Ozzy Osbourne has collaborated with rescued chimpanzees to create expressionist paintings for charity.
For Florida sanctuary Save The Chimps, the Black Sabbath frontman has painted five canvases for chimps to create artwork on. Save The Chimps rescues apes from animal-testing labs, neglectful zoos, and wildlife trackers.
Speaking about the collaboration, Ozzy said (via The Guardian): “I paint because it gives me peace of mind, but I don’t sell my paintings. I’ve made an exception with these collaborations as it raises money for Save the Chimps.”
Wife Sharon Osbourne also gave a statement, saying: “Chimps are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, and I’m really proud of Ozzy for helping look after them.”
Ozzy’s philanthropical work comes shortly after his final Black Sabbath gig in Birmingham, which raised a “ton of money” for three different charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
Black Sabbath’s final gig took place on July 5, and saw a giant line-up of metal legends congregate to say farewell to the iconic band.
The show recruited a music director in the form of Rage Against The Machine‘s Tom Morello, and saw Ozzy Osbourne give a final solo performance rising up from beneath the stage on a giant winged throne.
Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Gojira, Anthrax, Guns N’ Roses, KoRn, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, and many more also performed on the night.
Tool’s Danny Carey, Blink-182’s Travis Barker and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith took part in a drum-off on the night while covering Sabbath’s ‘Symptom Of The Universe’, and were backed by a formidable supergroup consisting of Morello, bassist Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne’s solo material), and Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.
More surprises were unleashed on the night – Morello, Steven Tyler, Travis Barker and The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood came together to cover Led Zeppelin, while Yungblud led another supergroup in a version of ‘Changes’, which they dedicated to the late footballer Diogo Jota.
Elsewhere, Sharon Osbourne and Tony Iommi told us about Black Sabbath’s finale: “Usually this thing is done when you’re dead”.
