Ozzy: I’m too weak to tour anymore...
Star cancels dates after surgery
OZZY Osbourne has quit touring as he isn’t “physically capable” of performing a string of shows due to extensive spinal surgery.
The 74-year-old former Black Sabbath singer had a fall at home in 2019 which aggravated injuries from a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003.
Since then, Ozzy performed in the closing ceremony at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and an NFL game in the US in September.
He had dates lined up in Europe and the UK for May and June this year, which had already been pushed back after being announced in 2018.
But in a message on social media yesterday, he said: “This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans.
“As you may all know, four years ago this month I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine. My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage.”
Ozzy said his singing voice is “fine” but that, following three operations, stem cell treatments, physical therapy and cybernic exoskeletion treatment, his body is “still physically weak”.
He added: “I am honestly humbled by the way you’ve all patiently held on to your tickets for all this time but in all good conscience I have now come to the realisation that I’m not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/uk tour dates, as I know I couldn’t deal with the travel required.”
The singer said that the thought of letting down fans hurt him more than “you will ever know”.
He added: “Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way.”
His team is now working on how he can perform without travel from “city to city and country to country”.
Ozzy was vocalist of heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath, which he formed in 1968 in Birmingham with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward.
After hits including Paranoid and Changes, he was sacked in 1979 due to his substance abuse. He then embarked on a successful solo career.
In 2002, he and his Us-based family – wife Sharon, 70, and their three children – also starred in the TV reality series The Osbournes. But in 2019 he had surgery after a fall at home aggravated damage from the quad bike accident 16 years earlier.
Since then, he has had two more procedures. He is also battling Parkinson’s disease and is now using a
cane. He has said: “I feel like I’m walking around in lead boots.”
In September last year, Ozzy said he was keen to tour. He said: “I am determined to get back on stage even if I have to be nailed to a board and wheeled on. Survival is my legacy.”
His most recent album, Patient Number 9, was released in September and reached No2 in the UK charts.