Ozzy Osbourne reveals personal crisis amid health woes ahead of his final UK show as Black Sabbath frontman

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

Ozzy Osbourne has revealed a secret personal crisis ahead of what has been billed as his final ever show this summer.
The legendary rocker, 76, will take to the stage on July 5, as he reunites with Black Sabbath in his native Birmingham at Villa Park for his Back to the Beginning show.
It will be the first time Ozzy has performed since late 2018 and following his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease.
With just weeks to go until the show, Ozzy has opened up on his self-confidence battle and stage fright.
Speaking on SiriusXM's podcast Ozzy Speak s, he 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.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
'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."
He continued: '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 c***ping on my show.
'But all I can say is I'm giving 120 percent. 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.'
The singer is also unsure about whether to perform while standing up, or sitting down following a series of spinal operations.
Black Sabbath 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.
Ahead of the gig, Ozzy is in strict training, which even sees his blood pressure being taken 15 times a day.
He explained: '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.
Earlier this month, Ozzy vowed to go ahead with the show, telling The Guardian: 'I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.'
It comes as Tool front man Maynard James Keenan previously cast doubt on whether Ozzy would make it on stage.
He said of the gigs, which his band are also playing: 'I'm cautious about saying, 'Yeah! All in, he's gonna do it'. I don't know what kind of modern miracles we'll come up with to get him on stage to do the songs, but this is gonna be a challenge for them.
'So, I'm honoured to be a part of it, but I'm kinda preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best.'
Ozzy's wife Sharon Osbourne revealed how the legend was struggling to walk earlier this year as his Parkinson's progresses.
She told The Sun: 'He's very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this. Parkinson's is a progressive disease.
'It's not something you can stabilise. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been.'
Ozzy was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson's disease in 2003, however he only went public with the condition in 2020.
However, he has said that his biggest struggles are due to a fall which he suffered in 2019 which caused metal rods in his back to dislodge.
The rods had been put there following a quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire home in 2003.
Ozzy has been open about his past addictions to drink and drugs at the height of his career.
He previously reflected on his Madhouse Chronicles podcast: 'I've been doing a lot of reflection while I've been laid up, and all my drinking partners, I've realised they're all f***ing dead.
'I should have been dead before loads of them. Why am I the last man standing? Sometimes I look in the mirror and go, 'Why the f*k did you make it?'.
'I should have been dead a thousand times. I've had my stomach pumped God knows how many times.'
WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website.
What are the symptoms?
The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness.
Some people can also experience lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration.
What are the early signs?
Symptoms can start gradually, sometimes beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in just one part of the body.
In the early stages, people may show little or no expression, and their arms may not swing when they walk.
Speech can also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time.
What are the causes?
Some scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause of Parkinson's disease.
It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in a part of their brain.
However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with the condition takes place but research is ongoing to identify potential causes.
Scientists say genetics factor can increase a person's risk of developing the disease, and can therefore run in families.
Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, though such links are inconclusive, the NHS says.
How is it diagnosed?
No tests can conclusively show if a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history and a physical examination.
A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk or speak to check for any common signs of the condition.
They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movement.
How many people are affected?
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson's disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson's UK.
What happens if someone is diagnosed?
According to the charity, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA, as a diagnosed person will need to have a medical or driving assessment.
The organisation also advises people to contact any insurance providers and find out about financial support available.
People are also encouraged to partake in more exercise.
Can it be treated?
Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms.
The main remedies include medication, exercise, therapy and surgery, which can help people in different ways.
What medication is available and what are the side effects?
Medication can be helpful in improving the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as shaking and movement problems.
There are three main types which are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist or a MAO-B inhibitor. Each can affect people in different ways.
The drugs do have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behaviour, hallucinations, sleep issues and blood pressure changes.
What therapy is available?
There are several therapies available to those with Parkinson's through the NHS.
Among them are physiotherapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with completing day-to-day tasks and speech and language coaching.
Does this change the way you live?
Most people's life expectancy will not change a great deal, though more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health.
It can also cause some cognitive issues and changes to mood and mental health.
Those with Parkinson's are encouraged to exercise more often, with scientists saying 2.5 hours of exercise a week is enough to slow the progression of symptoms.