Ozzy Osbourne Retires From Touring; Shares Emotional Statement

Ozzy Osbourne has announced his retirement from touring.

The Black Sabbath vocalist issued a statement this afternoon via social media, cancelling his upcoming European/UK tour, which was originally scheduled for 2019.

“This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans,” Osbourne said.

“As you may all know, four years ago, this month, I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine. My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak.”

Osbourne thanked fans for holding onto their tickets for his upcoming dates that had been rescheduled numerous times since they were first announced and then confirmed all shows were officially cancelled as he is “not physically capable” of touring due to the travel required.

“Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really FUCKS ME UP, more than you will ever know,” he said.

“Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way. My team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.

“I want to thank my family……my band…….my crew……my longtime friends, Judas Priest, and of course, my fans for their endless dedication, loyalty, and support, and for giving me the life that I never ever dreamed I would have. I love you all…”

In December, Osbourne expressed frustration about his condition.

In an interview on SiriusXM, the Bark At The Moon singer commented, "It is so fucking tough because, I mean, I want to be out there. I want to be doing it. This fucking surgery this guy did. Fucking hell, you have no idea."

The Prince Of Darkness added, "The thing is, my head is all right, my creativity is OK, my singing OK, but I just can’t fucking walk much now."

Post-surgery rehabilitation was also getting the vocalist down.

"I can’t begin to tell you how fucking frustrating life has become," he explained. "It is amazing how you go along in life, and one stupid thing can screw everything up for a long time. I have never been ill this long in my life."

In 2003, the heavy metal music legend sustained a broken collarbone, fractured ribs and damaged vertebrae in his neck in a quad bike incident; injuries that were aggravated when he fell at his Los Angeles home four years ago.

Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, was told that surgery would prevent him from becoming paralysed.

Last June, Sharon Osbourne noted that an operation that month would "determine the rest of his life".

In early 2022, Osbourne and fellow Black Sabbath member and guitar hero Tony Iommi closed the 2022 Commonwealth Games in headbanging style with a performance of the iconic Sabbath song, Paranoid.

The performance followed Iommi's participation in the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, where he teamed up with saxophonist Soweto Kinch to perform Hear My Voice.

Black Sabbath's final tour, labelled The End, took place in 2017. 

Osbourne released his 13th album, Patient Number 9, in 2022, the first new release from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter since his critically acclaimed, worldwide, chart-topping 2020 record, Ordinary Man.