Ozzy Osbourne's Long, Hard Road to 'Patient Number 9'

Ozzy Osbourne has recorded two solo albums up to now three years, together with Patient Number 9, which is out now. But he’s confronted a protracted collection of well being challenges each step of the way in which.

The power ache obtained so unhealthy earlier this yr that Osbourne admitted that he hoped he would not get up as he ready for his most up-to-date surgical procedure.

Thankfully, the Black Sabbath legend persevered and had a a lot better outlook by the point he made a shock return to the stage in early August, performing alongside longtime bandmate Tony Iommi.

“You have not seen the end of Ozzy Osbourne, I promise you,” he instructed The Guardian. “If I have to go up there and die on the first song, I’ll still be back the next day.”

Without query, it’s that steadfast constructive angle that has stored Osbourne shifting ahead by the darkish occasions – together with an ATV accident in 2003, which was reportedly virtually deadly. Though his medical doctors have been in a position to efficiently deal with the myriad of accidents Osbourne suffered, there have been additional challenges in recent times associated to the mishap.

Osbourne started to cancel tour dates in 2018 on his farewell tour after a hand an infection prompted his thumb to swell “to the size of a fuckin’ lightbulb.” Although he didn’t really feel sick and was cracking jokes with the medical doctors, the an infection was fairly critical. Osbourne underwent emergency surgical procedure for 3 separate staph infections in his hand to forestall everlasting harm and even dying.

More cancellations adopted in early 2019, attributed this time to a extreme upper-respiratory an infection. Osbourne would later develop pneumonia. “I’m completely devastated for having to postpone the European leg of my tour,” he said in a news release at the time. “It just seems that since October everything I touch has turned to shit.

By April 2019, Osbourne had shelved all of his tour dates due to what was described as an injury “sustained while dealing with his recent bout of pneumonia.”

Sharon Osbourne finally defined the choice to postpone the exhibits, revealing {that a} fall had dislodged metallic rods inserted in her husband’s physique after the 2003 ATV accident. The spill, which occurred in the midst of the evening, had re-injured his again, neck and shoulders, she added. His restoration could be gradual shifting, however Osbourne labored diligently by bodily and occupational remedy. His well being points continued, nonetheless, as blood clots appeared in his legs. “It’s scary stuff,” Osbourne instructed Rolling Stone. “From 40 [years old] to 70 was OK and suddenly you get to 70 and everything caved in on me.”

Still, Osbourne continued to work on new music, recording 9 tune concepts in that very same interval. Ordinary Man took form in a marathon four-day interval with producer Andrew Watt on the helm. Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith shaped the core of the writing staff who collaborated with Osbourne and Watt.

McKagan famous that the classes may have gone “sideways in a second,” as he instructed former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. Still, he felt that the restricted time that they had to work on the fabric in the end contributed positively to the album that emerged.

Watch Ozzy Osbourne’s Video for ‘Under the Graveyard’

Ordinary Man arrived in February 2020 that includes further collaborations with Elton John and Slash. Unfortunately, Osbourne’s well being woes continued. He confirmed a prognosis of Parkinson’s Disease whereas talking with Good Morning America.

He tempered that revelation a month later, nonetheless, by revealing that he had first acquired the information in 2003. “I’m not dying from Parkinson’s. I’ve been working with it most of my life,” Osbourne instructed the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve cheated death so many times. If tomorrow you read ‘Ozzy Osbourne never woke up this morning,’ you wouldn’t go, ‘Oh, my God!’ You’d go, ‘Well, it finally caught up with him.’”

Even with the courageous outlook, Osbourne shared his frustration throughout an interview with SiriusXM’s Jenny McCarthy. Osbourne was “convinced” he was dying and that his household had been hiding it from him. Sharon, he added, reassured him that was not the case.

He then canceled his 2020 touring schedule since there have been “six [to] eight weeks” of medical remedies on the horizon. Further cancellations adopted due to coronavirus issues and Parkinson’s-related associated issues. He finally examined constructive for the COVID-19 virus in early 2022.

Less than a yr after the discharge of Ordinary Man, information emerged that Osbourne was engaged on one other solo album. Watt reported in December 2020 that they have been “about halfway through” the recording course of for the follow-up.

Watt added that the songs had been break up between Smith and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and that he was jazzed by what had been popping out. Hawkins’ contributions, “harken again to Ozzy’s ‘80s era, in a great way,” Watt told Guitar World, adding, “I think it’s so cool for a rock fan to be able to listen to half an album with Chad Smith on drums, and then you flip it over and you get to hear Taylor Hawkins.”

These ongoing musical projects were important in keeping Osbourne’s spirits excessive, he admitted in 2021: “It’s kept me alive, you know. These past two years I’ve been in a terrible fucking state between the accident and then the pandemic. It’s kept me sane. I’ve needed the music.”

Watch Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Patient Number 9’ Video

Osbourne revealed extra collaborations in October 2021, telling SiriusXM that longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde was within the combine, together with Eric Clapton and Tony Iommi. Jeff Beck additionally carried out on the LP that grew to become Patient Number 9, though they have been unable to get his former Yardbirds bandmate Jimmy Page to take part. Osbourne then introduced the brand new file’s official completion in April 2022, noting in a social media put up that he had delivered the completed work to his label, Epic Records.

Following a bout with COVID-19, he lastly underwent surgical procedure in June to deal with lingering points together with his neck and backbone. It was a critical operation, with Sharon saying that the end result would actually “determine the rest of his life.”

Thankfully, Osbourne got here by the surgical procedure effectively and Sharon up to date followers on his profitable progress through Twitter. “Our family would like to express so much gratitude for the overwhelming amount of love and support leading up to Ozzy’s surgery! Ozzy is doing well and on the road to recovery! Your love means the world to him.”

He confirmed Patient Number 9 in late June, revealing the album’s title observe (which options Beck) and a September launch date. “It’s no secret that the last four years have been very difficult for me,” Osbourne admitted throughout a Q&A with followers, “but making this album took my mind off of my problems.”

Osbourne also praised the contributions of Iommi during the same discussion. “It was really great working with Tony. He’s the riff master. No one can touch him in that respect. I only wish we had these songs for Black Sabbath’s 13 album.”

In his view, there’s one more milestone that would make the past several years of struggle worthwhile: A trip to the top of the charts for Patient Number 9. “I still want to have a No. 1 record in England,” Osbourne said in the summer of 2022, “and this album is worthy of being the one.”