In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, iconic rocker Ozzy Osbourne candidly discussed his ongoing health challenges. Expressing a profound desire to connect with his fans one last time from the stage, Osbourne shared, “If I can’t continue regular shows, I just want to be well enough for one more performance where I can say, ‘Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.’ That’s my goal, and if I happen to drop dead afterward, I’ll die a happy man.”
The 74-year-old, who declared the end of his touring career in February due to physical limitations, faced setbacks when he withdrew from a scheduled music festival appearance in October. Osbourne, who suffered a severe spine injury four years ago, underwent multiple surgeries and disclosed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in January 2020.
Ozzy Osbourne (Credits: Daily Star)
Reflecting on the challenges he faced, Osbourne admitted, “The fall and subsequent surgeries really knocked me about. 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 rod in my spine. They found a tumor in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out, too. It’s pretty rough, man.”
Despite occasional performances, such as at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Osbourne has been notably absent from the stage. Throughout his illustrious career, which began with the groundbreaking heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Osbourne earned Grammy Awards for both his solo work and contributions to the band before leaving in 1979.
Known for his colorful stage presence, Osbourne achieved fame in the 1980s, marked by eccentric acts such as throwing raw meat into the audience and biting into a bat tossed on stage by a fan, mistakenly believing it to be rubber.
Navigating his health struggles one day at a time, Osbourne expressed a willingness to perform again if possible. However, he emphasized that performing as “a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy” is not an option. Drawing inspiration from fellow musician Phil Collins, who continues to perform despite similar health challenges, Osbourne acknowledged, “He gets up there in a wheelchair! But I couldn’t do that.”
