Despite concerns about his health, Ozzy Osbourne has insisted he will perform this July with Black Sabbath at his final gig.
Osbourne has experienced a number of health issues in recent years, including a 2019 fall that aggravated an earlier spinal injury, requiring numerous surgeries. In addition to suffering pneumonia and a longstanding infection, he has also been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s.
The last show by the frontman and the metal icons, titled ‘Back to the Beginning’, will be held at the band’s beloved Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday July 5 and will feature an all-star line-up throughout the day including the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan, Gojira, KoRn and Anthrax.
Now in a joint interview with his fellow bandmates, Osbourne has told The Guardian about having his sights set on playing the show in good health.
“I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can,” he said. “So all I can do is turn up.”
He continued: “I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.”
“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.”
Earlier this week, however, the frontman of another band on the bill, Tool, expressed doubt over Osbourne’s ability to perform.
“I’m cautious about saying, ‘Yeah! All in, he’s gonna do it’,” Maynard James Keenan said. “I don’t know what kind of modern miracles we’ll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them. So, I’m honoured to be a part of it, but I’m kinda preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best.”
Speaking about psychological impact of his health issues, the Black Sabbath frontman told The Guardian: “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 added that the reunion concert was conceived by his wife, Sharon, as “something to give me a reason to get up in the morning”.
‘Back to the Beginning’ will see Osbourne with his original Black Sabbath bandmates – guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward – for the first time in 20 years.
Speaking to NME back in February, Iommi and Sharon Osbourne teased what to expect from Sabbath’s final concert, while also providing an update on Ozzy’s health.
“He’s really great. He’s got Parkinson’s, which we all know, but he’s great and it doesn’t affect his voice,” said Sharon.
Iommi added: “This will do him good, to do this show. It really will. That’s what it’s all about: he wants to get out and do something.”
Osbourne previously stated that he would only be playing “little bits and pieces” with Black Sabbath at the final reunion gig. The frontman has since returned to the gym in order to prepare for the performance.
Elsewhere, in March, Osbourne’s guitarist Zakk Wylde teased that Osbourne could be in a “throne that flies over the stadium” for the final gig.
The upcoming concert will raise funds for three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children’s Hospice – a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa Football Club.