Ozzy Osbourne kicks off rehearsals for final ever show after sad admission

Ozzy Osbourne has begun rehearsals for his final ever show - less than two weeks before he will sing with Black Sabbath one last time. Frontman Ozzy posted a photo on social media and said simply “Hello from rehearsals!”

A walking stick could be seen in shot and Ozzy was alongside band members Geezer Butler who plays bass and drummer Bill Ward. Guitarist Tony Iommi was not in the picture. Ozzy’s wife Sharon also posted the photo and added: “reunited and rehearsing”.

A source close to the band said the rehearsals were in the UK and Ozzy had flown over for the countdown to the show.

READ MORE: Coleen Rooney turns heads in tiny bikini as she jets off to Ibiza with Wayne

READ MORE: UK Foreign Office's travel warnings for Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus

Ozzy and Black Sabbath will headline their final gig on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, as part of an event titled "Back To The Beginning". This show will reunite the original band members – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – for the first time in 20 years.

The band played its "last" gig in 2017 in Birmingham with Osborne, guitarist Iommi and bassist Butler but without Ward on drums. But last year Ozzy was not well enough to perform at the band's Rock’N’Roll Hall Of Fame inauguration in America.

In a interview earlier in the month, Tony admitted he has "excitement mixed with fear” ahead of the show, whilst he also confirmed rehearsals are due to start this month.

He said: “This would be a big, monumental thing if it all comes good. The worrying thing for me is the unknown. We don't know what's going to happen. Normally, when we'd tour, we'd rehearse and run through the thing for a while, and it's just us. But with this event there are so many other moving parts.”

He added: "You're used to Ozzy running around, but he certainly won't be doing that for this show. I don't know if he's going to be standing or sitting on a throne or what.”

Speaking to Music Week at the start of June, Tony said: “Once we start playing, then we'll know we're doing it. It's always a worry, even when we did tours before, there's always that build-up, and then it gets to the point that we do it and it's OK.”

Ozzy, who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, told last month how he has been having physical therapy and training with a trainer virtually living with him in Los Angeles in a bid to get him fit enough to perform on stage after a catalogue of illnesses.

Ozzy’s wife Sharon said: “Ozzy's working with his therapist every single day. He’s doing really well, actually. Ozzy's number one thing in life is his fans, so he's working hard to be ready for them, to make this show the perfect way to end things.”

Ozzy’s wife also told Music Week the celebration gig shows how well the band have endured through the years since they formed over 50 years ago. She said: “You've got to remember, this is a band that started in the ‘60s – and they're still here. A lot of the bands who started in the ‘60s are no longer alive, or operating as they used to.”

In May, Ozzy admitted he is suffering huge self confidence and stage fright issues ahead of his summer UK farewell show - but has vowed “to give 120 percent”.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.