Final Ozzy farewell gig picture to go on display

The picture has been described as a "beautiful moment" by photographer Mark Weiss

One of the final pictures of Ozzy Osbourne on stage at his farewell gig at Villa Park is set to go on display.

The Black Sabbath frontman, who died less than two weeks after the 5 July performance at the age of 76, can be seen smiling and saluting peace signs to the 45,000 plus crowd in the picture, taken by American rock photographer Mark Weiss.

It is the latest addition being added to the Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Weiss told BBC Radio WM the shot was a "beautiful moment" of Ozzy embracing his fans.

The picture, which the Osbourne family have given permission to go on display to fans, is one of the final photographs ever taken of Ozzy on stage, where his final message to his fans was "God bless you all."

Birmingham-born Ozzy, who had Parkinson's disease, sang while seated on a black throne at the farewell performance.

Weiss said the performance was "flawless" and he was proud to be a part of it.

The picture is one of the latest additions added to the exhibition, which celebrates the life of the rock star

"He came out with those peace signs, the infamous, beautiful way of welcoming his fans," Weiss said.

"Later on when I took the photograph the museum is going to be showing, that was the very last moment when Ozzy turned, when the stage was turning, the crowd were going insane and Ozzy... put his peace sign in both hands and embraced the audience.

"It was so reminiscent of a lot of photographs I have shot of Ozzy."

Weiss first photographed the rock legend in 1981, which then followed pictures taken of the singer in the bathtub, shaving his head and posing in an Easter Bunny outfit.

But Weiss said this final image of Ozzy would "carry the history of their friendship."

"To see it now as part of his final farewell feels like the closing of a chapter I've been honoured to help tell through my lens," he said.

During the farewell gig, Ozzy told the Birmingham crowds: "You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

He was joined by the full original Black Sabbath line-up for the first time in 20 years.

Ozzy Osbourne performed his last gig at Villa Park in Birmingham on 5 July

Sam Watson, chair of Central BID, curators of the exhibition, said: "This wonderful photograph of Ozzy is so emotive and historically important we really wanted it to be part of the exhibition and are very grateful to Sharon Osbourne and her family and to Mark Weiss for allowing us the opportunity to put it on display and enable the public to come and see it."

The free exhibition, which celebrates the achievements of Ozzy Osbourne, has recently been extended until 18 January 2026.