Ozzy Osbourne had surgery on June 13, 2022 that his wife, Sharon, had described as “life-altering.” He is said to be “doing well and on the road to recovery.” The procedure, described as “major,” was said to realign pins in his neck and back, stemming from when he fell in 2019. Sharon Osborne issued a statement on June 14 thanking friends and fans for the “overwhelming amount of love and support.” She added, “your love means the world to him.”
UPDATE: On Feb. 1, 2023, Ozzy announced that he has retired from touring
On the June 10 edition of U.K.’s The Talk, Sharon Osbourne had indicated the then-pending surgery would “determine the rest of his life.”
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) June 14, 2022
On June 15, two days after his surgery, Ozzy wrote, “I am now home from the hospital recuperating comfortably. I am definitely feeling the love and support from all my fans and send everyone a big thank you for their thoughts, prayers and well wishes during my recovery.”
Osbourne has had a series of health setbacks in recent years. On Nov. 24, 2021, he again postponed the European and U.K. dates of his “No More Tours 2” tour, this time to 2023. The postponement came two months before the much-delayed concerts were scheduled to begin. Osbourne’s announcement cited “the ongoing uncertainty with full capacity events and travel logistics in much of Europe.” The tour, with Judas Priest supporting, will now begin a whopping four years later than originally planned. The classic rock legend has had a slew of well documented medical issues in the past several years, including a Parkinson’s diagnosis, a fall, broken bones and pneumonia, that have caused him to postpone the tour.
On Feb. 17, 2020, Osbourne canceled all scheduled North American dates. At the time, the announcement stated that he would be heading to Europe for additional medical treatments.
However, throughout the spring, summer and well into autumn, the U.K. and European run, already postponed twice due to Osbourne’s health issues, was still listed on Ticketmaster and his website as beginning on Oct. 23, 2020. Finally, on Oct. 22, one day before the official opening night, Osbourne finally announced that the dates were moving to 2022 (and now 2023).
Said Ozzy at the time: “I really want to thank my fans for their loyalty and for waiting for me. Believe me, I can’t wait to see you all again. Please stay safe in these uncertain times. God Bless you All!”
When the tour finally resumes, on May 3, 2023, in Finland, the legendary performer will be 74. See the revised dates below.
The Nov. 24, 2021 announcement indicated that fans should hold onto their tickets as they remain valid for all rescheduled tour dates. Refunds must be sought at point of purchase.
Just days before the 2020 tour was moved, the BBC shared complaints from fans who had been inconvenienced with the lack of any official updates. “It’s not fair to keep people in the dark,” said one 57-year-old who had tickets to see him in Glasgow.
Another said, “People need advance warning. It’s annoying and frustrating that no one’s forthcoming and saying, ‘It isn’t happening, we are looking at getting new dates set up’.”
Days earlier, Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, had acknowledged that the dates were moving once again. In an interview with Planet Rock Radio on Oct. 11, 2020, she said, “Everybody’s booking their tours again for like 2022, and to find availabilities right now, it’s crazy. Agents and facilities are going nuts, trying to get everybody back. It will be exciting. I think it will be a very exciting time when bands do go back and it’ll be joyous.”
She later shared that they’re working on an Ozzy biopic – “he’s got to do the soundtrack to that.”
Osbourne revealed on Jan. 21, 2020, that he is battling Parkinson’s Disease. Appearing in a taped interview on ABC-TV’s Good Morning America, the Osbournes shared the news in an emotional interview with host Robin Roberts of his diagnosis of Parkin 2, a form of Parkinson’s.
The earlier Feb. 17 cancelation announcement from Osbourne’s team read, in full:
“Ozzy Osbourne’s 2020 North American ‘No More Tours 2’ has unfortunately been cancelled to allow Osbourne to continue to recover from various health issues he has faced over the past year. This decision was made to accommodate fans who’ve been holding tickets for rescheduled shows and have been asked to change plans, some multiple times. Following promotional obligations for his new Ordinary Man album, Osbourne will head to Europe for additional treatments.
“‘I’m so thankful that everyone has been patient because I’ve had a shit year,’ Osbourne said. ‘Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get to Switzerland for treatment until April and the treatment takes six-eight weeks.
“‘I don’t want to start a tour and then cancel shows at the last minute, as it’s just not fair to the fans. I’d rather they get a refund now and when I do the North American tour down the road, everyone who bought a ticket for these shows will be the first ones in line to purchase tickets at that time.’
“I just can’t wait to get well and get back on the road again,” he said at the time he disclosed the Parkinson’s. “That’s what’s killing me. I need it, you know.”
Parkinson’s is a neuro-degenerative disorder that progresses slowly in most people and has no cure.
You can watch the GMA interview by clicking on the tweet.
.@ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE: “The hardest thing is watching someone you love suffer.” Rock legend @OzzyOsbourne’s kids @JackOsbourne and @KellyOsbourne open up about their family’s new normal after their father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. https://t.co/tYd0K3rQet pic.twitter.com/8ayAFwOi9M
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 21, 2020
At the time of the Oct. 9, 2019, postponement announcement, he posted a video on his Facebook page and on YouTube. Osbourne said, “As you may know, at the beginning of this year, I had a bad fall and screwed up all the vertebrae in my neck and had to have surgery.
“I’m not dying,” he added, “I am recovering. It’s just taking a little bit longer than everyone thought it would.” Watch the complete message below.
Watch Osbourne’s Oct. 9, 2019, colorful message to his fans
On April 4, 2019, he announced the postponement of all his 2019 tour dates, inclusive of shows in North America and Europe, as he recovered from an injury sustained while dealing with his recent bout of pneumonia.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy®-winning singer and songwriter and 2019 Grammy® Special Merit Award recipient fell at his Los Angeles home, aggravating years-old injuries (from his 2003 ATV accident) that required surgery last month.
Osbourne was under doctors’ care in Los Angeles as he recovered.
Listen to “Under the Graveyard” from his recent album
Osbourne turns 73 on December 3, 2021.
Ozzy Osbourne 2023 U.K. and European Tour Dates (Tickets are available here)
May 03 – Helsinki Finland – Hartwall Arena
May 05 – Stockholm Sweden – Friends Arena
May 07 – Dortmund Germany – Westfalenhalle
May 10 – Madrid, Spain – WiZink Center
May 12 – Bologna Italy – Unipol Arena
May 14 – Munich Germany – Olympiahalle
May 17 – Budapest Hungary – Arena
May 19 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
May 21 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
May 24 – Hamburg Germany – Barclaycard Arena
May 26 – Mannheim Germany – SAP Arena
May 28 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes Benz Arena
May 31 – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
Jun 02 – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
Jun 04 – Glasgow, UK – The SSE Hydro
Jun 07 – Manchester UK – AO Arena
Jun 10 – Dublin Ireland – 3Arena
Jun 12 – London, UK – The O2
Jun 14 – Birmingham UK – Resorts World Arena
The 2020 North American dates were all canceled:
May 27 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
May 29 – Sunrise, FL – BB&T Center
May 31 – Tampa, FL – MidFlorida Credit Union
Jun 02 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Jun 04 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Jun 06 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Park Stadium
Jun 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
Jun 13 – Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Jun 16 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Jun 18 – Hamilton, ON – First Ontario Centre
Jun 20 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Jun 22 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Jun 24 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Jun 26 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
Jun 28 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Jul 01 – Milwaukee, WI – Amer. Family Ins. Amp – Summerfest
Jul 03 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Jul 07 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Jul 09 – Vancouver, BC – Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Jul 11 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
Jul 15 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
Jul 17 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Jul 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
Jul 25 – San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Jul 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Jul 29 – San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Amphitheatre
Jul 31 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
In October 2018, Osbourne canceled the remaining four shows of his 2018 tour due to a serious infection in his right hand that required surgery.
His last performance was on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2018, at Ozzfest. The final song of the set was a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.”
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
6 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationWhen does Ozzy realise that his touring days are over? He should have retired at least 10 years ago!
Responding to Jarmo Keranen – Ozzy can do whatever he wants to do so leave him alone! I was so fortunate to see him backstage in 2018 and give him a hug and for that, I will be forever grateful.
Yes he can and he will do. And it’s not hard to leave him alone, because i live on the other side of the planet than him!
Strongly disagree!!
Amazed by him even now!
Ozzy is the greatest of all time and he still kicks ass! Looking forward to him returning to touring in 2023. Love you ozzy!!!
Congratulations Ozzy. Hope to see you back with us.