Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has shared heartfelt reflections on Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert appearance, just 17 days before the metal legend passed away at age 76.
Ozzy and Black Sabbath took their final bow at the July 5th Back to the Beginning tribute event — a massive celebration of their unparalleled career. Among those performing that day was Corgan, who led a rock supergroup featuring Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Adam Jones and Danny Carey of Tool.
Speaking in a recent interview with KROQ, Corgan described the event as a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience.
“To be with them on that day, it was like a magical dream. And it’s been such a high,” Corgan said. “It was such an amazing event to be part of. It was the greatest musical event I think I’ve ever been a part of as sort of a one-day thing. It was so incredible. Everyone was playing their hearts out because there was so much love for Ozzy and the band.”
Despite the emotional weight of the event, Corgan noted that Ozzy didn’t appear to be nearing the end.
“He was obviously not at 100 per cent, [but] I saw nothing in his spirit that told me that he was anywhere near the end of his life,” he recalled.
Reflecting on Ozzy’s strength and passion, Corgan speculated that the concert may have been a driving force for the legendary singer.
“Talking about it with the band, we were almost thinking that maybe this concert was the thing that kept him going. Maybe the idea that there was this rainbow at the end of this particular road, maybe that kept his spirits up,” he said.
“And I am not saying once it was over, he was over. I’m just saying maybe the concert actually elongated his life because he had something to fight for, something to strive for, and to see how much that show and those artists meant to him.”
Although Corgan didn’t spend a lot of time with Ozzy that day, one quiet moment stood out — a personal memory he now cherishes.
“There was literally nobody in the stadium except security and me and this person from another famous alternative band,” he explained. “We were literally watching Black Sabbath soundcheck with Ozzy for the last time. And Ozzy saw us down there and did the famous Ozzy peace sign to both of us down and smiled.”
Corgan said that moment will stay with him forever.
“That’s the moment I’ll always hold on to, because it was in that private moment where it was just us and the band. Both me and the other person, we both started crying because we couldn’t believe this magical dream of this band in our lives was coming to an end.”
As fans around the world continue to mourn Ozzy’s passing, Billy Corgan’s words offer a rare glimpse into the deeply emotional and spiritual atmosphere of the Prince of Darkness’s final act — a moment where music, memory, and mortality came together under one spotlight.
