Ozzy Osbourne has sadly been through a number of health issues in recent years, but has made it clear how much he hopes to get back on stage. Right now, it looks as if it’s going to happen, as Ozzy is scheduled to perform at the Power Trip festival which features a powerhouse lineup that includes AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Tool. The 3-day event is set for Oct. 6 to 8 in Indio, California.
Ozzy confirmed he has no plans to call it a career in an interview with Metal Hammer that was conducted by Tenacious D’s Jack Black and Kyle Gass.
“I remember some good gigs and I’ve done my fair share of f*cking bad gigs,” the 74-year-old Osbourne said.
“A guitar player can change his guitar. A drummer can change the drum. If my voice goes, I’m f*cked. One time I was at a gig at Nassau Coliseum in New York. On the way to the gig, my voice went out. The kids were already there and I thought, ‘What the f*ck am I gonna do now?’ I went out and tried to sing and they gave me a standing ovation. The kids would rather see you being bad than go home.”
“I mean, doing a live show is what I live for. I’ve had to cancel my European tour but I’m determined. I’ve gotta do more gigs if I have to get someone to wheel me out there.”
Ozzy’s former bandmate, Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, was asked about Ozzy potentially performing in a chair.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Butler told Robert Cavuoto of Sonic Perspectives. “It’s up to him. I’ve got nothing to do with his solo career. Whatever Ozzy wants to do, it’s up to him… It’s sad that he has to do that, if he does it. But Ozzy wants to get out there and play to his fans one more time. So good luck to him.”
Butler was asked if he keeps in touch with anyone else from Sabbath. “I stay in touch with Tony. Bill’s not on the Internet. And I haven’t spoken to Ozzy since the last Sabbath gig [in 2017].”
Butler also chatted about almost forming a band with Ozzy when “The Prince of Darkness” left to go solo.
“Yeah, we were thinking about it,” Butler said. “At the time, Ozzy was getting fed up with things, and I was getting delusional about the band, and I didn’t feel I was having enough say. Ozzy and I discussed getting a band ourselves, but that fell through.”
“We still remained friends apart from all the ups and downs of the band. You can’t have four people together for 50 years and not handle the ups and the downs. There have been terrible fall-outs; you forget it and then come back together. It’s just the way of life.”
