Ozzy Osbourne tells fans he is no longer ‘physically capable’ of touring after years of spinal surgery following fall

Published

1 year ago

February 1, 2023

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Ozzy Osbourne has announced he is no longer “physically capable” of performing planned shows in Europe and the UK, telling fans he “never imagined” his touring days would “have ended this way”.

The 74-year-old former Black Sabbath singer has had extensive spinal surgery and other treatment over the past four years, after a fall at home in 2019 aggravated injuries he suffered in a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003.

In 2020, he revealed he has Parkinson’s disease.

Osbourne has made a few announcements of gigs being cancelled and rescheduled over the past few years, but has now said he cannot handle the travelling associated with a major tour.

Writing on Instagram, he said: “This is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to share with my loyal fans.

“As you may all know, four years ago this month I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine. My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage.”

Osbourne told his five million followers that his singing voice is “fine” but his body is “still physically weak”, despite three operations, stem cell treatments, physical therapy sessions, and recent “groundbreaking” Cybernics (HAL) Treatment – using a wearable robot suit.

“I am honestly humbled by the way you’ve all patiently held on to your tickets for all this time, but in all good conscience I have now come to the realisation that I’m not physically capable of doing my upcoming European/UK tour dates, as I know I couldn’t deal with the travel required,” he said.

According to tour dates on his website, Osbourne was due to begin a series of shows in Helsinki, Finland, on 3 May, with the tour also including gigs in Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin and London, before finishing in his home city of Birmingham on 14 June.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has appeared at some shows in recent years – including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and at half-time during an NFL game in California in 2021.

While tours can be gruelling, with several shows across short periods of time and lots of travelling involved, Osbourne gave fans hope that live shows won’t be off the cards entirely.

“Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way,” he said. “My team is currently coming up with ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country.”

Osbourne also thanked fans, crew, family and his “longtime friends” Judas Priest “for their endless dedication, loyalty, and support”.

Speaking to Kerrang magazine after revealing his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Osbourne said: “Do I ever think about when my time’s gonna come?

“I think about it – I don’t worry about it. I won’t be here in another 15 years or whatever, not that much longer, but I don’t dwell on it. It’s gonna happen to us all.”

Entertainment

John Lennon’s lost guitar found in loft after 50 years to go up for auction

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2024

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John Lennon's lost guitar found in loft after 50 years to go up for auction

A guitar used by John Lennon in the recording of The Beatles album and film Help! is going up for auction after being found in a loft.

Believed to have been lost, the 12-string acoustic guitar had not been seen or played for more than 50 years before it was rediscovered in the home of a British couple.

It is now going up for auction where it is estimated to fetch between £485,000 to £647,000.

Auctioneers believe it could set a “new world record for the highest-selling Beatles guitar”.

The Hootenanny model, made by German firm Framus, was used by the Liverpool band in the 1965 Help! film, specifically in the scene when the group perform You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.

It was also used during the recording sessions for It’s Only Love and I’ve Just Seen A Face and Girl along with the rhythm track for Norwegian Wood played by George Harrison.

“Finding this remarkable instrument is like finding a lost Rembrandt or Picasso, and it still looks and plays like a dream after having been preserved in an attic for more than 50 years,” said Darren Julien, co-founder and executive director at auction house Julien’s Auctions.

“To awaken this sleeping beauty is a sacred honour and is a great moment for music, Julien’s, Beatles and auction history.”

It is believed the guitar came to be in the possession of Scottish guitarist Gordon Waller, known for being one half of the pop duo Peter & Gordon, who later gave it to his band’s road managers in the 1970s.

It is not the first piece of Beatles memorabilia to be rediscovered.

In February, Sir Paul McCartney was reunited with his 1961 Hofner bass guitar, which he used on songs such as Twist And Shout and She Loves You.

Julien’s Auctions has previously sold another Lennon acoustic guitar for $2.4m (£1.93m), Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit was purchased for $2.2m (£1.77m) and a Ludwig drumhead bass used on The Ed Sullivan Show was auctioned at $2.1m (£1.64m).

The Hootenanny guitar will go up for auction along with the guitar’s Maton Australian-made case as part of Julien’s Music Icons two-day auction on 29 and 30 May.

Also being sold at the auction is an Adam Clayton stage-played and owned rose sparkle Fender bass guitar, used at the U2 Las Vegas Sphere shows, which has an estimate of $50,000 to 70,000 (£40,199 to £56,279).

Tina Turner’s Versace dress, worn during her 1996 to 1997 Wildest Dreams Tour, and Amy Winehouse’s Black Fendi gown made for the opening of the clothes shop during Paris Fashion Week, are also up for auction.

Entertainment

Battlestar Galactica actor Terry Carter dies

Published

11 hours ago

April 24, 2024

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Battlestar Galactica actor Terry Carter dies

US actor Terry Carter, who starred in 1970s TV shows including Battlestar Galactica and McCloud, has died at the age of 95.

Carter “died peacefully” at his New York home on Tuesday, it was announced on his official website.

He was best known for his roles as Colonel Tigh in the original Battlestar Galactica series and Sergeant Joe Broadhurst on McCloud.

During his decades-long career he was seen to break down barriers, including in 1956 becoming one of the first black actors to become a TV sitcom regular, playing Private Sugarman on The Phil Silvers Show.

His first major Hollywood role was playing Detective Max Jaffie in 1970 hit Company Of Killers, before his portrayal of Sergeant Joe Broadhurst in the US police drama series McCloud which ran from 1970 to 1977.

Arguably his most well-known role came for starring as Colonel Tigh, second-in-command of the starship fleet in original science-fiction series Battlestar Galactica in 1978.

The series came off the back of the success of Star Wars in 1977.

In 1989, he was nominated for an Emmy award for producing and directing a TV musical documentary titled A Duke Named Ellington about the life and work of the pianist, composer, and jazz star.

His other credits including starring in Foxy Brown and Benji; creating a documentary about African-American anthropologist, dancer, and choreographer Katherine Dunham; and becoming a TV anchor newscaster for WBZ-TV Eyewitness News in Boston in 1965.

He also appeared in three Broadway productions, with his debut in Mrs Patterson, as well as the revival of the musical Finian’s Rainbow, and his final appearance was in the musical Kwamina, opposite British star Sally Ann Howes.

Carter is survived by his wife Etaferhu Zenebe-DeCoste, his two children Miguel and Melinda and Mrs Zenebe-DeCoste’s daughter.

Entertainment

Richard Osman reveals Thursday Murder Club cast – including ex James Bond

Published

17 hours ago

April 23, 2024

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Richard Osman reveals Thursday Murder Club cast - including ex James Bond

Richard Osman has revealed three out of four of the lead characters for the forthcoming big screen adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club.

Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley will take on the roles of Elizabeth Best, Ron Ritchie and Ibrahim Arif respectively.

The Pointless host shared the names of the key cast members on his bi-weekly podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, which he presents with journalist Marina Hyde.

Chris Columbus – the man behind Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire and two Harry Potter movies – is set to write and direct the film, which is being produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment.

The movie is based on Osman’s debut novel of the same name which follows a group of friends in a retirement home who solve cold cases for fun, but become entangled in a real murder.

It is set in a retirement home Cooper’s Chase, in the fictitious village of Fairhaven in Kent.

Osman said the production will take place from “the end of June to September” in the UK.

The fourth main character, a retired nurse called Joyce Meadowcroft, has not yet been confirmed.

Osman hinted at the casting, saying: “Joyce, we’re still in negotiations but again the name is the one that people most shout at me in the street”.

He teased: “Lots more casting to come in the following weeks.”

An adaptation of the novel was first confirmed in 2020 after Amblin Partners secured rights in a competitive auction.

The fastest-selling adult crime debut, Osman has since written three more books in the series, with a fifth due out next year.

Before becoming a well-known face on quiz shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House Of Games, the quiz master and author worked as a TV entertainment executive, producing shows including 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Deal Or No Deal and Whose Line Is It Anyway?