Ozzy Osbourne promises to give UK tour his 'best shot'

Ozzy Osbourne has promised to give it ‘the best shot” he can for another tour despite his series of health setbacks.

The metal legend is set to tour the UK & Ireland in May and June 2023 on his No More Tours 2 trek with Judas Priest, which has been postponed multiple times because of Ozzy’s health.

Ozzy underwent ‘life-determining’ surgery in June to realign pins in his neck and back following a serious fall, and just two months later he performed live at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games closing ceremony with his former Black Sabbath band mate Tony Iommi.

In a new interview with The Guardian, Ozzy, who also has Parkinson's disease and emphysema, says the surprise performance of ‘Paranoid’ has given him some optimism for the future.

“Since I had my (first neck) surgery and everything got f---ed up, it’s been three or four years since I’ve performed,” Ozzy said. “And I was thinking it’ll never happen again. But that show’s given me a bit of hope.”

The Commonwealth Games performance came together in just six days, according to Sharon Osbourne, and Ozzy explained he was initially hesitant to agree to performing in Birmingham.

“I said to Sharon: ‘I can’t f---ing perform’”, Ozzy revealed. “She said: ‘Are you sure?’ And I thought about it, and I thought: ‘F--- it, I’m gonna go for it.’ It’s one song – and I’ve sung it every f---ing night for the last 55 years, so it’s not like I’m going to forget the f---ing words!”

Looking forward to his No More Tours 2 trek, Ozzy vowed: “I’m saying to you I’ll give it the best shot I can for another tour. You have not seen the end of Ozzy Osbourne, I promise you. If I have to go up there and die on the first song, I’ll still be back the next day.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Ozzy revealed why he’s leaving America to return to live in the UK.

“Everything’s f---ng ridiculous there,” Ozzy said. “I’m fed up with people getting killed every day. God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. And there was that mass shooting in Vegas at that concert… It’s f---ing crazy.

“And I don’t want to die in America. I don’t want to be buried in f---ing Forest Lawn (cemetary). I’m English. I want to be back. But saying that, if my wife said we’ve got to go and live in Timbuktu, I’ll go. But, no, it’s just time for me to come home.”

The Prince of Darkness releases his new studio album ‘Patient Number 9’ on Friday 9th September, which features collaborations with Tony Iommi, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Zakk Wylde, Eric Clapton, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, the late-great Taylor Hawkins, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo (who plays bass on most of the album’s tracks), Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses and Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction.

As revealed on air on Planet Rock’s Bank Holiday Monday special, three Ozzy Osbourne songs feature in our countdown of The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time. Check out the full list, as voted by Planet Rock listeners, below.

Ozzy Osbourne’s UK & Ireland tour dates with Judas Priest:

MAY 2023

Nottingham Motorpoint Arena – Wed 31st

JUNE 2023

Newcastle Utilita Arena – Fri 2nd

Glasgow OVO Hydro – Sun 4th

Manchester AO Arena – Wed 7th

Dublin 3Arena – Sat 10th

London The O2 – Mon 12th

Birmingham Resorts World Arena – Wed 14th

The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time:

Listen to Planet Rock on DAB nationwide, on our free app, online, via your smart speaker (“Play Planet Rock”) and on Freesat.

• Ozzy Osbourne
• Black Sabbath