Ozzy Osbourne's Final Show: A Happy Death on Stage
Ozzy Osbourne, despite his ongoing health challenges, expresses his desire to perform one last show and pass away afterwards, stating that it would bring him immense satisfaction
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Despite his ongoing health struggles, Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal icon, has not given up on his dream of returning to the stage even after retiring from touring.
Osbourne, 74, told Rolling Stone UK for the magazine’s December/January 2024 cover story that he is taking things day by day, and hopes to perform again if possible. He retired in February due to a "major accident" that caused damage to his spine, and described the months following as feeling like bidding farewell to the best relationship of his life. "At the beginning of my illness, I was angry with myself, the doctors, and the world for stopping my tours. But as time passed, I've come to accept the situation," he explained.
Osbourne had surgery on his spine in September and was looking forward to touring again. The "Bark at the Moon" singer expressed his desire to have one final performance to show appreciation to his fans for their support, even if he couldn't tour regularly. "For whatever reason, that's my goal to work to. If I can't continue doing shows on a regular basis, I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, 'Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.' That's what I'm working towards, and if I drop down dead at the end of it, I'll die a happy man," he said.
In his retirement announcement in February, Osbourne stated that while his singing voice is "fine," he still feels physically weak after undergoing numerous operations, stem cell treatments, physical therapy sessions, and Cybernetics (HAL) Treatment. He expressed deep disappointment at the thought of letting his fans down. "Never would I have imagined my touring days would end like this," he said. However, seven months later, he gave an update that he is working on a new album and still has a desire to tour again.
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Osbourne's health has been a continuous struggle since a fall in 2019 dislodged the metal rods that had been surgically inserted into his back after a quad bike crash in 2003 (the same year he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a personal battle he largely kept private until 2020.)
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Following the fall in 2019, he underwent corrective surgery that had serious complications, leaving him significantly impaired. He expressed his frustration in an interview with Rolling Stone UK, stating that he had expected to recover after the initial surgeries, but the last one resulted in the insertion of a rod in his spine and the removal of a tumor in one of his vertebrae. Despite the challenging recovery and the impact on his balance, the resilient metal icon remains optimistic and is focused on returning to the stage. "I consider myself fortunate to still be here," he acknowledges. "There are times when I feel like I'm living on borrowed time."
