Sharon Osbourne has finally put an end to the mystery surrounding the numbers for Back to the Beginning , the historic concert honoring Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath . In a recent episode of The Osbournes Podcast , the family matriarch revealed that the event, held in June, grossed a net total of $11 million.
This final figure puts an end to months of speculation. At the time, shortly after the show, musical director Tom Morello publicly estimated that the box office would be around $190 million, a number that Sharon immediately disputed.
Now, she confirms that the Osbourne family will donate the $11 million in equal parts to three institutions: Birmingham Children's Hospital, Acorn Children's Hospice, and Cure Parkinson's.
The reality of the costs and the generosity of the bands.
During the podcast, Sharon actively explained why the final number differs from the initial estimates, detailing the complex logistics behind the massive event.
"It raised 11 [million]. But with the cost, because we paid for the cost of bringing everyone, accommodation, everything," she explained.
However, the most crucial aspect of the fundraising was the sheer generosity of the artists involved. Sharon made a point of emphasizing that none of the rock legends who performed on stage charged a single cent.
“No one was paid. No one asked for a cent. They gave their time, their efforts, everything for free. People were… oh, God… so generous.”
In fact, bands like Metallica , Guns N' Roses , Slayer , Tool , and Pantera played voluntarily, paying tribute to Ozzy and Black Sabbath, the band that, according to her, "gave us metal."
Furthermore, Sharon reiterated why she felt the need to publicly correct Tom Morello's estimate. According to her, it was crucial to "moderate expectations" and keep the discussion "grounded in reality."
“If a concert could gross $190 million… artists would do a concert, film it, and then retire. No, it wasn’t even close to that, although I wish it had been,” she said.
Finally, the most recent episode of the podcast also stood out for its emotion, as Jack, Sharon, and Kelly openly discussed the grief, loss, and love they feel following Ozzy's passing in July.
Read the full testimony:
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