If you made plans to attend the Power Trip festival this October exclusively to see Ozzy Osbourne in concert, you might want to sit down. Just moments ago, the “Prince of Darkness” announced that he would not be performing as originally planned due to ongoing health concerns.
According to an official statement provided by Ozzy’s team, the heavy metal icon said he wasn’t in the physical shape necessary to perform to the best of his ability, saying he’s “too proud” to phone it in.
As painful as this is, I’ve had to make the decision to bow out of performing on Power Trip in October.
My original plan was to return to the stage in the summer of 2024, and when the offer to do this show came in, I optimistically moved forward.
Unfortunately, my body is telling me that I’m just not ready yet and I am much too proud to have the first show that I do in nearly five years be half-assed.
The band that will be replacing me on Power Trip will be announced shortly. They are personal friends of mine and I can promise that you will not be disappointed.
Above all, I want to thank my fans, my band, and my crew for their unconditional loyalty and continual support.
I love you all and I will see you soon.
God Bless,
Ozzy
Over the last couple years, Ozzy’s ability to tour has been spotty at best, due to lingering health issues stemming from a spinal injury he suffered back in the early 2000s. Since then, it’s grown to affect his mobility, among other aspects of his life, as he’s said he’s in near constant pain.
Still, he remained defiant during an episode of SiriusXM’s Ozzy Speaks back in February, where he said he would do everything in his power to return to the stage. At 74 years old, the ex-Black Sabbath frontman said performing is what drives him even after more than four decades in the business.
“I mean, doing a live show is what I live for. I’ve had to cancel my [2023] European tour but I’m determined. I’ve gotta do more gigs if I have to get someone to wheel me out there. I mean, you can’t retire from this game.
“It’s not a job, it’s a fucking passion. I don’t know how to do anything else. The thought of sitting in my house all day… I’m a road dog, you know? I’ve been doing it fucking 55 years. It’s the best thing to have ever happened to me.”
As for the Power Trip Festival, which will take place on October 6 to October 8 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, we don’t know who will replace Ozzy. In his statement though, he said the choice has already been made and that they will be “personal friends” of his. I’m willing to bet that it could be Judas Priest, but I don’t know much more than any of you do at the moment.
Still, we’re hoping Ozzy can properly heal up and find time to hit the stage again.