To announce his forthcoming “No More Tours 2” tour—a reference to his first so-called retirement from the road more than 25 years ago, when he was misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis—Ozzy Osbourne held a press conference, streamed on Facebook, on Feb. 6 at his Los Angeles home. Ozzy elaborated on the reasons he’s calling it quits and how he plans to spend his time.
The first question asked of him was, “Is it for real this time?” Osbourne seemed to anticipate that one and had a reply ready. “I’m not retiring from the music business; I’m just not doing world tours anymore. I’ll be doing gigs,” he said, clarifying. Noting that he will be reaching his 70th birthday this December, the Prince of Darkness borrowed a line common to politicians suddenly resigning from office: “I’ve missed my family over the years,” Ozzy said. “I’ve been on the road all the time with a few breaks here and there. I want to spend some time with my family.” Osbourne has eight grandchildren.
Osbourne revealed that “Paranoid” will be the last song played at his final concert, as it’s always been. “It’s my anthem,” he said, adding that he doesn’t know yet how he will feel when it comes time to hang up his touring shoes for good. “The Sabbath thing I just did,” he said, referring to his erstwhile band’s farewell show, “I didn’t think I would get emotional, but on the last gig in Birmingham, England, where we started, I got all emotional. It’s the greatest love affair I’ve ever had in my life.”
Ozzy’s wife Sharon Osbourne, sitting next to him at the press conference, didn’t seem to take that reply personally, and soon she joined in, answering questions about the upcoming tour and her husband’s plans. She noted that the annual Ozzfest shows would continue and that Ozzy’s future gigs could still take place anywhere—“Anything but Coachella,” she said, cagily.
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Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne at the L.A. press conference
Sharon remarked that some of the Osbourne family members would be joining them along the way at various tour stops, including Israel, and informed Ozzy that he would be playing in South Korea during the tour, a fact he was unaware of. When asked whether they were pressured not to play in Israel due to political tensions, Sharon said, “Listen. I’m half a Heeb. We play where we want to play. That’s it.” Ozzy added that the last time he performed in Israel the show was a great one.
The couple got a hearty laugh out of the assembled media when Sharon was asked what it’s going to be like to have Ozzy around the house full-time from now on. “I’m fucking frightened!” she said. “I think I need to get another job.
To which Ozzy replied, “She’s going out on the road.”
Backing Ozzy on the tour will be longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson, drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboardist Adam Wakeman.
The initial North American dates, produced by Live Nation, begin Aug. 30 and conclude Oct. 13. Stone Sour will be the opening act for this leg. Tickets for these shows go on sale to the general public starting Saturday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. local time here. Citi® cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. until Friday, Feb. 16 at 10 p.m. through Citi’s Private Pass® program.
Watch the entire press conference here
Ozzy Osbourne No More Tours 2 Dates
Apr 27 – Jacksonville, FL – Rockville Festival
Apr 29 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Fort Rock Fest
May 05 – Mexico – Heaven & Hell Festival
May 08 – Santiago, Chile – Pista Atletica
May 11 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Geba
May 13 – São Paulo, Brazil – Allianz Parque
May 16 – Curitiba, Brazil – Pedreira Paulo Leminski
May 18 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Esplanada Do Mineirao
May 20 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Apoteose
June 01 – Moscow, Russia – Olympiisky
June 03 – St. Petersburg, Russia – Ice Palace
June 06 – Finland – Rockfest
June 08 – Solvesborg, Sweden – Sweden Rock Festival
June 10 – Donington, UK – Download Festival
June 13 – Prague, Czech Republic – Prague Rocks Festival
June 15 – Paris, France – Download Festival
June 17 – Italy – Firenze Rocks Festival
June 20 – Halden, Norway – Tons of Rock Festival
June 22 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell Festival
June 24 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
June 26 – Krakow, Poland – Impact Festival
June 28 – Oberhausen, Germany – König-Pilsnet Arena
June 30 – Madrid, Spain – Download Festival
July 02 – Lisbon, Portugal – Meo Arena
July 05 – Barcelona, Spain – Rockfest Barcelona
July 08 – Rishon LeZion, Israel – Amphi Live Park
Aug 30 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center
Sep 01 – Syracuse, NY – Lakeview Amphitheater
Sep 04 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Sep 06 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
Sep 08 – Wantagh, NY – Jones Beach Amphitheatre
Sep 10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Sep 12 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
Sep 14 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Sep 16 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Sep 19 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Center
Sep 21 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sep 23 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Sep 26 – Dallas, TX – Starplex pavilion
Sep 28 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sep 30 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Oct 02 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
Oct 04 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Oct 06 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Oct 09 – Chula Vista, CA – Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Oct 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Oct 13 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
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