Sharon Osbourne has reportedly axed a band from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s eagerly anticipated ‘Back To The Beginning’ concert, following a significant row with the band’s manager. The identity of the band booted from the line-up for the charity gig, due on July 5 at Birmingham’s Villa Park, remains unknown after Sharon’s clash.
Speaking to Metal Hammer, she said: “I had a huge, huge to-do with a manager over this celebration for Ozzy and Sabbath. And it was probably the worst way I’ve felt in years. I don’t care what this person says about me, thinks about it, because he doesn’t know me. And he’s now going around making up bull**** lies because I threw his band off the bill.”
Speculation swirled around rock band Tool as the band possibly involved when their name vanished from the online lineup, however, they have since been re-added.
Sharon said: “Because do you know what? I don’t love them. I care about people who love me, what they say about me. You can’t care what an industry says, because you don’t love them, so how can it hurt you? It doesn’t.”
The event’s lineup boasts the likes of Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Guns ‘N Roses members Duff McKagan and Slash, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Anthrax, and Wolfgang Van Halen.
Slated to be Ozzy’s final gig, the concert comes as he battles a succession of health woes, with Ozzy himself acknowledging the difficulty in prepping for his final appearance. Ozzy Osbourne shared his determination on the ‘Ozzy Speaks’ podcast on SiriusXM, confessing: “All I can say is I’m giving 120 percent. If my God wants me to do the show, I’ll do it.”
The rock legend is set for a comeback at Villa Park, marking his first live gig since 2018 after overcoming several health issues, including announcing his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2020.
Discussing the psychological challenge of gearing up for live performances, Ozzy confessed during his podcast: “My head’s crazy. ADHD – I have that badly. I will have done the show and died a death before I even started my exercises. So I try and put it on the back burner. I’m not going up there saying, ‘It’s going to be great. I’m really confident.'”.
Reflecting on past pre-show nerves, Ozzy added: “I remember being in f’ing Vegas one time being in the dressing room going, ‘I’m going to play. I’m going to die’. And I talked myself into blowing the gig. It was only two f-ing songs.”
In relation to coping strategies, he cited his wife Sharon’s advice: “Sharon goes, ‘Just don’t think about it.’ I obsess about a f****** bird c******* on my show.”
Revealing his intense regime ahead of the show, Ozzy detailed: “I have got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. It’s hard going, but he’s convinced that he can pull it off for me. I am having my blood pressure taken 15 times a day. I’ve got this f***ing device on my finger. It’s a monitor to say how my heart rate is.”
Ozzy also confessed that he is still unsure whether he will perform standing up or seated, following numerous spinal surgeries linked to a 2003 quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire residence.
A fall in 2019 dislodged metal rods inserted into his back from the crash, which he said has caused more complications than Parkinson’s itself. Ozzy was diagnosed with a mild form of Parkinson’s in 2003 and postponed going public with his news until 2020.
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