After the drugs, arrests, sex and bat-biting, Ozzy says farewell

As Black Sabbath stage their final ever show, Barbara Ellen examines the impact of the band's notorious frontman

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In the run-up to Ozzy Osbourne's final show with Black Sabbath - Back To The Beginning, held at the Villa Park stadium in Aston, Birmingham yesterday - did one detect an almost biblical theme?

Here was Birmingham's prodigal son, the West Midlands Prince Of Darkness, returning to say a final goodbye to his fans in the city that made him: "I couldn't have done my final show anywhere else,” he said. "I had to go back to the beginning."

If Osbourne is the second city's homecoming king, rock'n'roll (heavy metal division) is his undisputed fiefdom. Back To The Beginning, featuring the original 1968 Black Sabbath lineup - singer Osbourne; guitarist Tommi Iommi; bassist Geezer Butler; drummer Bill Ward

sold out the 40,000-capacity stadium in minutes. The all-day event was lauded for having "the greatest heavy metal lineup ever", including Metallica, Slayer, Alice In Chains, Anthrax, Pantera and also featuring members of Guns N' Roses and Rage Against the Machine.