Ozzy Osbourne says he'll 'do the best I can' ahead of final Black Sabbath gig amid health fears
Ozzy Osbourne has opened up about his health issues ahead of what will be his final ever live show with Black Sabbath - the legendary heavy metal band he fronted for many years
Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, has pledged to "do the best I can" as he gears up for his final live performance with the band.
The 76 year old singer, who has been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson's and has faced numerous health challenges over the years, will not be touring again. Instead, Ozzy and Black Sabbath are set to headline their last gig on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, an event dubbed "Back To The Beginning".
This concert will mark the reunion of the original band members – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – for the first time in two decades.
When asked about his return to the stage, Ozzy stated: "I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up."
As for what fans can anticipate, he further commented: "We're only playing a couple of songs each. I don't want people thinking 'we're getting ripped off', because it's just going to be ... what's the word? ... a sample, you're going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath."
The show will also showcase performances from various heavy metal bands, including Metallica, Slayer, and Pantera, reports the Mirror.
However, due to Ozzy's deteriorating health, he won't be able to perform a full set. In addition to Parkinson's, he suffered a fall at home in 2019 that exacerbated injuries from a near-fatal quad bike accident in 2003, halting his No More Tours 2 shows in Europe and the UK.
The tour had previously been postponed multiple times due to illness, the Covid pandemic, and logistical complications.
In a heartfelt chat with the Guardian, Ozzy Osbourne revealed the toll on his health, saying: "You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong. You begin to think this is never going to end."
He also shared that the idea for Black Sabbath's reunion show was Sharon's brainchild, designed as "something to give me a reason to get up in the morning".
The iconic group gave what was thought to be their final performance in 2017 in their native Birmingham, featuring Osborne, guitarist Iommi, and bassist Butler—though Ward was notably absent from the drums. Last year, however, Ozzy's health issues meant he couldn't attend Black Sabbath's Rock'N'Roll Hall Of Fame induction in the U.S..
Formed in Birmingham, Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward took Black Sabbath from their humble beginnings to explosive success. Their debut album cracked the UK top 10 back in 1970, launching them into heavy metal greatness with global sales exceeding 75 million albums.
After being enshrined into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, the band's legacy was further cemented when Osbourne garnered a second individual honor last year. 2022 also saw Ozzy celebrate Birmingham once again, lighting up the Commonwealth Games' closing ceremony.
Moreover, Osbourne reached new heights of fame with his family, including wife Sharon—who he married in '82—and children Aimee, Jack, and Kelly, on the hit reality TV show 'The Osbournes'. And now, their upcoming July 5th concert is giving back, with all profits earmarked for charities such as Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice, which gets support from the football club Aston Villa.