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Ozzy Osbourne Overcomes Illness to Deliver Triumphant Farewell Concert
3 Oct
Summary
- Ozzy Osbourne's health deteriorated after a 2019 fall, leaving him in near-constant pain
- He survived a life-threatening bout of sepsis but was too weak to undergo surgery
- Ozzy worked with producer Andrew Watt to create his 2022 album "Patient Number 9"
In the months leading up to Ozzy Osbourne's highly anticipated farewell concert in Birmingham, England, the Black Sabbath legend faced a daunting battle with his health. Just 72 days before the show, Osbourne sat in his Los Angeles backyard, weeping and convinced he would not make it to the event.
After a nasty fall in 2019, Osbourne had endured a cascading series of health crises, including a life-threatening bout of sepsis that resulted from a hospital stay for pneumonia. He also had a cracked vertebrae, causing him excruciating pain and leaving him too weak to undergo the necessary surgery. "The problem now is getting to England," he said in a raspy voice, as his wife Sharon sat by with tears in her eyes. "It's fucking soul-destroying. I have to be there."
Despite the immense challenges, Osbourne was determined to take the stage one last time. He worked with producer Andrew Watt on his 2022 album "Patient Number 9," assembled a supergroup of metal icons for his 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and pushed his body to the limits in a bid to recover enough strength to perform at the farewell concert.
In the end, Osbourne made it to the show, delivering a triumphant set that will go down as one of the greatest final acts in rock history. Tragically, he passed away just 17 days later, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most iconic and influential figures in heavy metal.
