Ozzy Osbourne says that he’ll “do one of the best” he can when he performs his last gig this summer time.
The legendary heavy steel singer introduced his last-ever efficiency on February 5, revealing that the unique members of BLACK SABBATH are reuniting for the primary time in 20 years for the present. Becoming a member of them on the live performance known as “Again To The Starting”, which is able to happen on July 5 at at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, shall be a bunch of steel bands SABBATH impressed, together with METALLICA, SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, PANTERA and ANTHRAX.
Ozzy — who hasn’t performed a full present since late 2018, earlier than present process intensive spinal surgical procedure and revealing he had been recognized with Parkinson’s illness — informed The Guardian concerning the upcoming live performance: “I will be there, and I will do one of the best I can. So all I can do is flip up.”
Addressing his bodily illnesses, Ozzy stated: “You get up the following morning and discover that one thing else has gone unsuitable. You start to suppose that is by no means going to finish.”
He stated the SABBATH reunion live performance was conceived by his spouse and supervisor, Sharon, as “one thing to provide me a motive to rise up within the morning”.
“I do weights, bike driving, I’ve obtained a man dwelling at my home who’s working with me. It is robust — I have been laid up for such a very long time,” Ozzy stated. “I have been mendacity on my again doing nothing and the very first thing to go is your energy. It is like beginning another time. I’ve obtained a vocal coach coming spherical 4 days every week to maintain my voice going. I’ve issues strolling. I additionally get blood strain points, from blood clots on my legs.”
The singer continued: “I am used to doing two hours on stage, leaping and working round. I do not suppose I will be doing a lot leaping or working round this time. I could also be sitting down.”
He added: “We’re solely enjoying a few songs every. I do not need folks considering ‘we’re getting ripped off’, as a result of it is simply going to be … what is the phrase? … a pattern, you are going to get a number of songs every by Ozzy and SABBATH.”
This previous February, Sharon informed The Solar that her husband is struggling to stroll amid his battle with Parkinsons illness, however that his singing voice is “nearly as good as ever”. She stated: “[Ozzy‘s] very comfortable to be coming again and really emotional about this.
“Parkinson’s is a progressive illness. It is not one thing you may stabilize. It impacts completely different elements of the physique and it is affected his legs. However his voice is nearly as good because it’s ever been.”
On final month’s episode of SiriusXM‘s Ozzy Speaks, Ozzy provided a well being replace, saying: “I am in heavy coaching for this [‘Back To The Beginning’ concert] that is arising. I have never completed something for — this shall be seven years [since I played a full concert], and so I have been by way of all this surgical procedure. It truly is like ranging from scratch.”
Requested what kind of coaching he’s going by way of in the meanwhile, Ozzy stated: “Effectively, it is endurance coaching. The very first thing to go once you’re laid up is your stamina, so consider it or not, I am doing two units of three-minute walks a day and weight coaching. I’ve gotta get going, you realize.”
He defined: “I am waking up in my physique. I imply, three minutes to you, as an example, is nothing, however I have been laying on my again recovering from umpteen surgical procedures.”
As for what his look at [“Back To The Beginning” might entail, Ozzy said: “I’m not planning on doing a set with BLACK SABBATH but I am doing little bits and pieces with them. I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable.”
The 76-year-old heavy metal singer, who revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, added that he is doing what he can to get ready for the Villa Park concert.
“I am trying to get back on my feet,” he said. “When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I’m not dead. I’m still actively doing things.”
Ozzy talked in more detail about his condition on his SiriusXM radio show. He said: “I have made it to 2025. I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive. I may be moaning that I can’t walk but I look down the road and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it.”
Proceeds from the “Back To The Beginning” show will support Cure Parkinson’s, the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The concert will mark the first time that Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have played together in 20 years.
Sharon told BBC News about Ozzy: “He’s doing great. He’s doing really great. He’s so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It’s exciting for everyone.”
According to Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring “for now” in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery and rescheduled his “No More Tours 2” shows from going ahead several times because of illness, the pandemic and logistical issues, will not play any more shows after the Villa Park event.
“Ozzy didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there’s no been no full stop,” she explained. “This is his full stop.”
In addition, there will be a performance by a “supergroup of musicians” including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS ‘N’ ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).
“It’s an endless amount of people,” said Sharon. “They’re going to be doing some SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and they’ll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they’re all icons.”
The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.
“For Ozzy right now, it’s definitely: ‘I love you and good night’,” Sharon told Reuters.
She added that Ozzy was doing well and excited about the gig. “It’s stimulated him,” she said. “He’s very, very excited and very thankful that he can do it.”
The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson’s. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was ‘stricken” with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.
Ozzy‘s health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.
While Osbourne‘s health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.
Osbourne‘s previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February 2023.
Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.