Billy Corgan recently shared his observations about Ozzy Osbourne’s condition during what many believed could be the metal legend’s final performance. He spoke in an interview with KROQ.
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman reflected on his experience at Ozzy’s “Back To The Beginning” concert in Birmingham. He described his close observations of the Black Sabbath icon’s physical and mental state during the event.
“I just went through it, of course, a few weeks ago in Birmingham with the [‘Back To The Beginning’] concert,” Corgan said. “But now to see this, it’s even more overwhelming.”
Corgan acknowledged that Ozzy’s physical condition was a concern for those around him during the performance.
“Well, I was around him, and obviously people were paying a lot of attention to the shape he was in,” he continued. “He was obviously not at a hundred percent.”
However, Corgan noted that despite physical limitations, Ozzy’s spirit remained strong. He recounted an interaction during a group photo session.
“But if anybody’s seen those group photos where it was, like, me and Metallica and so many of the artists playing, we were in this group photo, and the photographer was Ross Halfin, a very famous rock photographer, and we’ve all shot with Ross for years,” Corgan explained. “And he’s been shooting Ozzy for 45 years. And Ozzy was cussing him out, just like you would hear in an episode of ‘The Osbournes’.”
The musician reflected on how this behavior gave him hope about Ozzy’s condition and the potential impact of the concert on his well-being.
“So I saw nothing in his spirit that told me that he was anywhere near the end of his life,” Corgan said. “And talking about it with the band, we were almost thinking that maybe this concert was the thing that kept him going. Maybe the idea that there was this rainbow at the end of this particular road, maybe that kept his spirits up.”
Corgan emphasized the emotional impact of witnessing the reverence shown to Ozzy by fellow rock stars at the event.
“And I am not saying once it was over, he was over. I’m just saying maybe the concert actually elongated his life because he had something to fight for, something to strive for, and to see how much that show and those artists meant to him,” he continued. “I mean, we all watch through our phone these days, but I was there, I was watching everybody turn into a little kid again because for a hard rock — you’ve got Tool there, you’ve got Morello there, for bands like us, Sabbath has always been an alternative band; we never saw them as just a metal band. So the greatest rock stars in the world, we were all there for one reason. And there was so much love for Ozzy. When you see it in person, it was so humbling to be a part of that.”
Corgan’s observations take on deeper meaning when viewed against the backdrop of what would become a historic farewell performance for the metal legend.
Wikipedia documented that the “Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham marked Ozzy Osbourne’s final live performance. The event also marked the first time the original Black Sabbath lineup performed together in over 20 years. The event drew an audience of 45,000 fans who witnessed what many considered a monumental moment in rock history.
The concert’s significance extended beyond nostalgia. Wikipedia reported that despite being unable to walk due to advanced Parkinson’s disease, Ozzy sang seated on a throne throughout the performance. The event successfully raised £140 million for Parkinson’s research and children’s hospitals. It transformed what could have been merely a farewell into a meaningful charitable endeavor.
The timing of Corgan’s reflections proved particularly poignant. Ozzy passed away just 17 days after the concert at age 76. This proximity between the performance and his death lends weight to Corgan’s theory that having something to strive for may have indeed kept the rock icon going during his final weeks.
In the aftermath of Ozzy’s passing, Far Out Magazine revealed that Corgan has proposed establishing an annual charity concert in Ozzy’s memory. He envisions it as a way for artists to come together and honor the late musician’s legacy while continuing to raise funds for causes he cared about. He suggests that the spirit of collaboration witnessed at the Birmingham concert could become an enduring tribute.
