According to insiders, the wife of the Black Sabbath star made every effort to get him on stage.
Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance in his native country almost never occurred. We can reveal that the rock legend was warned that if he pursued his dream of standing and biding his devoted fans farewell, insurers would not cover the show.
But Ozzy’s determined wife Sharon waged a secret battle with the insurance agents – and overcame any potential issues by seating the Black Sabbath frontman in a throne for his five solo tracks and four Sabbath tunes. Ozzy, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76, just two weeks after the show, had vowed to “get back on that stage no matter what”.
READ MORE: Ozzy Osbourne was ‘ready to go’ after battling physical torment and trauma, says pal
However, an LA promoter said the superstar was effectively banned from any on stage movement during the charity show by insurance firms. It prompted concerns that the Back To The Beginning gig, at Villa Park in Birmingham, would be axed. Ozzy had spent over a year working with physios, trainers and specialists to be able to put on a show for fans after his health battles.
It breaks my heart to think about the strain Ozzy and Sharon experienced in those final few weeks, according to our insider. Ozzy had figured out how to get himself to a position where he could at least wave and stand up to fans. However, for shows of this size, the show won’t go ahead if the artists don’t meet the risk liability requirements.
No insurance agent would consent to let Oz stand because of the Parkinson’s and walking issues. They made a deal with him so he could be safely enshrined in his throne in order to avoid paying a sizable insurance premium on the charity show. A fantastic compromise was reached. Because of the liability concerns, it really speaks to Sharon’s determination and determination to pull it off. She performed miracles.
Ozzy had mentioned going through “be ready to play” by participating in “heavy duty training sessions three times per day.” He even claimed that his home had a personal trainer. At Birmingham’s NEC, Ozzy was last seen scurrying slowly inside and outside the Comic Con Midlands. A week before his death, members of the public saw his wife Sharon and son Jack with him while he had a walking stick, but he moved slowly and unaided.
Tommy Iommi, a Sabbath band mate, addressed the technical difficulties and stresses in a Sirius XM interview following BTTB. With only a few days until the show, he revealed that Ozzy’s performance was uncertain.
Tommy, 77, said, “It was really making up as we went on. Really, it was about how long Ozzy could stay put. Because we didn’t know when he was performing his own set, I didn’t believe he should because I didn’t want him to be worn out by the time he’d arrived with us. He did, however, follow his own set. We ended up recording four songs, but we had put aside six or seven. However, we managed to complete four, which was fine.
Ozzy’s family announced he had died in statement on Tuesday which shocked the music world. The statement said: “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.”
In his final days, cameras had been following Ozzy for BBC series, Home To Roost. It is now expected to be released in memory of the star.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply