Ozzy Osbourne Expected To Front Five Solo Songs At His Upcoming Live Farewell Show

Health concerns regarding the mobility of heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne have been at the forefront of the discussion surrounding the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inducted musician’s upcoming live sendoff. The 76-year-old ‘Prince Of Darkness’ served as a pioneer for the genre alongside his bandmates in the legendary Black Sabbath, while also blazing a path with his acclaimed multi-platinum solo career.

However, a 2019 fall during a late night trip to the bathroom dislodged several steel rods that were previously surgically inserted into him. Those rods were implemented back in 2003, after Osbourne was involved in a serious ATV accident.

The resulting surgeries in light of that 2019 fall came with complications in the form of nerve damage and more that began to affect his balance and mobility. Recent years have found those issues compounded by Osbourne‘s decades-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

In light of his health woes, Osbourne announced his retirement from full-scale touring back in early 2023. While he has since made it to the stage a handful of times since his fateful 2019 tumble, those performances have been abbreviated and have found him aided with a brace to ensure he was able to keep upright.

Several months after abstaining from performing at his October 2024 solo induction into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Osbourne bluntly stated that he could no longer walk unassisted. However, his bandmates have insisted that despite the challenges he faces, Osbourne remains in full control of his vocal abilities. His longtime bandmate, guitarist Zakk Wylde also revealed that Osbourne intends to play this upcoming final show while seated from a throne.

That final live extravaganza for Osbourne, ‘Back To The Beginning‘, will also serve as a one-off reunion and farewell show for the original classic era lineup of Black Sabbath. It is scheduled to take place July 05th at Villa Park in Birmingham, UK and will feature a star-studded list of bands and musicians paying tribute to the celebrated works of Sabbath and Ozzy.

However, concerns regarding Osbourne‘s ability to perform were amplified last week when Tool, etc. vocalist Maynard James Keenan voiced his trepidation regarding the upcoming show. As one of the performers booked to perform at that live swan song for the metal stars, and one of the handful who also performed at Ozzy‘s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony last fall, Keenan didn’t mince words. Speaking of his experience at the aforementioned induction ceremony, Keenan relayed:

“…I think for me, seeing Ozzy moving around at that event, the idea of him playing a show at all, if we’re being honest, you know, the conversation about going to do the song was like, ‘we’ll have this conversation, but, ahh… I don’t know that this gonna happen.’

And even now, I’m cautious about saying, ‘Yeah! All in, he’s gonna do it.’ Because man, I don’t know what kind of modern miracles we’ll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them. So, I’m honored to be a part of it, but I’m kinda preparing for the worst — but hoping for the best, as they say.”