Gauntlet Gallery
What is Shepard Fairey’s piece called “Ozzy Back To The Beginning”?
Artist Statement
The "Back to the Beginning" concert this past Saturday in Birmingham was the final Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne show ever. I was unable to attend, but the video footage of the stellar lineup looked epic! Black Sabbath has been one of my favorite bands for 35 years, and I'm also a big fan of Ozzy's solo material. I was fortunate enough to meet Jack and Sharon Osbourne through my friend Big Dave in 2000. My relationship with the Osbournes has led to several great Ozzy and Sabbath projects over the years, including several prints, t-shirts, and the art for Sabbath's vinyl box set, The Ten Year War. For the "Back to the Beginning" show, Sharon asked me to design a poster with a portrait of Ozzy inspired by the Sabbath Volume 4 cover. I was honored to see that the "Back to the Beginning" type I designed as part of the print could be seen onstage at the concert! I've seen Sabbath and Ozzy live many times over the years, and I'm grateful for the incredible music and memories. One of my biggest "I'm not worthy!" moments took place when Dave took me backstage to hang with the Sabbath guys in 2004 at Ozzfest, and bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler was wearing an Obey shirt! Since I'm reflecting nostalgically, here's a bit of my Sabbath history: I came to Black Sabbath in my late teens at a time when I was listening mostly to punk, so the faster tempo of the song "Paranoid" was immediately appealing to me. It provided the gateway for me to dive into the groundbreaking "Paranoid" album and the rest of Sabbath's music enthusiastically. I often played the song "Paranoid" over and over for an adrenaline boost while skating my mini-ramp. I methodically acquired all of the Sabbath albums with the original lineup, fronted by Ozzy, and they all have great material, with their self-titled debut, Paranoid, Master of Reality, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and Sabotage all being masterpieces. Cliffhanger ALERT!… There is a prequel to this Ozzy print coming out next week, so if you are an Ozzy fan, stay tuned for the print and backstory! -Shepard PRINT DETAILS: Ozzy Back to the Beginning. 18 x 24 inches. Screen print on 80# True White Speckletone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 500. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $70.
Summary
Ozzy Back To The Beginning is a 2025 screen print by Shepard Fairey, published by Obey Giant in a signed, numbered first edition of 500. It measures 18 x 24 inches on 80# True White Speckletone paper and was issued at $70. The print features a portrait of Ozzy Osbourne inspired by the Black Sabbath Volume 4 cover, designed at Sharon Osbourne's request as the poster for the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in Birmingham, the final Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne show. Fairey notes the 'Back to the Beginning' type he designed appeared onstage at the concert. It ships with a digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart.
Why It Matters
This print documents a landmark moment in rock history: the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in Birmingham that the source describes as the final Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne show ever. Commissioned by Sharon Osbourne as the official poster and with Fairey's custom 'Back to the Beginning' type appearing onstage, the piece is directly woven into the event rather than a retrospective tribute, which gives it strong documentary value. Fairey's accompanying narrative deepens its significance, recounting a 35-year relationship with Black Sabbath's music and a personal connection to the Osbournes dating to 2000, including artwork for Sabbath's Ten Year War vinyl box set. The portrait's basis in the Volume 4 album cover ties it to a specific era of the band's catalog that fans will recognize. For collectors of Fairey's extensive music output, this print belongs to a deep lineage of his Sabbath and Ozzy projects, and its connection to a final farewell performance gives it lasting resonance. It exemplifies how Fairey's personal fandom, longstanding artist relationships, and graphic design intersect to produce work that is both a collectible and a piece of concert history.
Collector Perspective
This print is a natural target for music collectors, especially fans of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and Fairey's long catalog of band-related work. Its commission as the official poster for the final Black Sabbath and Ozzy show gives it concert-history significance that elevates it above a generic portrait, and the Volume 4-inspired image will resonate with longtime fans. At 18 x 24 inches and an edition of 500, it displays well in a music-themed grouping and connects to Fairey's earlier Ozzy and Sabbath releases. The $70 price and Verisart certificate make it accessible, and its documented tie to a once-in-a-lifetime farewell event adds collector appeal for those who value provenance.
Historical Context
Ozzy Back To The Beginning extends Fairey's decades-long engagement with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, a relationship he traces to meeting Jack and Sharon Osbourne in 2000 and to projects including prints, t-shirts, and the art for Sabbath's Ten Year War vinyl box set. The print was created at Sharon Osbourne's request as the poster for the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in Birmingham, which the source identifies as the final Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne show. By basing the portrait on the Volume 4 album cover, Fairey connects the work to a specific point in the band's history. As a 2025 Obey Giant release within his broad music catalog, it stands as both a personal tribute and an official document of a farewell concert, with the source noting a related prequel print to follow.
FAQ
What concert is this print connected to?
According to Fairey, the print was the poster for the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in Birmingham, which the source describes as the final Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne show ever. Sharon Osbourne asked Fairey to design it, and he notes his 'Back to the Beginning' type appeared onstage at the concert.
What is the portrait based on?
Fairey states the portrait of Ozzy was inspired by the Black Sabbath Volume 4 album cover. He describes a 35-year love of Black Sabbath's music and a relationship with the Osbournes dating to meeting Jack and Sharon in 2000.
What are the edition details?
It is a screen print on 80# True White Speckletone paper measuring 18 x 24 inches. The source states it is a signed, numbered first edition of 500, published by Obey Giant in 2025 at $70, and it comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart.
Is there a related print?
Yes. The source notes a 'cliffhanger,' stating there is a prequel to this Ozzy print coming out the following week, inviting Ozzy fans to stay tuned for the additional print and its backstory.
Related Works
About the Artist
Shepard Fairey (b. 1970, Charleston, South Carolina) is an American street artist, graphic designer, and activist, and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. His 1989 “André the Giant Has a Posse” sticker grew into the global OBEY GIANT campaign — an ongoing experiment in propaganda, obedience, and visual culture. He reached worldwide recognition with the 2008 “Hope” portrait of Barack Obama, now held by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Across screen prints, stencils, murals, and collage, Fairey channels propaganda aesthetics toward themes of peace, justice, environmentalism, and civil rights. His work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and LACMA.