Ozzy Osbourne admitted he ‘can’t stand up right’ in a heartbreaking interview less than a year ago – and fans are voicing concerns over the rocker’s health after he announced Black Sabbath’s final ever gig.
The musician, whose health has delayed he and wife Sharon’s move back to the UK, has undergone seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal surgery in September 2023, and has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2003.
It was revealed on Wednesday that his band is preparing to reunite for the first time in 20 years alongside a host of other big names.
The original line-up of heavy metal legends Black Sabbath will play together at a one-off concert in Birmingham, UK, this summer.
The show will take place on July 5 at the birthplace of the band and will feature Ozzy, 76, Tommy, bᴀssist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward.
However, it came as an unexpected move as in a March 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, Ozzy admitted he wasn’t optimistic about being on stage again.
Ozzy Osbourne admitted he ‘can’t stand up right’ in a heartbreaking interview from less than a year ago, as fans are voicing concerns over the rocker’s health
The musician has undergone seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal surgery in September 2023, and has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2003 (pictured in 1992)
When quizzed on the possibility, he responded: ‘I would love to, but I can’t stand up right. Maybe I’ll do something one day. I miss it terribly.’
The star was then asked if he would consider doing ‘ a short set if inducted into the Rock Hall,’ to which he responded: ‘Maybe. We’ll see.’
The British musician was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson’s disease in 2003, however he only went public with the condition in 2020.
However, Ozzy has said that his biggest struggles are due to a fall which he suffered in 2019 which caused metal rods in his back to dislodge.
The rods had been put there following a quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire home in 2003.
He told Rolling Stone UK magazine: ‘The second surgery went drastically wrong and virtually left me crippled.
‘I thought I’d be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a f*ing rod in my spine.
‘They found a tumour in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too. It’s pretty rough, man, and my balance is all f*ed up.’
The Prince of Darkness also said how he has ‘ten tears left’ to live as he recalled a disagreed with his wife over smoking cannabis.
However, in a March 2024 interview Ozzy admitted he wasn’t optimistic about being on stage again
Black Sabbath pictured in the 70s – L-R: (back) Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, (front) Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne – posed, group sH๏τ
Read More Sharon Osbourne emerges for the first time in months as she supports husband Ozzy 
‘[Sharon] said, “What are you doing that for! It’ll f****** kill you!” I said, “How long do you want me to f****** live for?!”‘.
Going on to say: ‘At best, I’ve got ten years left and when you’re older, time picks up speed. Me and Sharon had our 41st wedding anniversary recently, and that’s just unbelievable to me!’.
Sharon, who shares three children with the star, described her husband’s numerous surgeries as ‘five years of heartache’.
‘I’ve just felt so helpless and so bad for Ozzy, to see him going through the pain. He’s gone through all these operations and the whole thing has felt like a nightmare’.
She continued: ‘He hasn’t lost his sense of humour, but I look at my husband, and he’s here while everyone else is out on the road. This is the longest time he hasn’t ever worked for. Being at home for so long has been so foreign to him’.
Ozzy also explained his previous devestation of being unable to do one last gig for his fans, after being forced to cancel his tour in 2023.
‘That’s one of the things I’ve been the most ҒUCҜing pissed off at: I never got the chance to say goodbye or thank you’.
Before adding: ‘That’s my goal to work to. To do those shows. I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say :”Hi guys, thanks so much for my life”.
Sharon, who shares three children with the star, described her husband’s numerous surgeries as ‘five years of heartache’ (pictured 2017)
The British musician was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson’s disease in 2003, however he only went public with the condition in 2020 (pictured 2014)
‘That’s what I’m working towards, and if I drop down ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at the end of it, I’ll die a happy man.’
In October 2024, the Black Sabbath star joked: ‘I’m nearly f***ing ᴅᴇᴀᴅ!’ as he opened up about his health issues and the complication that causes him the most issues.
In an interview with The Sun, Ozzy revealed he hasn’t walked properly since he underwent a surgery after his fall in 2019.
The star went into more details as he revealed he tripped during a bathroom visit in the night and fell over and landed wrong.
He explained: ‘I went to the doctor’s and you ᴀssume everybody knows what they’re doing. My son Jack has a video of me going into surgery, saying, “I’ll see you in a few minutes”. I haven’t walked properly since.’
Ozzy confessed he believes too much blame for his predicament has been placed on his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
He argued: ‘I mean, when I came off the quad bike in 2003, I still did tours and I had Parkinson’s back then. It was THAT f*****g surgery.’
Sharon and Ozzy’s move back to the UK was delayed for months due to his various health struggles.
On a July 2023 episode of The Osbournes, which co-stars the couple’s kids Kelly and Jack Osbourne, Sharon said, ‘It just seems that every time we’re set to go [back to England], something happens with Ozzy’s health.’
In October 2024, the Black Sabbath star joked: ‘I’m nearly f***ing ᴅᴇᴀᴅ!’ as he opened up about his health issues and the complication that causes him the most issues
Ozzy previously confessed he believes too much blame for his predicament has been placed on his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
‘We’ll get there,’ Sharon said, adding, ‘We wanna go back so bad, but we’ll get there. Won’t we, Ozzy?’
The pair first announced their plans to relocate overseas, where they’re from, in August 2022 – and they finally became a reality in November 2023.
While many fans of the band are ecstatic and anxiously waiting to be able to try and get their hands on tickets, some have highlighted concerns over whether Ozzy will be well enough to perform.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, concerned fans said: ‘Wonder if this will really happened! Ozzy’s health hasn’t been that great! I hope so, though! Sure sounds cool!’;
‘The big question is will Ozzy make it to that stage? Hopefully they will make arrangements that make it easier and safe for him to perform with his health issues,’;
‘I hate to be that guy, but there’s no chance this actually happens right? Ozzy hasn’t performed in years due to his health and canceled multiple appearances/shows. Line-up is insane though lol,’;
‘Not that long ago, Ozzy barely could give an acceptance speech on the Rock And Roll HOF, while being seated. Really hoping that his health and condition improved since then. But that being said, hardly feasible that Ozzy will be in singing condition,’;
‘Considering Ozzy and Geezer’s health I fear this will end up being incredibly sad to go watch, I can’t see how Ozzy will be able to do a set at all,’;
‘Wondering how long Sabbath will play for with that amount of bands and with Ozzy’s health.’
While many fans are ecstatic and anxiously waiting to be able to try and get their hands on tickets, some have highlighted concerns over whether Ozzy will be well enough to perform (Seen with daughter Kelly in 2020)
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, concerned fans said: ‘ Wonder if this will really happened! Ozzy’s health hasn’t been that great! I hope so, though! Sure sounds cool!
Meanwhile MailOnline readers echoed their sentiments as they said: ‘How can he do it? He has Parkinson’s both his movements and voice will be seriously impeded’
Read More Ozzy Osbourne, 76, announces final Black Sabbath gig as band reunite for first time in 20 years 
Meanwhile MailOnline readers echoed their sentiments as they said: ‘How can he do it? He has Parkinson’s both his movements and voice will be seriously impeded. Good luck to them but I think there will be a lot of backing support from sound engineers and singers,’;
‘Went to see them in Birmingham when the original line up got back together. What a fantastic night. Not sure if Oz can perform as he did back then, but if Jagger can still do it, why not.?’;
‘It wasn’t that long ago Sharon said her and Ozzy wanted to live back in the UK because of the Gun violence in America but said he wasn’t well enough to travel,sounds like a miracle has happened so let’s see if they come back now he seems healthier.’
Ozzy’s wife Sharon was at the announcement of the new show at Birmingham’s Villa Park, the concert venue, on Wednesday alongside the band’s guitarist Tony Iommi.
Sharon proudly held up a Villa football shirt with Ozzy’s name on the back as she posed pitchside.
The group pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man.
Since their last gig together in 2005, Black Sabbath has played in partial reunions but never in their original line-up.
Ozzy’s wife Sharon Osbourne has also admitted the show will be a testing experience for the star.
She told The Sun: ‘He’s very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease.
‘It’s not something you can stabilise. It affects different parts of the body and it’s affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it’s ever been.’
Profits from the show will be shared equally between the charities Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, with the Parkinson’s charity being selected by Sharon and Ozzy.
What is Parkinson’s ?
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition. The illness effects the nerve cells in the brain that control movement.
Over time the symptoms gradually get worse. It can cause symptoms related to movement as well as pain, depression and loss of smell.
Most people who get Parkinson’s are over 60, but one in ten are under 50 and it affects more men than women.
What causes the symptoms?
Nerve cells in the brain send messages to the rest of out body to control our movements. This is done using chemicals called neurotransmitters.
An area of the brain called the substantia nigra produces one of the neurotransmitters that controls movement: dopamine. But in 70 to 80 per cent of people with Parkinson’s these dopamine producing cells deteriorate and die.
The loss of dopamine-producing neurons results in low levels of dopamine in the part of the brain that controls movement and balance.
Source: Parkinson’s Europe
