Ozzy Osbourne says he’s done with touring for good
The 74-year-old artist has cancelled all his upcoming shows because, he says, he "is not physically capable" of continuing to tour
Music News Ozzy Osbourne
Despite what it might mean for the safety of bats in the music industry, it’s sad news today from Ozzy Osbourne: after canceling all his upcoming shows, the artist has said he’s done with touring for good. Per Osbourne (who is 74), life on the road is something he can’t physically sustain anymore.
Osbourne announced the news via a statement shared on Twitter, which he called “probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans.”
“In all good conscience, I have now come to the realization that I’m not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/UK tour dates, as I know I couldn’t deal with the travel required,” Osbourne writes. “Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really FUCKS ME UP, more than you will ever know.”
Most of his physical difficulty, Osbourne explains, stems from a major accident he suffered four years ago, wherein he seriously damaged his spine. Since then, Osbourne writes his “one and only purpose” has been to get back onstage (he also emphasizes his singing voice is “fine.”) But even after three operations, stem cell treatments, physical therapy, and Cybernics (HAL) treatment, Osbourne says he’s still “physically weak.”
Osbourne has had to limit his touring engagements in the name of physical rehabilitation before: in 2019, he postponed a series of dates to recover from spinal surgery and a bout of pneumonia. In 2020, he also revealed a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Moving forward, Osbourne hinted that his team is currently brainstorming ideas for venues where the artist “will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.”
Despite the disappointing news, Osbourne focused most of his message on gratitude towards his friends, family, and band, even shouting out his “longtime friends” Judas Priest. But for the most part, Osbourne thanked his fans, for “endless dedication, loyalty, and support, and for giving me the life that I never ever dreamed I would have.”
17 Comments
Ozzy has been pretty prolific lately in terms of releasing music, & it seems like he’s really working on his bucket list with collaborations with Clapton & Jeff Beck (R.I.P.). Hopefully he can keep doing that and enjoy his golden years, lord knows he’s earned it.
Glad I saw Sabbath in 2013, and even if Bill Ward wasn’t involved.
Always felt fortunate any time I got to see Geezer and Iommi play live. I hold out hope that one of them will tour in some capacity, though Geezer has basically said he’s retired at this point too.
Geezer was always the MVP of their live shows, what a dynamic player.
I saw Sabbath twice with the original lineup (Ozzfest 01 & 04), again in 13, and finally saw Ozzy solo in 2018. Excellent live act even when he was seriously slowing down in the 2010s.
He never really lost it, did he? Sure, it slows down, and sure, he has to simplify it all a bit, but the voice was always there, the dedication was always there, and you never felt like you had seen a ‘lesser’ Ozzy show, not really.
Saw them in 75 at the San Diego Sports Arena Great show. Opening acts were Mahogany Rush (crap) and Brownsville Station they were OK but a bit too silly for me.I know I’m dating myself but then no-one else will.
He has been some form of weird self-parody for 30+ years, but dammit he’s a legend. I think having to accept that he’s done touring, and probably performing altogether, will be what finally kills Oz. He loves it too much.
I think that there was always this weird disconnect between the cartoon theatrics and the real-life mental health struggles that made it seem like a parody: the barking at the moon and the prince of darkness schtick was extraordinarily camp even at the time, but it became dangerous and resonant when set against the backdrop against his real life. It always gave the impression that he was having a joke at his own expense, sort of like when they convince a politician to do a photoshoot which humorously references some real-life scandal. I think that kind of theatricality and silliness only works if you’re using it in relationship to something authentic and credible to begin with.
I’m an obligate defender of Ozzy’s vibe, even at its silliest. Even letting the reality TV cameras in and subsequently letting the MTV editors portray you for maximum snark – that only works if there’s enough integrity to resist it, y’know?
Relax, we’ll still be able to see him when he does the inevitable Vegas residency.
Now Ozzy will only tour for evil!
He’s certainly had a helluva run. And echoing what some of us said about David Crosby: considering the lifestyle, he’s lucky he made it as long as he has.And obligatory: Keith will “do The Horrendous” on all our graves.
//Moving forward, Osbourne hinted that his team is currently brainstorming ideas for venues where the artist “will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.”//
It’s called a Vegas residency, Ozzy.
Revenge of the Bat?
I don’t believe it in the slightest. Touring is his life. He will be back with a cybernetic exoskeleton.
I remember, back in the mid 80’s, when Ozzy was going to retire and that was his last tour. Then he was back the next year. A few years later, he said it again. So on, and so forth. He had said that the only reason he was still touring was because Sharon made him do it for the money. I always thought he’d be strapped to a handtruck and wheeled onstage when he got too old.
I do hope he’s got one last album in him. It’s always a shame when the more disposable stuff ends up accidentally being the final word. It would be nice if he did a final album with a specific intention of drawing a line under it. It wouldn’t even have to be a classic, being a summary musical testament would make it good enough either way.
It’s the difference between Bowie going out on Blackstar and Lemmy going out on Bad Magic, y’know? One has some weight, the other feels like one of the ‘interim’ Motorhead albums they’d put out inbetween periodic classics every 4-5 albums or so.