As emotions ran high during Black Sabbath’s historic farewell show in Birmingham on July 5, Sharon Osbourne made headlines of her own by revealing that she disinvited a band from participating in the event — accusing them of trying to profit from what was meant to be a heartfelt celebration.
In an interview with Billboard ahead of the much-anticipated Back to the Beginning concert, Sharon, 72, explained her reasoning behind the last-minute decision. “They wanted to make a profit,” she said bluntly. “And it’s not the time to make a profit.”
The event, which marked the final live performance of Ozzy Osbourne with Black Sabbath, brought together a who’s who of the rock world. Artists like Metallica, Foo Fighters, Yungblud, and Tom Morello took the stage to honor the pioneers of heavy metal in their hometown of Birmingham. But one unnamed band apparently crossed the line, at least in Sharon’s eyes.
“It’s not a business moment. It’s a goodbye. A tribute. A way to say thank you to the fans, and to Ozzy. Anyone who can’t understand that doesn’t belong on that stage,” Sharon told the outlet. She declined to name the band in question but hinted she would reveal their identity after the show: “I think people will be shocked.”
Fans and music insiders alike have since been speculating who the disinvited act might be. Social media buzzed throughout the weekend with theories ranging from well-known classic rock acts to former collaborators of Sabbath. Some fans applauded Sharon’s tough stance, saying it preserved the integrity of the event, while others criticized the decision as overly controlling.
Regardless of the mystery surrounding the unnamed band, Sharon’s move underscores her longstanding reputation as a fiercely protective manager and partner. Throughout Ozzy’s career — both solo and with Sabbath — she has made high-stakes decisions with unwavering loyalty to her husband and his legacy.
The Back to the Beginning concert was an emotional and triumphant finale to a 50-plus-year journey that helped define a genre. Ozzy, 76, took the stage with fellow Sabbath legends Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler, delivering a powerful farewell to tens of thousands of fans.
For Sharon, it was also a final act of stewardship — one in which she once again put principle over profit. As she prepares for her own retirement from the music industry, her message was clear: some moments are too sacred to be sold.
And fans are now waiting to see who, exactly, thought otherwise.
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