Black Sabbath perform last ever concert together

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Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne performs during a concert in Prague, Czech Republic in June. Credit: PA

Heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath brought an end to decades of live performances in their final concert last night.

Nearly half a century since their first gigs, the Birmingham band returned to their home town with renowned frontman Ozzy Osbourne for their swansong set.

Thousands of fans from around the world descended on Birmingham's Genting Arena to see the Prince of Darkness, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler perform their famous hits together one last time.

Credited with creating the heavy metal genre in the depths of 1960s industrial Birmingham, the band went on to release 19 studio albums and 31 singles.

Known for once biting the head off a live bat on stage, 68-year-old Osbourne signed off with a performance of their 1970 classic, Paranoid, and thanked fans as balloons and confetti rained down.

Fans tweeted from the crowd about the experience of seeing the band performing together for the last time, with one describing their sound as the "heaviest music anyone had ever heard".

Fans needn't despair entirely though - Ozzie Osbourne will continue to perform as a solo artist.