Ozzy Osbourne’s two decade health battle: From rocker’s secret Parkinson’s diagnosis which he revealed five years ago to multiple surgeries before his death aged 76

For more than two decades, Ozzy Osbourne fought various health issues before sadly passing away at the age of 76 on Tuesday.

Since 2003, the musical icon of Black Sabbath has been battling Parkinson’s disease. Over the past five years, he has gone through a total of seven surgical procedures, which includes a fourth spinal operation that took place in September 2023.

For over two decades, his struggle with health started back in 2003, following an accident where he fell from a quad bike and fractured his neck. This unfortunate incident required extensive spinal surgery and the insertion of metal rods into his spine.

In 2003, a well-known British musician received a diagnosis for a gentle Parkinson’s disease, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he chose to make this health issue public.

2020 saw the singer reveal during a chat with Good Morning America, alongside his spouse Sharon, that he had received a medical diagnosis.

“He mentioned he had a neck surgery that affected his nerves. He then revealed he was diagnosed with a mild version of Parkinson’s disease, specifically Parkin-2.”

She stated: ‘Parkinson’s comes in various forms. It’s certainly not a guarantee of death, but it can impact the functioning of your nervous system. It’s a bit like having some good days followed by others that are less than ideal – you might have several good days interspersed with one particularly challenging day.’

Previously, Ozzy had mentioned that his main challenges stemmed from a fall he took in 2019, which resulted in the displacement of metal rods in his spine.

The rods had been put there following a quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire home in 2003.

In an interview with Rolling Stone UK, I shared my experience of the second operation taking an unexpected turn, leaving me nearly incapacitated.

Initially, I assumed that by the fourth attempt, I would be functioning smoothly. However, the final procedure left a metal rod in my spine, which wasn’t quite what I had anticipated.

Upon discovering a tumor within one of the vertebrae, it necessitated removing everything surrounding it as well. It’s quite challenging, friend, and my balance has become severely affected.

In February 2019, it was disclosed that Sharon was hospitalized due to complications from a bout with the flu.

Sharon posted: ‘You may know that Ozzy has been taken to the hospital due to issues stemming from the flu. His physicians believe this action will speed up his recovery process. Many thanks for your compassion and care.’

Due to his illness, he had to cancel a series of concert dates for recovery, pushing back both the UK and European segments of his No More Tours 2 tour.

Before his last live show scheduled for July 2025, a charity event in Birmingham, Ozzy shared some insights about his current health and mental state.

During his chat on SiriusXM’s Ozzy’s Boneyard, he shared: “Despite my constant talk about not being able to walk and other limitations, I realized something during the holiday season. Even with all my complaints, I’m still here.

He went on to say, “Although I complain about my difficulty in walking, I see people ahead who accomplished far less than I did, and yet they didn’t survive.

‘I’m trying to get back on my feet.’

Host Billy Morrison added: ‘Ozzy, you are so much better than you were just a year ago.’

He responded: ‘Indeed, the recovery is taking its time. That difficult surgeon, and then there’s Parkinson’s. In the morning, it feels like I just leap out of bed, but I need to find my balance, as you understand. However, as you pointed out, I’m not deceased yet. I’m still engaged in activities.’

Prior to the performance, Sharon, Ozzy’s wife, disclosed that: ‘Ozzy has been meeting with his therapist daily. In fact, he’s doing quite well. The most important aspect in Ozzy’s life is his fans, so he’s putting in a lot of effort to prepare for them and make this show the ideal conclusion.’

Last year, Ozzy wasn’t healthy enough to play at the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the U.S.

At the Back To The Beginning show, Ozzy performed on a black throne as he was unable to stand.

In an attempt to improve his ability to stand for extended periods on stage, walk more comfortably, and achieve better balance, Ozzy sought the assistance of a specialized rehabilitation therapist based in Los Angeles, following numerous back and neck surgeries.

Apart from being an advocate for healthcare, he was deeply moved to support the service due to his personal experience. Back in 2003, he was saved by NHS staff after a severe accident that resulted in a fractured neck vertebra, fractured ribs, and a broken collarbone.

Regardless of the challenges he faced and his deteriorating health, Sharon confidently asserted that his voice remained exceptional, ready to shine brightly one last time on stage.

As I share with The Sun, he’s absolutely thrilled to return and his emotions run deep about this comeback. It’s crucial to understand that Parkinson’s is a relentless condition, a continuous journey for him.

‘This issue isn’t something that can be made constant or steady. It influences various parts of the body, and in this case, it seems to have impacted his legs. Interestingly enough, despite that, his voice remains just as strong as it has been before.’

On July 22nd, Ozzy tragically passed away, mere weeks following his last live appearance alongside his band at Villa Park in Birmingham.

‘We are deeply saddened beyond expression to announce that our cherished Ozzy Osbourne has left us this morning.’

He was in the company of his loved ones, enveloped by affection. At present, we kindly request that everyone honors our family’s personal space for privacy.

‘Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.’

Originally named John Michael Osbourne, Ozzy hailed from Birmingham, making his grand entrance into the world in the year 1948. At just 15 years old, he decided to forego his formal education.

Following a two-month stint in prison due to burglary charges, he chose to channel his passion for music. By 1970, Black Sabbath had garnered a massive fanbase both in the United States and the United Kingdom upon the debut of their first album release.

In 1978, Ozzy separated from the band, and four years afterwards in 1982, he parted ways with his spouse Thelma Mayfair, who was the mother of his two kids. This split occurred during his persistent struggles with drug issues.

Afterward, he tied the knot with his second spouse, Sharon Osbourne. She played a crucial role in helping him become a flourishing solo performer, and they welcomed three children during their marriage.

Ozzy gained a whole new audience of fans with the family’s reality TV show The Osbournes in 2001.

He is survived by his wife Sharon and his five children, Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack.

2025-07-22 23:04

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Ozzy Osbourne’s two decade health battle: From rocker’s secret Parkinson’s diagnosis which he revealed five years ago to multiple surgeries before his death aged 76

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