Ozzy Osbourne is confirmed to take the stage at the forthcoming Back to the Beginning event in his native Birmingham, U.K., which is being labeled as Black Sabbath’s last-ever performance. However, due to his recent health struggles and surgeries, the 76-year-old rock legend has declared that his wild performance days are firmly in the past.
In an interview with the Guardian, Osbourne remarked, “I’ll be there, and I’ll give it my all. All I can do is show up.” The event on July 5 at Villa Park is set to feature a vast lineup of metal artists paying homage to Osbourne and the legendary band’s storied career, including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Gojira, Lamb of God, Mastodon, and many more.
Nevertheless, after Tool’s frontman Maynard James Keenan recently stated that Osbourne — who has not completed a full set since December 31, 2018 — will require “modern miracles” to take the stage due to his health challenges, Ozzy acknowledged that he is indeed facing considerable difficulties. “You wake up the next day and discover that something else has gone awry. You start to think this will never stop,” he shared regarding a series of health challenges that began with a 2019 fall that worsened a prior spinal injury and necessitated multiple surgeries, alongside pneumonia and a diagnosis of a variant of Parkinson’s.
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Regardless, Osbourne has mentioned that he has started an intense training regimen in preparation for the first performance by the original Black Sabbath lineup in two decades, where he will reunite with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. “I’m doing weights, biking, and I have someone staying at my place to assist me. It’s challenging – I’ve been immobile for such an extensive period,” Osbourne commented about his routine. “I’ve been lying down doing nothing, and the first thing that diminishes is your strength. It feels like starting fresh. I’ve got a vocal coach visiting four days a week to maintain my voice. I encounter issues walking. Additionally, I face blood pressure concerns due to blood clots in my legs. I’m accustomed to performing two hours on stage, jumping and moving around. I don’t anticipate doing much of that this time. I might be seated.”
Osbourne indicated that the reunion concert was initially proposed by his wife/manager, Sharon Osbourne, as “something to motivate me to rise in the morning.” With that in mind, Ozzy confirmed he will not perform a full set but will “only play a few songs each. I don’t want people to feel like ‘we’re getting shortchanged’, because it’s just going to be… how do I put it? … a sampling, you’ll receive a few songs each from Ozzy and Sabbath.”
Among the newly announced performers who will present a few songs alongside Guns N’ Roses and members of Judas Priest, Limp Bizkit, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Ghost, and others, as per Sharon Osbourne, are members of Soundgarden and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.
Musical director Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine informed the Guardian that there are also “some really exciting surprises that haven’t been revealed yet.”
The concert will generate funds for three charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children’s Hospice.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
