Rob Halford Says Ozzy’s Touring Retirement Is the ‘Right Call’

Last month, Ozzy Osbourne acknowledged that his “touring days . . . have ended” following the cancelation of his 2023 spring tour with Judas Priest (because of medical problems). Naturally, there have been a plethora of involved and appreciative reactions from followers, and now, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford has provided his personal supportive response to the Prince of Darkness’ determination.

In a brand new chat with Metal Hammer, Halford clarified that though he hasn’t “spoken to Ozzy in person,” he “sent him a text the other day congratulating him on his two Grammys – ‘well done bab, love ya!” Obviously, he’s referring to Osbourne’s latest 2023 Grammy award wins (Best Rock Album for Patient Number 9 and Best Metal Performance for “Degradation Trip”).

Halford continued [via Metal Hammer]:

I can solely reinforce what all of Ozzy’s followers, together with us in Judas Priest, have stated to him although, which is that he has carried out a lot for all of us in rock and metallic. He’s carried out a lot for his followers, and everyone knows how unhealthy he feels about having to cancel as a result of he lives for these followers. You can see that each time he goes onstage, he’s beaming and connecting with all people.

It was horrible for him to should make that essential – and, to be sincere, proper – determination. He made the proper name. I don’t suppose he wished to place himself by means of a factor the place it’s like “Okay, we’ll have a go” then should cancel after a few reveals. Even although there’s plenty of love for him and plenty of care and understanding, I’ve seen what the British metallic maniacs have been saying and it’s precisely how I really feel too – put your toes up, you’ve earned it!

We couldn’t say it higher ourselves.

Halford additionally commented on Judas Priest’s plans to tour the U.Okay. previous to commencing work on the follow-up to 2018’s Firepower. Specifically, he defined that they are “frantically trying to figure out if [they] can do something this year to reward all those fans who have been waiting so patiently.”

He added. “We’ve been away from our British fans for too long, and we’re trying behind the scenes to put things together for this year if we can make it happen and if we’ve got something to announce, we absolutely will.”

Last month, Osbourne addressed the situation on SiriusXM’s Ozzy’s Boneyard, including the fact that he’s unhappy with how the press has interpreted and reported his earlier announcement:

Well, I’ve been working my guts out to try and get back on my feet. I’ve come to the point where Sharon says to me, “You know what, the truth of the marriage, you can’t keep booking tours and failing, cancelling.” So if I can ever get back to where I can tour again, fine. But right now, if you said to me, “Can you go on the road in a month?,” I couldn’t say yes. . . . This fucking press drive you nuts. I mean, I looked in the magazine, “Ozzy’s on his last legs,” I’m fucking not dying. Come on, guys. Haven’t I’ve had it bad enough already? If I get okay today. If the doctor said to me today, “Oh, you can tour,” it would take another six months to get it together, you know? You’ve got no idea. You got no idea what my, I feel like a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest.

In happier news, Osbourne appeared in a 2023 Super Bowl commercial called “Rock Star” (alongside KISS’ Paul Stanley, Billy Idol, Gary Clark Jr. and Joan Jett). In it, he acts as a shirt-and-tie office worker. Elsewhere, he – and Sharon – showed up in an awesome advertisement for Playstation’s Horizon Call of the Mountain (arguably the biggest launch title of Playstation’s new VR2 system).

Of course, only time will tell what the rest of 2023 holds for Osbourne and Judas Priest on stage.