shows in Los Angeles.

The money will be split equally between Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Acorns Children’s Hospice, and Cure Parkinson’s, causes that were near and dear to Ozzy’s heart. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019.

The July 5 concert took place just two miles from the Crown Pub, where Black Sabbath played their first show together in 1968. Ozzy made his entrance on a rising black throne through a trapdoor and finished the show by playing with his Black Sabbath bandmates in an emotional final act. He sang five solo tracks, closing with “Crazy Train” as confetti showered the crowd, and ended the performance with Black Sabbath playing “Paranoid.”

Ozzy died just 17 days later, at the age of 76.

“Ozzy had an incredible career and life, but never forgot his Brummie roots,” said a Birmingham Children’s Hospital spokesperson. “Our hospital was extremely lucky to have his support over the years and most recently with his iconic final performance, which will leave a lasting legacy for our sick kids.”

“Thanks to Ozzy, our children’s hospice care has been embraced by people across the world,” added a spokesperson for Acorns Children’s Hospice. “Families who so often can feel unseen have been celebrated by millions.”

One of the most heartfelt moments of the performance—and perhaps of his entire career—came during one of Ozzy’s final addresses to the crowd: “I don’t know what to say, man. I’ve been laid up for, like, six years. You have no idea how I feel—thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’re all fucking special. Let’s go crazy, come on!”

The show closed with fans chanting, “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy,” as he blew kisses and waved goodbye to the crowd: a fitting final farewell for one of hard rock’s most prolific performers.