Ozzy Osbourne hopes to tour again amid health issues
Ozzy Osbourne isn’t letting his health battles stop him from where he’s meant to be: on stage.
The British rocker, 73, has encountered several illnesses in recent years and took a step back from his music.
However, he’s ready to wow his fans again as the Prince of Darkness in the near future.
The Black Sabbath frontman discussed his wellness journey and his desire to play in front of a crowd again in a new People profile published Wednesday.
“It’s where I belong,” Osbourne said about touring. “The relationship I have with my audience is the biggest love affair of my life.”
The father of six continued: “I am determined to get back on stage even if I have to be nailed to a board and wheeled on. Survival is my legacy.”
The singer also discussed how his alter ego, the “Prince of Darkness,” followed him home after his concerts. “I started to take the persona offstage,” he noted. “That’s when I got really messed up. I didn’t give a s – – t about anything. I would drink myself stupid.”
Throughout the course of his life, Osbourne has dealt with alcohol and substance-abuse issues as well as hospitalization stints.
Since 2019, he has undergone several surgeries to fix his neck and back issues that stemmed from a home fall and an ATV accident 16 years prior. His last operation was in June, when he had to remove and realign pins in his body.
“My life has been incredible with the things that have happened to me — both good and bad,” he said.
The “Osbournes” star was later diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and now uses a cane to help maneuver around. He also has trouble with his speech due to the illness.
“I’ve never been this laid up,” he said. “I can’t understand my luck.”
Osbourne returned to the stage for the first time since his June surgery, making a surprise appearance at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in England on Aug. 8.
He popped up at the podium alongside his former band member, guitarist Tony Iommi. Osbourne also recently released his 13th solo studio album, “Patient Number 9,” earlier this month.
The reality star previously lamented about having Parkinson’s disease, saying the brain disorder feels like “you’re walking around in lead boots.”
“You think you’re lifting your feet, but your foot doesn’t move,” he told the Observer last month, and confessed to experiencing depression in 2020 as a result of his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
“I reached a plateau that was lower than I wanted it to be,” he said. “Nothing really felt great. Nothing. So I went on these antidepressants, and they work OK.”
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