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Under a sky of fireworks surrounded by crying fans, Black Sabbath played their last gig where it all began

Black Sabbath have officially retired with their last show in Birmingham.

The legends of heavy rock performed 15 songs in a heavily nostalgic two hour set, ending with their first hit Paranoia.

Photo credit Facebook @BlackSabbath
Photo credit Facebook @BlackSabbath

In an emotional send off, fans were crying as Black Sabbath said their final goodbye, cementing a cultural and musical legacy.

Black Sabbath set out on their final tour in January 2016, playing 81 gigs across four continents.

Lead singer Ozzy Osbourne thanked his fans, with original bandmates Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler sharing the stage with drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboard player Adam Wakeman.

“Thank you, goodnight, thank you so much,” Osbourne said.

Osbourne spoke to BBC before the final show, admitting he was “a whirlwind of emotions.” The significance of Birmingham goes back to the roots of the band, where they played their first shows in local pubs.

“I remember playing the Crown Pub in Birmingham and thinking, ‘This’ll be good for a couple of years – drink a few beers and have a jam’. (…) But it was the beginning of the most incredible adventure you could think of. I’ve had the best life out of it,” he told BBC.

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward formed Black Sabbath in 1968 and are credited with establishing the heavy metal genre.