Ozzy Osbourne has retired from touring and canceled all upcoming shows while recovering from spinal surgery.
The 74-year-old rocker was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020 and has battled various health issues in recent years.
He was due to kick off his European tour in May, originally scheduled for 2019 and later postponed three times, but it has now been officially canceled along with other dates in the future.
Ozzy’s last touring show was in December 2018, where he performed at Ozzfest in Inglewood as part of the farewell tour, No More Tours II.
End of an era: Ozzy Osbourne has pulled out of touring and canceled all of his upcoming shows as he recovers from spinal surgery (pictured in September)
In a heartfelt Instagram post on Wednesday, the Black Sabbath rocker apologized for “disappointing” his fans and admitted “I never imagined my touring days would end like this.”
He confessed he was still struggling with health issues seven months after undergoing spine surgery that saved him from paralysis and amid his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He explained, “It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans.” As you all may know, four years ago this month I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine.
“My one and only goal during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three surgeries, stem cell treatments, endless physiotherapy sessions and most recently Cybernics treatment (HAL ) revolutionary, my body is still physically weak.
Help: Ozzy was pictured leaning on a friend as he arrived at a fitness class in Los Angeles last Thursday seven months after undergoing spinal surgery which saved him from paralysis
Ozzy continued: “I’m honestly honored by how you’ve all patiently held on to your tickets this whole time, but in good conscience I’ve now realized that I’m not physically capable of doing my next European/Dates touring in the UK as I know I couldn’t afford the required travel Believe me when I say the idea of disappointing my fans really fucks me up more than you will ever know .
He continued, “I never imagined my touring days would end like this. My team is currently coming up with ideas of where I can perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.
‘I want to thank my family……my band……. my team……my longtime friends, @JudasPriest, and of course, my fans for their endless dedication, loyalty and support, and for giving me the life I never dreamed I would would have.
“Love you all… Ticket refunds are available at point of purchase.”
Sad news: In a heartfelt message, the Black Sabbath rocker apologized for ‘disappointing’ his fans and admitted ‘I never imagined my touring days would end like this’
The paranoid hitmaker discussed his current health while appearing on his own channel Ozzy’s Boneyard on SiriusXM last month, with the star saying of the tour: “It’s so hard because, I mean, I want to be there- low .
‘I want to do it. That fucking surgery that guy did. Holy shit, you have no idea.
“The thing is my head is fine, my creativity is OK, my singing OK but I just can’t walk much now.”
“I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating life has become. It’s amazing how we move forward in life and one mistake can ruin everything for a long time. I have never been sick for so long in my life.
“This surgeon told me that if I didn’t have the operation, there would be a good chance that I would be paralyzed from the neck down.”
Ozzy confessed: ‘In good conscience I have now realized that I am not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/UK tour dates’ (pictured July 2022)
The Black Sabbath hitmaker returned to the stage in August in his hometown of Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony – just two months after a ‘life-changing operation’.
Ozzy revealed in an interview with The Sun that he was told he could have been paralyzed for life, after undergoing his first spine surgery in 2019.
The hitman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, and the same year suffered a horrific fall that aggravated a neck injury from his quad accident in 2003.
End of an era: Ozzy’s last touring show was in December 2018, where he performed at Ozzfest in Inglewood as part of the farewell tour, No More Tours II (pictured in backstage with his wife Sharon)
The injury triggered previous nerve damage in his quad biking accident 17 years ago, where he fractured eight ribs and a vertebra in his neck at his English country estate.
He underwent spinal surgery which left him with 15 screws in his back, nerve pain in his neck, back, shoulders and arms, and the star fearing he had ‘bolts in his neck’.
He told The Sun: ‘I was told, ‘You have a good chance of being paralyzed for the rest of your life’. “You just don’t expect the surgeon to be a f*****g butcher. I was left in agony.
Discussing the impact of his health issues on his beloved wife Sharon, he said: ‘Never have I been in such bad sleep for so long. It broke Sharon’s heart to see me like this, but I’ll be back on tour if it kills me f*****g.
