Frontman Ozzy Osbourne recalls the highs and lows of being in metal band Black Sabbath ahead of final ever gig
Ozzy Osbourne says that being the lead singer of Black Sabbath was like being involved in a marriage with three other men. Ozzy performed with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward from 1968 to 1979 and then returned on and off from 1997.
The Brummie icon will play with Ward for the first time in 20 years when they reform one last time for the Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park in Birmingham on July 5.
Ozzy said of being with Sabbath: “You abso-f***ing-lutely get married in a band. You are arguing. You get pissed off. Like marriage. Still I’m glad I repaired my friendship with Bill Ward. When I went back with him, he was not the same. The damage had been done to it. It was just like a divorce.”
The rocker, who has been married in real life to wife Sharon for 42 years, admits being reunited with his mates made him recall how tough life was during their early days in the 1960s.
Speaking in the US on Sirius XM radio, he recalled schlepping up and down the UK motorways doing promotional interviews and shows to build a following.
It is a far cry from his multi millionaire lifestyle now of private planes and chauffeured cars. “I remember the first time I went from Birmingham to London. It’s a big day trip. I thought I was going to f***ing die. We must have stopped at every f***ing service station
“We did the radio station crawl to every f***ing radio station. It was a lot of fun. We did 15 interviews every week. My first airplane flight was from Birmingham Airport in Glasgow on a f***ing prop plane. It was like f***ing hell, this is unbelievable. “
Ozzy is likely to be on a chair on his return to stage but there will be lots of smoke like the old Sabbath gigs, flashing lights and big guitar solos from bandmate Tommy Iommi to ensure Ozzy’s entrance and performance will delight fans.
Speaking earlier in the month he said: “I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don’t think I’ll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down.”
Ozzy had a fall at home in 2019 which aggravated injuries from a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003. Speaking about his Parkinson’s diagnosis in January 2020, he told US show Good Morning America: “I just can’t wait to get well enough to go on the road, that is what is killing me.”
The all-day event at Villa Park in Birmingham, the city where the heavy rock pioneers formed in 1968, will also feature sets by a host of major metal bands including Metallica, Slayer and Alice In Chains. Money raised from the show will go to Parkinson’s and children’s charities.
In 2017 the band played what was billed to be their “last” gig with Ozzy, guitarist Iommi and bassist Butler – but without Ward on drums. This time it will be the end of the band.
“I’d love to say ‘never say never’, but after the last six years or so it is time,” said Ozzy. “I lived on the road for 50-odd years, and I’ve kind of got used to not picking up my bags and getting on the bus again. I don’t smoke dope or do any of the rock star lifestyle any more. I’m kind of like a homebody. I never go out. I never hang out in bars – I don’t drink. So what the f*** is out there for me?
“It’s time for me to spend some time with my grandkids, I don’t want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family.”