Ozzy Osbourne is going to make it to the stage for Black Sabbath’s final show no matter what it takes. As the metal icon gears up for his first full concert since 2018, he sat down with Billy Morrison on the latest episode of their SiriusXM “Ozzy Speaks” show to break down what he’s doing to gear up for the July 5 Back to the Beginning show in his hometown of Birmingham, England.
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“I haven’t done any physical work for the last seven, six and a half, seven years,” Ozzy said, promising that “by hook or by crook, I’m gonna make it [to the stage at Villa Park],” where Black Sabbath’s final gig will find them joined by an all-star roster that will also include Metallica, Mastodon, Anthrax, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Gojira, Slayer and a supergroup featuring members of Guns N’ Roses, the Smashing Pumpkins, Limp Bizkit, Judas Priest, Rage Against the Machine and many more.
“I’ve got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal,” he said of the intense training he’s undergoing following a rough several years that included spinal surgery and a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. “It’s hard going, but he’s convinced that he can pull it off for me. I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”
Ozzy, 76, said he’s definitely waking up and stressing about the show at times, but he knows that getting worked up is not what will get him through his first show with Sabbath bandmates guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward in more than 20 years. “Sometimes [I stress], but what I do, if I start obsessing all the time, I’ll be insane by Friday, you know?” he said. “So, I’m just taking it one day at a time and when I do it one day at a time. You know, when we were talking about this [obsessive-compulsive disorder], whatever. I have that badly. All I can say is I’m giving 120%. If my God wants me to do the show, I’ll do it.”
Speaking to the Guardian recently, Ozzy said “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up,” a hedge that was in keeping with comments from Tool singer Maynard James Keenan, who said it will take need “modern miracles” for the rocker to perform one of his legendary high-energy shows given his health struggles.
Though he hasn’t played a full show since Dec. 31, 2018 — two months before revealing his Parkinson’s diagnosis — Ozzy has set a reasonable bar for the July show, saying in February that he isn’t “planning on doing a set with Black Sabbath,” but rather “little bits and pieces” with the group. “I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable,” he promised.
Listen to Ozzy talk about his training for the show below.