Ozzy Osbourne has revealed he "may be sitting down" for what is being billed as his final concert performance due to ongoing health issues.
The 76-year-old Black Sabbath frontman is determined to take the stage at the Back To The Beginning show on July 5 despite concerns about his physical condition.
"I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up," Osbourne told the Guardian in an interview to be published today.
His commitment comes despite doubts expressed by Maynard James Keenan, frontman of supporting act Tool, who said he was "preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best" regarding Osbourne's ability to perform.
Former rocker Ozzy Osbourne has been struggling with health issuesGettyThe metal icon has faced numerous health challenges in recent years but remains resolute about delivering a final performance for fans.
Osbourne has experienced an extraordinary run of health problems, including a 2019 fall that exacerbated an earlier spinal injury from a 2003 quad bike crash, requiring numerous surgeries.
He has also suffered from pneumonia and a longstanding infection, and has been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson's disease.
"You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong. You begin to think this is never going to end," he told the Guardian.
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Ozzy Osbourne has previously stated he 'can't walk'
GettyDespite these challenges, Osbourne is actively preparing for the concert, which his wife Sharon conceived as "something to give me a reason to get up in the morning."
"I do weights, bike riding, I've got a guy living at my house who's working with me," he explained.
"I've got a vocal coach coming round four days a week to keep my voice going."
The Back to the Beginning concert will reunite Osbourne with his original Black Sabbath bandmates - guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward - for the first time in 20 years.
The all-day event will take place at Villa Park in Birmingham, the city where the heavy metal pioneers formed in 1968.
The show features an impressive supporting lineup of metal greats including Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, KoRn, Gojira and Alice In Chains.
After forming in Birmingham, Black Sabbath went on to become one of the most influential metal bands of all time, selling more than 75 million albums worldwide.
The band were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, with Osbourne added for a second time last year.
Their last performance together as the classic lineup was in 2005.
Osbourne has been candid about his physical limitations for the upcoming performance.
Ozzy Osbourne might be 'sitting down' during his final gig
Getty
"I have problems walking. I also get blood pressure issues, from blood clots on my legs," 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."
The singer clarified that fans should expect only a brief performance.
"We're only playing a couple of songs each. I don't want people thinking 'we're getting ripped off', because it's just going to be... what's the word?... a sample," he explained.
The concert will raise funds for three charities: Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital and the Birmingham-based Acorns Children's Hospice.
In March, Osbourne's guitarist Zakk Wylde teased that the singer could perform from a "throne that flies over the stadium" for this final appearance.
