Ozzy Osbourne 'giving it 120%' to get ready for final Black Sabbath concert
It takes place on 5th July
Ozzy Osbourne says he’s “giving it 120%” to getting ready for Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park on Saturday 5th July.
The Prince of Darkness revealed last month he was undergoing “heavy” endurance training to get fit for his final concert following a series of health setbacks over the past seven years.
On the new episode of Ozzy Speaks on SiriusXM, 76-year-old Ozzy told his best friend Billy Morrison he’s still putting in maximum effort.
"I haven't done any physical work for the last seven, six and a half, seven years... by hook or by crook, I'm gonna make it (to Villa Park)," Ozzy said.
"I've 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'm giving it everything I've got."
Asked by Morrison whether he’s “stressing” about it, Ozzy replied: "Sometimes, but what I do, if I start obsessing all the time, I'll be insane by Friday, you know?
“So, I'm just taking it one day at a time and when I do it one day at a time. You know, when we were talking about this (obsessive-compulsive disorder), whatever. I have that badly.
“All I can say is I'm giving 120%. If my God wants me to do the show, I'll do it."
Ozzy has previous conceded that he “may sit down” for his solo set and Black Sabbath performance at Villa Park.
The star-studded Back to the Beginning concert features sets from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Alice in Chains, Halestorm, Lamb of God, Anthrax, Mastodon and Rival Sons
Artists performing as part of ‘supergroups’ at the 10-hour heavy metal extravaganza include musical director Tom Morello, Sammy Hagar, Papa V Perpetua, Rudy Sarzo, Fred Durst, Wolfgang Van Halen, David Draiman, KK Downing and Jake E Lee.
All tickets sold out within hours of going on sale in February.
The 20 greatest Donington headliners, including Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne:
20 – ZZ Top
ZZ Top headlined Monsters of Rock in 1985
19 – System of a Down
System of a Down headlined Download Festival in 2005, 2011 and 2017
18 – Def Leppard
Def Leppard headlined Download Festival in 2009, 2011 and 2019
17 – Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne headlined Monsters of Rock in 1986 and co-headlined with KISS in 1996
He also topped the bill at Download Festival in 2018
16 – The Prodigy
The Prodigy headlined Download Festival in 2012
15 – Muse
Muse headlined Download Festival in 2015
14 – Status Quo
Status Quo headlined Monsters of Rock in 1982
13 – Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi headlined Monsters of Rock in 1987
12 – Guns N’ Roses
Guns N' Roses headlined Download Festival in 2006 and 2018
11 – Linkin Park
Linkin Park headlined Download Festival in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2014
10 – KISS
KISS co-headlined Monsters of Rock with Ozzy Osbourne in 1996
They went on to headline Download Festival in 2008, 2015 and 2022
9 – Rainbow
Rainbow headlined Monsters of Rock in 1980
8 – Aerosmith
Aerosmith headlined Monsters of Rock in 1994
7 – Whitesnake
Whitesnake headlined Monsters of Rock in 1983 and 1990
6 – Slipknot
Slipknot headlined Download Festival in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2023
5 – Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath headlined Download Festival in 2005, 2012 and 2016
4 – Rammstein
Rammstein headlined Download Festival in 2013 and 2016
3 – Metallica
Metallica headlined Monsters of Rock in 1995
They also headlined Download Festival in 2004, 2006, 2012 and 2023 (twice)
2 – AC/DC
AC/DC headlined Monsters of Rock in 1981, 1984, 1991
They headlined Download Festival in 2010
1 – Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden headlined Monsters of Rock in 1988, 1992
They also headlined Download Festival in 2003, 2007, 2013, 2016, 2022