Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath frontman and self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness, is prepared for a heavy-metal sendoff after going through points together with his well being lately.
The rocker and “Osbournes” actuality TV character, 76, introduced Wednesday that he’s set to take his “final bow” in the summertime — and he gained’t be alone when he does so. Osbourne and fellow Black Sabbath founding members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Invoice Ward will reunite to play on stage for the primary time in 20 years as headliners for Again to the Starting, a heavy metallic fest set for July 5 in Villa Park of the band’s native Birmingham, England.
“It’s my time to go Back to the Beginning….time for me to give back to the place where I was born,” Osbourne stated Wednesday. “How blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.”
Again to the Starting attendees will get a double serving to of Osbourne, who will play a brief solo set earlier than becoming a member of Black Sabbath for his ultimate efficiency. In recent times, varied well being points acquired in the way in which of his dwell efficiency alternatives. The Grammy-winning rocker, who went public about his Parksinson’s illness prognosis in 2020, dropped out of a number of exhibits in 2023 citing his well being.
In February 2023, Osbourne introduced his retirement from touring and canceled upcoming stops on his No Extra Excursions II farewell circuit. He informed followers on the time he was “not physically capable” of coping with the journey that got here with touring. He seemingly walked again any retirement discuss a month later and reassured listeners on SiriusXM‘s “Ozzy’s Boneyard” that he’s “not dying.”
“The only thing I’ve got that keeps me going is making records, but I can’t do that forever,” he stated on the time. “I’ve got to get out there, you know?”
In July 2023 Osbourne additionally pulled out from heavy-metal pageant Energy Journey telling followers “my body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet.” For a November 2023 interview with Rolling Stone UK, Osbourne stated he was taking life “one day at a time” and stated he hoped to get again on stage — however provided that he might carry out to his fullest.
“I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, ‘Hi, guys thanks so much for my life,’” he informed the journal. “That’s what I’m working towards, and if I drop dead at the end of it, I’ll die a happy man.”
Clearly, Osbourne has been ready for a possibility like Again to the Starting.
Highlighting the “true creators of heavy metal,” the one-day fest may also characteristic performances by Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Gojira, Halestorm, Lamb of God and different rock teams. The Smashing Pumpkin’s Billy Corgan, Korn’s Jonathan Davis and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst are among the many artists additionally on the lineup. The complete listing of present performers could be discovered on Black Sabbath’s Instagram and X pages.
Ticket gross sales start Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. GMT on the Stay Nation UK web site. Proceeds will profit charities Treatment Parkinson’s, Birmingham Youngsters’s Hospital and Acorn Youngsters’s Hospice.
