Ozzy Osbourne's crippling doubt ahead of final show as he suffers health crisis
Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy speaks openly and honestly about physical and mental issues in lead up to his Back To The Beginning finale
Legendary rock wild man Ozzy Osbourne is suffering huge self confidence and stage fright issues ahead of his summer UK farewell show - but has vowed 'to give 120 percent'. Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy admits that he is rattled by self doubt and still unsure how he will perform on stage, seated or not, for his Back To The Beginning finale at Villa Park, Birmingham on July 5.
The 76-year-old confirmed he won't play a full set as his endurance, Parkinson's battle and leg, neck and back issues are too problematic.
And the determined superstar has effectively moved in a physical therapy recovery trainer into his LA home to increase his physical movement.
But the star, who battled near lethal cocaine and alcohol addictions, wears a pulse oximeter to monitor his heart rate and oxygen levels in this race against time to sing as many hits as possible for fans.
He determinedly announced: 'by hook or by crook I am going to make this f***ing gig if it is the last thing I do - well it will be.'
Ozzy boasts a reputation as one of rock's greatest entertainers thanks to his captivating stage presence, intense performances, stage antics and powerful vocals. But the thrill of 'celebrating his legacy' at the BTTB gig has been consumed by ADHD and self confidence fears.
Ozzy said: 'My head's crazy. ADHD - I have that badly. I will have done the show and died a death before I even started my exercises. So I try and put it on the back burner.
'I'm not going up there saying 'It's going to be great. I'm really confident.' 'In my head I will have died on my ass. I remember being in f***ing Vegas one time being in the dressing room going, 'I'm going to play. I'm going to die.'
'And I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two f***ing songs. Sharon goes, 'just don't think about it.' I obsess about a f***ing bird crapping on my show.
'But all I can say is I'm giving 120%. If my God wants me to do the show. I'll do it. Sometimes if I start obsessing on the time, I'll be insane by Friday. So I'm just taking it one day at a time.'
Asked if he feels excited for the farewell , Ozzy responded: 'fear' Believe you me, I still get stage fright. 'As soon as you get on stage, it's like sh* or bust.'
He then joked: "Ask him upstairs. In my case, the one below,'
Ozzy, who has undergone multiple back and neck surgeries, has moved in a specialist rehab therapist to help him stand for several minutes on stage, walk more freely and feel better balance.
However he is uncertain with five weeks to go whether fans will see him on a throne, mini Segway or standing. "I don't f***ing know. If I'm in a throne, okay! If I'm in a f***ing movable f***ing cart, I don't know.'
He continued to Sirius XM: 'I am in heavy training because I haven't done any physical work for the last seven years.
'By hook or by crook. I've got to make it there.
'I have got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. t's hard going, but he's convinced that he can pull it off for me. I'm giving it everything I've got.
'it's endurance. The first thing that goes when you're laid up is your stamina.
'I am having my blood pressure taken 15 times a day.. I've got this f***ing device on my finger. 'It's a monitor to say how my heart rate is.
'I'm constantly in training seven days a week I've got this guy who's virtually living with me and I'm in bed by seven.'
Ozzy and Black Sabbath will headline their final gig on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham, as part of an event titled "Back To The Beginning".
This show will reunite the original band members – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – for the first time in 20 years.
The band played its "last" gig in 2017 in Birmingham with Osborne, guitarist Iommi and bassist Butler but without Ward on drums.
But last year Ozzy was not well enough to perform at the band's Rock'N'Roll Hall Of Fame inauguration in America.
Black Sabbath's story began in Birmingham where Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward were looking to escape a life of factory work.
Their eponymous debut album in 1970 made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records.
They went on to become one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide.
The group were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, and Osbourne was added for a second time last year.
He previously celebrated his home city in 2022 when he helped close the Commonwealth Games.
He rose to further fame alongside his wife Sharon - who he married in 1982 and with whom he has three children, Aimee, Jack and Kelly - through their reality TV series The Osbournes.
All profits from the July 5 show will go to charities including Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, which is supported by Aston Villa.
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