Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic 74-year-old rock star, recently opened up in an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone UK about facing mortality, his reflections on life, and the setbacks resulting from a recent back surgery that unveiled a tumor in one of his vertebrae.
In the candid conversation, Ozzy expressed gratitude for being alive despite a tumultuous history of addictions and overdoses. Reflecting on his past, he marveled at outliving many of his friends. “I’ve been doing a lot of reflection while I’ve been laid up, and all my drinking partners, I’ve realized they’re all dead,” he shared. “You’re dead, and you’re dead, and you’re dead.”
Acknowledging the fragility of life, Ozzy admitted, “I should have been dead way before loads of them. Why am I the last man standing? I don’t understand any of it.” Despite his reflections, he doesn’t fear death but wishes to avoid a prolonged, painful existence.
“I like the idea that if you have a terminal illness, you can go to a place in Switzerland and get it done quickly,” Ozzy revealed. He referenced his father’s battle with cancer, stating, “I saw my father die of cancer.” The rock legend candidly discussed his own timeline, mentioning, “At best, I’ve got ten years left, and when you’re older, time picks up speed.”
Regarding a recent spinal surgery, Ozzy disclosed undergoing a fourth procedure to address issues arising from a fall in 2019. Complications included the dislodging of metal rods implanted after a quad bike crash in 2003. The surgery also uncovered a tumor in one of his vertebrae.
Ozzy’s wife, Sharon, shared the challenges of witnessing her husband’s health battles over the past five years. She expressed a mix of helplessness and concern, describing it as a prolonged period of heartache. Ozzy, who revealed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2020, has not lost his sense of humor despite enduring physical pain.
Looking to the future, Ozzy expressed his frustration at not being able to bid farewell to his fans on stage. “If I can’t continue doing shows on a regular basis, I just want to be well enough to do one show where I can say, ‘Hi guys, thanks so much for my life.’ That’s what I’m working towards, and if I drop down dead at the end of it, I’ll die a happy man.”
As fans anxiously await updates on Ozzy’s health and potential return to the stage, the rock legend isn’t sure whether he’s going to be able to get back on stage.
“I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” Osbourne told Rolling Stone UK. “But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life. At the start of my illness, when I stopped touring, I was really pissed off with myself, the doctors, and the world. But as time has gone on, I’ve just gone, ‘Well, maybe I’ve just got to accept that fact.’”
“I’m not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy,” he continued. “What’s the f*cking point in that? I’m not going up there in a f*cking wheelchair. I’ve seen Phil Collins perform recently, and he’s got virtually the same problems as me. He gets up there in a wheelchair! But I couldn’t do that.”
To hear more from Osbourne on overcoming health struggles on Piers Morgan Uncensored, check out the video below.
As Osbourne navigates health challenges, what do you think the rock legend’s enduring legacy means for the future of music?
