Kelly Osbourne has offered a reassuring update on her father Ozzy Osbourne’s health, insisting he is “fine” despite continuing to live with Parkinson’s disease. The Black Sabbath frontman, now 76, revealed his diagnosis in 2020 and was forced to step back from touring in 2023 following major spinal surgery. Osbourne had previously aggravated old injuries from a 2003 quad bike accident after a fall at home in 2019. Nevertheless, he remains determined to return to the stage next month in Birmingham for what is billed as his farewell live performance.
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The upcoming show, Back to the Beginning, will take place at Villa Park on 5 July and marks a significant homecoming. It will feature a brief solo set from Ozzy before he is reunited with fellow Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – the band’s first joint appearance in twenty years. Despite acknowledging struggles with ADHD and pre-show anxiety, Ozzy recently told SiriusXM he is committed to giving “120%” and is taking each day as it comes. “By hook or by crook, I am going to make this f**king gig if it is the last thing I do,” he said candidly.
Speaking at the Serpentine Summer Party in London, daughter Kelly reassured fans who may have been concerned by her father’s remarks. “Oh don’t worry, dad’s fine,” she told the Evening Standard. “I mean, he’s got Parkinson’s but he’s fine.” Her comments come as Ozzy prepares mentally and physically for the demanding performance, revealing he still experiences intense stage fright: “I remember being in bloody Vegas thinking, ‘I’m going to die’. I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two bloody songs.”
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Black Sabbath, formed in Birmingham in 1968, went on to become one of the most influential heavy metal bands in music history, selling over 75 million albums worldwide. Their debut album charted in the UK top 10, and the group were later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite previous farewells — including a 2017 gig without drummer Ward — this event appears to be Ozzy’s definitive send-off. Alongside Black Sabbath, the all-day event will feature performances by major metal acts including Metallica, Slayer and Alice In Chains.
