Ozzy Osbourne recently spoke on SiriusXM‘s “Ozzy Speaks” about his upcoming final performance on July 5 in his hometown of Birmingham, England. The event, titled “Back To The Beginning,” will feature a reunion of the original Black Sabbath members, marking their first joint performance in 20 years.
Osbourne has not performed a full show since late 2018, following extensive spinal surgery and a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Despite these health challenges, he is determined to take the stage at Villa Park. “I haven’t done any physical work for the last seven, six and a half, seven years,” Ozzy shared (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), but added, “by hook or by crook, I’m gonna make it.”
He detailed his efforts to prepare for the show: “I’ve got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. It’s hard going, but he’s convinced that he can pull it off for me. I’m giving it everything I’ve got.” When asked if he is stressed about the upcoming event, Ozzy noted: “Sometimes, but what I do, if I start obsessing all the time, I’ll be insane by Friday… So, I’m just taking it one day at a time… All I can say is I’m giving 120%. If my God wants me to do the show, I’ll do it.”
The concert will also feature a lineup of major metal bands influenced by Black Sabbath, including Metallica, Slayer, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Pantera, and Anthrax. Ozzy acknowledged the significance of their influence, though he admits to being “very self-critical about people’s adoration.” He recounted a fan telling him that Sabbath’s music was “the soundtrack of my life,” a sentiment that resonated with him, comparing it to his own awe when meeting Paul McCartney.
Ozzy’s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, reportedly conceived the reunion concert “to give me a reason to get up in the morning.” Earlier this month, he detailed his physical therapy, including “weights, bike riding,” and working with a trainer and vocal coach four days a week. “I’ve been laid up for such a long time,” he explained, “I’ve been lying on my back doing nothing and the first thing to go is your strength. It’s like starting all over again.”
He also addressed his reduced capacity for a full performance: “I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.” He clarified that the audience should not expect a full set from either him or Black Sabbath: “We’re only playing a couple of songs each. I don’t want people thinking ‘we’re getting ripped off,’ because it’s just going to be… a sample, you’re going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and Sabbath.”
All proceeds from the “Back To The Beginning” show will support charities, including Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.
