Whether attending in-person or tuning in via livestream, everyone who watched “Back to the Beginning,” a benefit concert hosted by Black Sabbath and its founding frontman, Ozzy Osbourne, knew that they were watching something more significant than an aging rock star’s last concert. While it’s true that Osbourne was going to retire after the performance, the night was more than an ending.
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It was a celebration of mutual love and respect that Osbourne and his fans had for one another. From his days pioneering heavy metal with Black Sabbath to his tenure as a prolific hard rock solo artist, and even his brief stint as a reality television star, fans have followed Osbourne through every new phase of his life and career.
Unsurprisingly, the concert was full of moving and emotional moments, not the least of which was Osbourne’s rendition of “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” When the news of his death broke less than three weeks after the concert, this live performance became even more gut-wrenching than it already was.
Ozzy Osbourne Gets Choked Up During Emotional Ballad
Ozzy Osbourne’s retirement coincided with a worsening of his complications of Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that he was first diagnosed with in 2003. (He kept this information private until 2020, although rumors about his health often sprang up following trips to the hospitals, surgeries, etc.) Complications from the disorder became so severe ahead of the “Back to the Beginning” concert that organizers planned for Osbourne to sit throughout the performance.
Still, what he was unable to do physically, he made up for tenfold in heart and emotion. Osbourne’s performance at “Back to the Beginning” was an incredibly powerful and sincere testament to his decades-long career. One of the most impactful moments came from Osbourne’s penultimate solo set, which featured hits like “Mr. Crowley,” “Crazy Train,” and, of course, “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” While the first two tracks were incredible in their own right, “Mama, I’m Coming Home” stood out among them.
Osbourne struggled to get through the lines of the song, visibly choked with emotion as he sang, Times have changed and items are strange. Here I come but I ain’t the same. Mama, I’m coming home. What was once a ballad about Osbourne being away on the road turned into something greater, more rooted in mortality. The ballad became a stunning recognition of a larger-than-life rock star’s closing chapter. I don’t care about the sunshine, yeah, cause Mama, Mama, I’m coming home.
A Beautiful Tribute To His Life Off Stage
Ozzy Osbourne released “Mama, I’m Coming Home” in 1991 on his sixth studio album, No More Tears. Osbourne pulled the title directly from real-life experience. “Mama” was his pet name for his wife, Sharon Osbourne. When he was nearing the end of the tour, that’s what he would tell her over the phone. The power ballad is a staple in Osbourne’s solo discography. But on the day of the “Back to the Beginning” concert, the song seemed to take on a new life.
News of Osbourne’s death came just 17 days after the concert. Although the family didn’t release a cause of death with their statement, Osbourne’s health had been deteriorating for some time. As he worked through the regretful and wistful lyrics of “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” to the adoring crowd in Birmingham, it’s clear by the emotion in his face and voice that the new meaning of the song was not lost on him.
RIP to a legend.
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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