Rock history was made in July 2025 when Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath took their final bow on English soil.
The farewell bash, Back To The Beginning, was pitched as a charity mega-event — a once-in-a-lifetime Sabbath send-off, done for the greater good. Proper emotional stuff. 🖤🤘
But ever since the amps cooled and the stage lights dimmed, one question has been rattling around the rock press like a loose floor tom:
How much money did it actually raise?
Depending on which headline you read, the figure ranged from “very impressive” to “that sounds like a Marvel movie budget.” Now, Jack Osbourne has finally stepped in to kill the nonsense stone dead.
🎙️ Jack Osbourne: “That Figure Was Complete Bullshit”
Speaking in January 2026 on the Painful Lessons: Punk Rock Sober podcast, Jack didn’t sugar-coat it.
The widely reported figures of $150–$190 million raised for charity?
According to Jack, that was pure fantasy.
“This is how you know the news is probably 90% bullshit,”
Jack said.
“CNN and the New York Times were saying, ‘Ozzy raised $150 million.’ And it wasn’t that.”
No filter. No PR polish. Just the truth, mun. 😬
💡 Gross vs Net: The Bit Everyone Got Wrong
Here’s where the wires got crossed — and it’s a classic media faceplant.
Yes, Back To The Beginning pulled in huge gross revenue.
But gross revenue does not equal money handed straight to charity.
Jack explained that while the event was absolutely for charity, it was still a massive, eye-watering production:
Full festival staging International travel Accommodation for artists and crew Logistics, safety, insurance — the boring but essential bits
“No bands got paid, and most of the crew donated their time,”
Jack explained.
“But you still have to pay for the actual gig.”
Turns out charity concerts don’t magically summon free lighting rigs and teleporting road crews. Funny that. 🙃
💰 So… What Was the Real Number?
Once everything was settled — costs paid, invoices cleared, smoke machines powered down — the actual charity total came in at:
£6–7 million overall
That’s roughly $9.4 million in US money.
Jack broke it down further:
“I think when all was said and done, each charity got, like, one and a half or two million pounds each.”
That’s still serious money, mun.
Just not “buy a private jet and a small country” money.
🖤 Final Word: Still a Massive Win
Let’s be crystal clear — Back To The Beginning was not a failure. Not even close.
Historic final UK performance ✔️ Sabbath and Ozzy bowing out together ✔️ Millions raised for charity ✔️ Fans given a proper send-off ✔️
What this really exposes is how easily rock myths get inflated once headlines start chasing clicks harder than a pit chasing a dropped drumstick.
The truth might not be as flashy — but it’s still bloody impressive.
£6–7 million raised while giving heavy metal one last victory lap in England?
Proper tidy. Absolute scenes. 🖤🔥
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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