The Back to the Beginning benefit concert Black Sabbath lineup Ozzy Osbourne 's career . What seemed like a historic moment of celebration turned into tragedy a few weeks later: on July 22, Ozzy passed away at the age of 76. For Lars Ulrich Metallica 's drummer and present at the event, the contrast between the power of the performance and the sudden loss was difficult to process.
Ulrich revealed that, before the show, there were doubts about how Sabbath would perform after so long. "We were hoping for the best, we wanted it to be incredible, but we didn't know what form they would be in," the musician said in an interview on the Howard Stern Show , transcribed via Blabbermouth .
When the band launched into “War Pigs,” the uncertainty vanished. “Instantly we all thought, ‘This is fine, they sound great, maybe even better than ever.’ And then Ozzy started singing… that’s when everyone realized, ‘They’re going to destroy the stage,’” recalled Ulrich, impressed by the energy of the vocalist and the band.
Ozzy's death and its impact on Metallica.
The brilliance of the concert made the news of his death even more painful. Lars Ulrich said that no one expected that to be the last time they would see Ozzy. “We thought he would be at other events, that we would see him again. Then, when he passed away two weeks later, everyone was shocked. It was devastating.”
Ozzy's passing not only affected his bandmates but also millions of fans around the world. The show, which raised approximately £140 million for charity and sold out 45,000 tickets in 16 minutes, became, with his death, a symbol of the final farewell to one of the greatest legends in music. As Lars highlighted, Ozzy was not just an icon: he was a mentor, an inspiration, and a friend, and his absence will continue to resonate in the history of metal.
READ ALSO: Metallica pays tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in exclusive show