Ozzy Osbourne Meets Axl Rose for the First Time at Black Sabbath Farewell

After decades of defining rock history, Ozzy Osbourne and Axl Rose finally crossed paths—something many fans assumed had already happened long ago.

On July 7, Osbourne shared photos of himself with the Guns N’ Roses frontman following Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in Birmingham, England.

Rock Royalty Finally Collide

“My first time meeting Axl Rose, at my age you don’t get to meet many legends,” Osbourne, 76, captioned an Instagram post of the two musicians shaking hands. He added, “Seriously an utter gentleman.”

The revelation stunned fans, who flooded social media with reactions. One fan commented, “Axl said on Twitter/X earlier that he had never met Ozzy before. Blew my mind that these 2 legends never met.” Another wrote, “WILD that all this time, these two never crossed paths.” A third added, “Ozzy …your so humble …both of you Legends!”

Osbourne later shared another photo featuring himself alongside Axl Rose and Slash, cheekily captioned, “Guns N Darkness.”

A Legendary Concert to Mark the End of an Era

The legendary moment occurred during Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” concert—Osbourne’s final performance with the band—which brought together some of metal’s most iconic acts. The lineup included Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, and Anthrax.

Osbourne made his dramatic entrance from beneath the stage, seated on a gothic throne adorned with bat wings and bones. “It’s so good to be on this f—ing stage, you have no idea,” he said as the crowd roared, according to Variety. “Let the madness begin!”

Throughout the night, Osbourne performed classics including “I Don’t Know,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” and “Crazy Train.” He reunited with Black Sabbath to perform “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” and “Iron Man,” closing the show with a powerful rendition of “Paranoid.”

Health Struggles & Rock Star Resilience

Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003 and underwent his fourth spinal surgery in 2023, has remained candid about his desire to keep performing despite his health setbacks.

“I just wanna get back on that stage. I’ve gotta get back on that stage. It’s driving me nuts, not being able to,” Osbourne told Yahoo! Entertainment in 2022. “I can’t relax. I’ve always gotta be doing something.”

He added, “There’s nothing like a good gig, and there’s nothing like a bad gig—because a bad gig makes you wanna do a good gig, better than before! A great gig is better than any sex or drug. There’s nothing to compare it to.”