Ozzy Osbourne has announced his retirement from touring owing to deteriorating health. The 74-year-old Black Sabbath vocalist was scheduled to tour the UK and Europe later this year, but he has “come to the realization that I’m not physically ready… as I know I couldn’t deal with the trip involved,” according to a statement.
“This is perhaps one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to convey with my devoted followers,” he added. “As you may know, four years ago this month, I was in a serious accident in which I injured my spine. My sole goal all this period has been to return to the stage. My singing voice is in good shape. My body is still physically weak after three operations, stem cell therapies, innumerable physical therapy sessions, and, most recently, revolutionary Cybernics (HAL) treatment.”
“Believe me when I tell you that the notion of failing my followers hurts me more than you can imagine,” he added. “I never expected that my traveling days would finish in this way.”
In the statement, Osbourne thanked his fans for “their endless dedication, loyalty and support, and for giving me the life that I never ever dreamed I would have” and mentioned that he was considering “ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.”
Osbourne’s tour, called No More Tours II, was initially scheduled for 2017, but it was repeatedly delayed because of his health issues and Covid. He stated in May of last year that he was getting neck surgery, and his wife Sharon Osbourne claimed that the outcome of the procedure will “define the remainder of his life.”
Patient Number 9, his 13th solo album, was released in September 2022. The Guardian’s chief pop critic Alexis Petridis gave Patient Number 9 a four-star review and praised it for being “finely balanced, the choruses big and bold enough to attract attention but not overshadow the main attraction’s essential essence.”
The 2023 Grammy Awards have nominated Patient Number 9 for best rock album, best rock song, and best rock performance. Degradation Rules, a collaboration with Tony Iommi, has also been nominated for best metal performance. After learning of the nominations, Osbourne told Billboard, “The whole thing astonished me.” “I mean, I’d be stunned if I got anything for the record,” she said.
