Ozzy Osbourne fans have voiced their concerns over the rocker’s health after he announced Black Sabbath’s final ever gig.
It was revealed on Wednesday that the band is preparing to reunite for the first time in 20 years alongside a host of other big names.
The original line-up of heavy metal legends Black Sabbath will play together at a one-off concert in Birmingham, UK, this summer.
The show will take place on July 5 at the birthplace of the band and will feature Ozzy, 76, Tommy, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward.
But while many fans are ecstatic and anxiously waiting to be able to try and get their hands on tickets, some have highlighted concerns over whether Ozzy will be well enough to perform.
Ozzy, whose health has delayed he and wife Sharon’s move back to the UK, has undergone seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal surgery in September 2023. He has also suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 2003.
Ozzy Osbourne fans have voiced their concerns over the rocker’s health after he announced Black Sabbath’s final ever gig
Ozzy, whose health has delayed he and Sharon’s move back to the UK, has undergone seven surgeries in the past five years
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, concerned fans said: ‘Wonder if this will really happened! Ozzy’s health hasn’t been that great! I hope so, though! Sure sounds cool!’;
‘The big question is will Ozzy make it to that stage? Hopefully they will make arrangements that make it easier and safe for him to perform with his health issues,’;
‘I hate to be that guy, but there’s no chance this actually happens right? Ozzy hasn’t performed in years due to his health and canceled multiple appearances/shows. Line-up is insane though lol,’;
‘Not that long ago, Ozzy barely could give an acceptance speech on the Rock And Roll HOF, while being seated. Really hoping that his health and condition improved since then. But that being said, hardly feasible that Ozzy will be in singing condition,’;
‘Considering Ozzy and Geezer’s health I fear this will end up being incredibly sad to go watch, I can’t see how Ozzy will be able to do a set at all,’;
‘Wondering how long Sabbath will play for with that amount of bands and with Ozzy’s health.’
Meanwhile MailOnline readers echoed their sentiments as they said: ‘How can he do it? He has Parkinson’s both his movements and voice will be seriously impeded. Good luck to them but I think there will be a lot of backing support from sound engineers and singers,’;
‘Went to see them in Birmingham when the original line up got back together. What a fantastic night. Not sure if Oz can perform as he did back then, but if Jagger can still do it, why not.?’;
While many fans are ecstatic and anxiously waiting to be able to try and get their hands on tickets, some have highlighted concerns over whether Ozzy will be well enough to perform (Seen with daughter Kelly in 2020)
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, concerned fans said: ‘ Wonder if this will really happened! Ozzy’s health hasn’t been that great! I hope so, though! Sure sounds cool!
The show will take place on July 5 at the birthplace of the band and will feature Ozzy, 76, Tommy, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward
‘It wasn’t that long ago Sharon said her and Ozzy wanted to live back in the UK because of the Gun violence in America but said he wasn’t well enough to travel,sounds like a miracle has happened so let’s see if they come back now he seems healthier.’
Ozzy’s wife Sharon was at the announcement of the new show at Birmingham’s Villa Park, the concert venue, on Wednesday alongside the band’s guitarist Tony Iommi.
Sharon proudly held up a Villa football shirt with Ozzy’s name on the back as she posed pitchside.
The group pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man.
Since their last gig together in 2005, Black Sabbath has played in partial reunions but never in their original line-up.
Black Sabbath, in what is being billed as its final show, will top a line-up of rock and heavy metal icons including Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Lamb Of God and Anthrax at the Villa Park event.
The show will feature sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Alice In Chains, Halestorm, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon.
The all-day event will also feature a supergroup of musicians.
Artists announced so far include Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan, Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing and Lzzy Hale (Halestorm).
Profits from the show, called Back To The Beginning, will be shared equally between the following charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorn Children’s Hospice, a Children’s Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
Meanwhile MailOnline readers echoed their sentiments as they said: ‘How can he do it? He has Parkinson’s both his movements and voice will be seriously impeded’
Black Sabbath pictured in the 70s – L-R: (back) Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, (front) Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne – posed, group shot
The group pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man
Osbourne, the group’s charismatic frontman who left the band in 1979 due to drug and alcohol problems and went on to pursue a highly successful solo career, said in 2020 he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
The all-star event will celebrate the true creators of heavy metal and will see Ozzy Osbourne play his own short set before joining with Black Sabbath for his final bow.
He said in a statement: ‘It’s … time for me to give back to the place where I was born. How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal.’
Formed in Birmingham in 1968 and going on to become one of most successful metal bands of all time, Black Sabbath have sold over 75 million albums worldwide across their legendary career.
Setting the blueprint for the many routes heavy metal took, Black Sabbath’s influence and importance is as vital today as it was in the early 1970s.
