Ozzy Osbourne says he “can’t walk” despite Black Sabbath announcing farewell show
Amid Black Sabbath announcing their reunion this summer at Villa Park, frontman Ozzy Osbourne has admitted that he “can’t walk” but is grateful to be “still alive”.
On February 5th, Black Sabbath announced a spectacular line-up for their final performance before Osbourne retires from performing. Taking place on July 5th, Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Tony Iommi will perform together as a four-piece for the first time in 20 years with support from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon.
“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning….time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Osbourne said in a statement upon revealing news of the highly-anticipated show. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
Meanwhile, Iommi stated: “It’s been an incredible journey, but it’s only fitting that it ends here, where it all began in Aston. It’s great to be honoured by your fellow musicians and at the same time support good causes. None of this would’ve been possible without Ozzy, Geezer, and Bill. What we created together was bigger than any one of us, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Due to his mobility issues, Osbourne, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, retired from touring in 2018. However, he did reunite with Iommi for a short set at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Birmingham in 2022 and also performed at an NFL Kick-Off event in Los Angeles.
Over the last 12 months, Osbourne has spoken numerous times to perform one last time with Black Sabbath at Villa Park, which is now set to come true despite his health problems. In a new update on his SiriusXM show, broadcast on February 5th, Osbourne shared: “I have made it to 2025. I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive.”
Remaining on an optimistic note, the rock legend added: “I may be moaning that I can’t walk but I look down the road and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it.”
Notably, all profits from the Black Sabbath reunion will be shared equally between the following charities close to their hearts: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
In addition to performing with Black Sabbath in his beloved Birmingham, Osbourne is also scheduled to perform a short solo set at the all-day event.
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