Ozzy Osbourne talks about the possibility of never returning to the stage in a new interview with Rolling Stone UK, following years of health issues, including a recent spinal surgery that revealed a tumor.
The iconic singer, who was named the first-ever Rolling Stone UK Awards icon in a new cover story, discussed his fourth spinal surgery designed to fix the damage from a 2019 fall that dislodged metal rods from a previous surgery.
“I thought I’d be up and running after the second and third, but with the last one they put a rod in my spine. They found a tumor in one of the vertebrae, so they had to dig all that out too. It’s pretty rough, man, and my balance is all messed up,” Osbourne stated about the procedure.
In July, Osbourne had to cancel his headlining performance at the upcoming Power Trip festival where he would have co-headlined alongside Metallica, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses.
Osbourne made two live appearances in 2022, in Birmingham, England, and Los Angeles, but each one only lasted for one or two songs, and he used a stand to lean against if needed.
While Osbourne is hopeful for a return to the stage for a proper farewell performance, he acknowledges that it might not be medically possible.
“I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” Osbourne told Rolling Stone UK. “But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life. At the start of my illness, when I stopped touring, I was really angry, but as time has gone on, I’ve just gone, ‘Well, maybe I’ve just got to accept that fact.’”
“If Osbourne does return to performing live, don’t expect it to come in the form of a full Black Sabbath reunion,” he stated, sharing his disappointment in the lack of support from former bandmates.
“When his son was born, I phoned him every night even though we were at war with each other. But from him, not one call,” Osbourne said regarding his former bandmate Geezer Butler.