Ozzy Osbourne says he hasn’t ruled out touring in the future altogether, despite recently announcing plans to retire from it amid ongoing health issues.
The Parkinson’s-stricken Black Sabbath frontman, 74, decided to pull the plug on all of his 2023 live dates, but insists “I’m f****** not dying” and would hit the road again if his doctor gave approval.
Speaking on the latest episode of Sirius XM’s Ozzy Speaks, he said: “Well, I’ve been working my guts out to try and get back on my feet.
“I’ve come to the point where Sharon [Osbourne – who is still his manager] says to me: “You know what? The truth of the matter is you can’t keep booking tours and failing, cancelling’.
“So, if I can ever get back to where I can tour again, fine. But right now, if you said to me: ‘Can you go on the road in a month?’ I couldn’t say yes.
“I mean, if I could tour, I’d tour. But right now I can’t book tours because right now I don’t think I could pull them off.”
The Crazy Train hit-maker said that even though his voice is fine, a spinal injury he sustained four years ago has left him weak and needing to walk with a cane.
He admitted frustration, however, over reports claiming he was on his way out, explaining: “The f****** press drive you nuts. I mean, I looked in the magazine: ‘Ozzy’s on his last legs.’
“I’m f****** not dying... come on, guys. Haven’t I had it bad enough already? If I get okay today, if the doctor said to me today: ‘Oh, you can tour,” it would take another six months to get it together, you know?’
He also opened up about being pictured in recent months walking with a cane, saying: “You’ve got no idea. You got no idea what my... I feel like a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.
“The only thing I’ve got that keeps me going is making records. But I can’t do that forever. I gotta get out there.... [I’m] still in constant pain. I do the best I can to stay away from the pain medication, but there are times when I go: ‘You know, I’ve gotta take something,’” Ozzy admitted.
“I mean, last week I couldn’t...I’ve been sleeping great, and all of a sudden for two back-to-back nights, I never slept a wink. If you’re gonna torture me, just keep me awake for a couple of days. I’ll tell you whatever the f*** you want me to say.”
