Ozzy Osbourne confirms intention to return to touring
“The relationship I have with my audience is the biggest love affair of my life”
By Joe Goggins
Ozzy Osbourne has reiterated his desire to return to touring, having been held back by illness and injury in recent years.
The Prince of Darkness was due to hit the road in the UK in early 2019 on his ironically titled ‘No More Tours 2’ arena run, only for bronchitis to force him to shelve the gigs at the eleventh hour. In the years since, Osbourne has struggled with, among other things, a worsening of symptoms related to his Parkinson’s disease, a bad case of COVID-19, and the recurrence of severe pain resulting from injuries sustained in a 2003 quad bike crash.
Earlier this year, he underwent neck surgery relating to those injuries, a procedure that at the time was characterised by his wife Sharon as being likely to “determine the rest of his life”. Since, he’s returned to live performance, having made a surprise appearance at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in his hometown of Birmingham to reunite with Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi to play ‘Paranoid’.
He also took to the field at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California last Thursday (September 8) to play a two-song half-time set during the game between Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. Fans slammed NBC for broadcasting just seconds of the performance.
Now, Osbourne — who is promoting his 13th solo studio album, Patient Number 9 — has told People that he intends to further his return to the stage, saying that “the relationship I have with my audience is the biggest love affair of my life” and adding, “survival is my legacy.”
“It’s where I belong,” he said, and affirmed that he would continue to play “even if I have to be nailed to a board and wheeled on.” The long-delayed ‘No More Tours 2’ is due to finally get underway next summer, by which time Osbourne will have relocated to the UK. Support is set to come from Judas Priest — you can see the full dates below.
Ozzy Osbourne, May 2023:
31 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
June 2023:
2 – Newcastle, Utilitarian Arena
4 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
7 – Manchester, AO Arena
12 – London, The O2 Arena
14 – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena