Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne reveals he has Parkinson’s Disease
British rock legend and frontman for Black Sabbath revealed on Good Morning America, Tuesday that he found out he has a ‘mild form’ of Parkinson’s Disease after his fall in February 2019.
“It’s PRKN 2,” said his wife, Sharon. “There’s so many different types of Parkinson’s; it’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it’s… it’s like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day,” Sharon said.
Osbourne explained to interviewer Robin Roberts on the US TV show that he was unsure if the numbness he was feeling was a result of his fall, and neck injury or not.
“I did my last show New Year’s Eve (2018). Then I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves,” Ozzy said.
“I got a numbness down this arm for the surgery, my legs keep going cold,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s the Parkinson’s or what, you know, but that’s … see, that’s the problem. Because they cut nerves when they did the surgery. I’d never heard of nerve pain, and it’s a weird feeling.”
He said “I’m nought good with secrets, I can not walk around with it anymore but inside I’m running out of excuses. I just felt I this is the deal I have, I’ll get on. Leave me.”
His children, Jack and Kelly were the ones who first realised that something wasn’t right with their father. “The hardest thing is watching somebody that you love suffer,” Kelly said.
Osbourne’s son, Jack, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012, said he can relate to his father.
“I understand when you have something you don’t want to have,” said Jack. “But if he wants to talk, and if not I try to slip in information.”
Ozzy said on the show that he was thankful to his devout fans.
“They’re my air, you know. I feel better. I’ve owned up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson’s. And I just hope they hang on and they’re there for me because I need them.”
The ‘Prince of Darkness’ who most recently performed “Take What You Want” with Post Malone and Travis Scott live on the American Music Awards, said “It’s been terribly challenging for us all.”
His outspoken wife, Sharon said, “It’s not a death sentence but it affects certain nerves in your body. You have a good day, a good day, then a really bad day.” Sharon went on to say that they will be looking for treatment outside the U.S.
“We’ve kind of reached a point here in this country where we can’t go any further because we’ve got all the answers we can get here,” she said. “So in April, we’re going to a professional in Switzerland. And he deals with… getting your immune system at its peak.”
Ozzy had postponed his No More Tours 2 shows with Judas Priest last January 2019, due to ill health and he has a North American tour including several Canadian dates, slated to begin in Atlanta, May 27, before playing his rescheduled UK dates beginning in October.
“He’s gonna get back out there,” said Sharon. “And he’s gonna do what he loves to do; I know it.”
“I wanna see my people, you know. It’s like I’m … I miss them so much,” said Ozzy Osbourne.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Canadian dates don’t include a stop in Toronto but he is playing in Hamilton on June 18. Ozzy is also slated to play the Bell Centre in Montreal, Que., on June 16, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta. July 7, and at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver July 9, 2020.
