OZZY OSBOURNE Reveals Brutal Health Struggles Ahead of Final Live Performance

Ozzy Osbourne has detailed the series of health battles that have sidelined him from the stage over the last six years, and shared what fans can expect from his upcoming farewell appearance at ‘Back To The Beginning’ — a massive metal celebration taking place July 5th at Villa Park in Black Sabbath’s hometown of Birmingham, UK.

In a newly published interview with The Guardian, Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon Osbourne opened up about the physical toll he’s endured following a late-night fall in early 2019. Speaking on the incident, Ozzy recalled:

“I went to the bathroom in the night, I didn’t put the light on. I thought I knew where the bed was. I was stupid, I dived and there weren’t a bed there. I landed straight on my face. I felt my neck go crunch. I went: ‘Sharon! Call an ambulance!’ She said, ‘Where the hell are you? Get into bed!’ I said: ‘Sharon, don’t ask questions.’ I thought I was going to be paralysed.”

Compounding the damage, Ozzy had just recovered from a battle with pneumonia, which had left him on ongoing IV antibiotics. The fall dislodged metal rods implanted from a 2003 ATV accident, forcing him into urgent surgery. That operation, he says, was catastrophic:

“The worst fucking surgery you can imagine. I should have got a second opinion, but you think surgeons know what the fuck they’re doing.”

According to Sharon, subsequent operations only made things worse:

“They haven’t figured out the damage. Five operations later, it just fucked his body. It was torturous for him: Parkinson’s and damage to his spine. It’s just been horrendous.”

Steel plates had been installed along Ozzy’s spine, but the screws eventually came loose, creating bone fragments and lesions. These complications led to additional procedures and long-term nerve damage. Alongside his long-hidden Parkinson’s diagnosis, the toll was immense — both physically and mentally.

Despite releasing two solo albums in the years since, Ozzy’s inability to return to the stage sent him into a depressive spiral. That’s when Sharon pitched him a final goal: one last blowout performance with Black Sabbath and a sendoff for his solo career. He remembered the moment:

“You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong. You begin to think this is never going to end. Sharon could see that I was in Doom Town, and she says to me, ‘I’ve got an idea.’ It was something to give me a reason to get up in the morning.”

The result is ‘Back To The Beginning’ — a career-capping celebration of all things Ozzy and Sabbath, bolstered by a jaw-dropping cast of special guests. While he’s currently training with a vocal coach and physical therapist, Ozzy is being realistic about his limitations:

“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.”

Mobility issues will see Ozzy perform from a throne, similar to what Dave Grohl and Axl Rose famously used after suffering leg injuries on tour. He added:

“I do weights, bike riding, I’ve got a guy living at my house who’s working with me. I’ve got a vocal coach coming round four days a week to keep my voice going. I may be sitting down, but the point is I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can.”

Sharon was firm that this will be Ozzy’s final show:

“It’s time to say ‘enough’. When you’ve given it your all, you can sit back and say: I did it.”

Ozzy agreed:

“I’d love to say ‘never say never’, but after the last six years or so … it is time. I lived on the road for 50-odd years, and I’ve kind of got used to not picking up my bags and getting on the bus again. I don’t drink. I don’t do the rock star thing anymore. I just want to spend the rest of my life with my family.”

Joining Ozzy at ‘Back To The Beginning’ will be a staggering lineup including:

Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Mastodon, Rival Sons, and more.

An all-star tribute set will also be led by Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), featuring:

Andrew Watt, Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Danny Carey (Tool), David Draiman (Disturbed), David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth), Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Jonathan Davis (Korn), Slash, KK Downing, Jake E. Lee, Mike Bordin, Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Steven Tyler, Wolfgang Van Halen, II (Sleep Token), and others.

Expect surprises, tributes, and what promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime farewell for the Prince of Darkness.

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